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Burnt Rubber Smell

J

jerryab9rj

Member
Hi Forum Experts,
Last night I started up my bike, kept in a heated garage in MI, to put on a trailer to take to a new house. There was a strong smell of burning rubber right after starting. Shut the bike off and tried to find the culprit, but could not. Started it back up and the smell didn't get worse and never did find the source. Anyone have any ideas one what might be rubbing on start up after a couple months of storage? Did a quick search but didn't find anything, or wasn't searching properly. 50/50 on those two.
Thanks,
Jerry
 
What model?

First thought is alternator belt...but just a WAG. Old belt, loose belt or varmint and nesting material.
 
Burnt rubber smell

henzilla said:
What model?

First thought is alternator belt...but just a WAG. Old belt, loose belt or varmint and nesting material.
Click to expand...

It's a 2010 R1200RT. I checked for varmits and nests, didn't see any. I'll look for some worn spots on the belt and check the tension. Thanks!
 
jerryab9rj said:
It's a 2010 R1200RT. I checked for varmits and nests, didn't see any. I'll look for some worn spots on the belt and check the tension. Thanks!
Click to expand...

Belt shoud be fine, more of an issue on Oilheads as the tension is not adjustable on Hex/Camheads.
How many miles on that belt?
 
I get a smell like that after it has sat for a while after a rain ride. It is road crud with rubber particles burning off. Any chance your last ride before parking was on wet roads? Just a thought.
 
Burnt rubber smell

Woodbutcher said:
I get a smell like that after it has sat for a while after a rain ride. It is road crud with rubber particles burning off. Any chance your last ride before parking was on wet roads? Just a thought.
Click to expand...

I really don't remember if it was a rain ride. I do know it got a complete wash and wax before it got parked though, maybe it rinsed some stuff onto the belt. Now that you say that, I do remember smelling that after rain rides a little bit. Nothing to this extreme though.

Jerry
 
Pull off the seat and bodywork to examine the wiring, especially if you have any non-factory accessories - maybe a wire chafed or melted.
 
jerryab9rj said:
I really don't remember if it was a rain ride. I do know it got a complete wash and wax before it got parked though, maybe it rinsed some stuff onto the belt. Now that you say that, I do remember smelling that after rain rides a little bit. Nothing to this extreme though.

Jerry
Click to expand...

On mine the smell is from the engine and exhaust area as it heats up, not necessarily the belt area. It goes away after 5 minutes or so and isn't too strong so I don't worry about it. In fact, my last ride I put the bike away wet as I it started to rain just before I got home. I bet it smells next time I fire it up.
 
Stinky

By chance did you tow your bike right before storage? Sometimes a towed vehicle will pick up rubber debris from vehicle and road. First time ridden will result in rubber stink.
 
jerryab9rj said:
Hi Forum Experts,
Last night I started up my bike, kept in a heated garage in MI, to put on a trailer to take to a new house. There was a strong smell of burning rubber right after starting. Shut the bike off and tried to find the culprit, but could not. Started it back up and the smell didn't get worse and never did find the source. Anyone have any ideas one what might be rubbing on start up after a couple months of storage? Did a quick search but didn't find anything, or wasn't searching properly. 50/50 on those two.
Thanks,
Jerry
Click to expand...

Lots of good suggestions guys. I'll bet taking the covers off probably this weekend and let you know what I find.

Thanks!
Jerry
Kalamazoo MI
2010 R1200RT
 
Rear shock

Mine had a smell like that when the rear shock started leaking fluid slowly onto the exhaust. Luckily once it actually made smoke which directed me to the source.
 
jerryab9rj said:
I really don't remember if it was a rain ride. I do know it got a complete wash and wax before it got parked though, maybe it rinsed some stuff onto the belt. Now that you say that, I do remember smelling that after rain rides a little bit. Nothing to this extreme though.

Jerry
Click to expand...

My ‘16 RT has the same smell after riding in the rain or washing. It goes away after a short ride.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
Burnt rubber smell

henzilla said:
What model?

First thought is alternator belt...but just a WAG. Old belt, loose belt or varmint and nesting material.
Click to expand...

Turns out it might have just been dirt on the belt. Belt looks fine and isn't that old. No sign of wear and hasn't happened again. We'll see.
Thanks for all your suggestions!
Jerry
 
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