What's this gasket?

Hey everyone.
Ive always had a dark black area around this gasket but it's always been dry. I noticed today that it was shiny and wet looking after so after riding i wiped it off and it and was dark black and oily. Does anyone know what gasket this is and why is it leaking black oil? The oil inside the bike is new and still clear

I belive the gasket in the pic that you are trying to show is the head gasket. The base gasket is the lower one, then the head gasket then the valve cover gasket. THose are the three main gaskets from bottom to top.

That gasket is the cylinder head gasket. However, that oil doesn't necessarily mean that gasket is really bad. There is an o-ring on each side and they sometimes leak. If the leak isn't too bad and if the bike runs well you may want to just clean it occasionally and live with it. Also, sometimes it will leak if the oil hasn't been changed in a while and will stop or leak less after an oil change. See #6 in diagram below. Ed

I was hoping it wasn't a head gasket. Just hearing the words head and gasket together scare me It's had dry black stains around the gasket since I bought it in last May but I've only just noticed yesterday it was a little wet. I've only put 100 miles on the bike since the last oil change so it should be bad yet. Could the high idle with the choke on startup be causing the gaskets to leak?

1) Dry black stains indicate a prior leak.
2) High idle has nothing to do with it.
3) It is black because it acquires dirt from being exposed to outside air.
4) I would retorque the head bolts.
5) Unless it becomes really annoying, I would live with it.
6) If you choose to replace it, be sure and get an OEM gasket and any applicable o-rings.

Thanks for the replies. I'll just live with it for now and clean it off. Not looking forward to the repair bill on that one

Did you use synthetic oil? That can start some leaks on engines that have run standard oil previously.

No it's just running Valvoline 10w 40 conventional motorcycle oil

Don't know about the fours, but the 750 twins chronically seep oil at the front of the head gasket which blows back and forms a scum line. Even the factory gasket did it. Every picture I have ever seen of a 750 twin had the oil leak track around the head gasket.