Motorcycle Repair: oil leak, yamaha xj750, head gasket leak

Question
i just purchased 1982 yamaha xj750 with 18000 miles,runs great no problems except an oil leak from front of engine.is this just a valve over gasket

Answer
Scott,

it may be just the valve cover gasket depending
on where it starts leaking. Get some spray
type baby powder and spray it around the leak
and see if you can see where it starts.
Sometimes head gaskets can "sweat" some oil
as well. The oil passages on your bike
come up the right side of the engine through
some o-rings and the head gasket and on up to the head.
The right side is most likely for a head
gasket leak. The cover gasket is alot
easier to change of course so hopefully
that's all it is.