What are the two open hoses for at the bottom of the engine? The reason that I ask is that I noticed a small patch of oil under the bike this afternoon after I had parked it for the day. On closer inspection, the fluid was coming from the larger diameter open ended rubber hose under the engine. The fluid in the hose smelled of gas but had a runny oiley texture. Is this normal? :?

They are breather/overflow lines, one of which is from your fuel tank. No worries about the fluid -- it's normal from time to time.

I am sure someone else will post what the second line is for -- I don't recall at the moment.

Neither hose should be dropping oil.

Have you done an oil change recently? And, are you sure the oils from your bike?

Old, partly evaporated gas can feel greasy, so perhaps that is what the OP felt. The oil patch (if it was actually oil and not dried oily-looking gas) may not have been from the breather tube. Just a thought . . .

My bike does it. It seems to be normal for for both the 599 and 919.

Your bike leaks oil?

That isn't normal.

Mine does the exact same thing, when I park outside and the bike sits in the heat for a few hours. Never happens in my garage. The hose is a vent, and its probably dried up fuel, not oil. Next time, rub your finger on the spot and sniff it- you'll be able to tell the diff. Reason this happens is, the fuel in the tank will expand and force out vapors when the bike gets hot sitting parked in the sun. The venting system on most modern bikes combines the tank, carb, and crankcase vents in the airbox, so that the engine can ingest these vapors, rather than let em go straight to the atmosphere. Cars have done the same thing with their PCV valves and charcoal canisters since the 60's. But when the bike isn't running, vapors from all these places, and moisture condensation in the airbox has to go somewhere, so it drips out the hose. I haven't gotten too up close and personal with the plumbing on my 599 yet, but this is basically what is happening. I wouldnt worry about it. :D

Drew, you are corret.

Spot on Drew. The first time mine was parked outside of my workplace it was a scortcher of a day and I noticed the same thing underneath. I rode to my dealer the next morning and asked and they explained it all to me just as you did above. No worries, it's normal.

Sometimes when fuel leaks onto asphalt, it eats away at the asphalt and thus turns black...giving it its oil like appearance

MIght be what it is