My Lakota starts and runs smoothly. I don't think it has a lot of hours - the tires are original, and less than 1/2 worn.

It is somewhat cold natured like most of them are. After it warms a bit it smokes and smells like oil. After a hard ride the plug is nasty and crusty black. If I ride it easy (following the kid around the yard) it doesn't smoke much, and uses just an ounce of oil in a couple of hours (smells and looks worse than what it uses).

It seems to leave a smoky haze at different times. I would expect it to after compression braking down a hill, but it doesn't always. I can keep the plug looking decent for several hours if I don't go to fast or hold gears too long. If I hold the throttle open for a top gear blast, there will be a smoky trail looking back.

I've got a trip coming up in September, and am trying to decide if I should bite the bullet and rebuild or plan on taking it easy riding. Is there any chance that I am missing something simpler (or easier to fix) that is allowing crankcase oil into the combustion chamber?

Is a compression check the thing to do? What range is acceptable?

TIA.

 

skeeter truck, smoke signals, and what color?

140-180 on the compression check, but leak down will tell you more
slick black plug, or wet and glossy?
do you know how to turn it leaner?

 

From the sounds of it, 5 will get you 10 you have bad rings. A leak down will tell you if I'm correct. A compression will work, but a leak down is way better.
Bad valve guides will not smoke when there is very little vacuum (wide open throttle) because there is no suction on the seals.