Can you smell this????

[foxbass]

In the few months I've had the bike I've noticed a smell of very hot rubber when I'm warming it up on the stand and occasionally when stopped at junctions.
I've had a good nose about and had the tank up a few times but can't find anything touching the exhaust. There does not appear to be anything plastic-y stuck to the pipes either. The small hoses that drop behind the tank are in good shape and routed safely too.
The bike is totally stock.
Has anyone had this problem or have a further suggestion of where I should look?

 

[fizz_off]

In the few months I've had the bike I've noticed a smell of very hot rubber when I'm warming it up on the stand and occasionally when stopped at junctions.
I've had a good nose about and had the tank up a few times but can't find anything touching the exhaust. There does not appear to be anything plastic-y stuck to the pipes either. The small hoses that drop behind the tank are in good shape and routed safely too.
The bike is totally stock.
Has anyone had this problem or have a further suggestion of where I should look?

I had something similar last year. Had the shop take a look while they were doing the 14k check. Turns out, they "think" the odor was from some paving bits (I recall having driven over new pavement recently) that were stuck on/between and on/behind the pipes right where they all join...they cleaned out what they could and and I took a small toothbrush to the places on the headers/pipes I could access when I got home (and things cooled down a little). After a few more miles (and avoiding loose pavement bits when I saw new pavement ) the odor was no longer detectable.

 

[foxbass]

Thanks. Decided to clean and polish my headers recently but have only done 2 so far as they're a b***h to get at on the bike. Did pull some crud and stones out from between the pipes. I'll see what difference it makes once I've finished. I had already suspected this might be the case but still cannot see anything obvious. Maybe its also general road crud (tar) warming up on the front of the heads/ block.

 

[foxbass]

Dude! You're up early!!!
Its lunchtime already over here. You a nightshift worker?

 

[DownrangeFuture]

Nah, his post was at 0801 local, so not that early. Some of us get up early-ish on weekends even. Although 0800 is sleeping in for me. I get up at 0430 to be at work on time.

 

[Spideyrex]

Check the front sprocket. Behind the cover, chain lube can collect and as the engine heats up it burns off a little bit. I discovered this last year when I noticed a burning oil/rubber smell on my otherwise super clean bike. I cleaned that out and the odor disappeared.

 

[nextfriday]

Fizz_off has a great point. If you can ever get your bike up on a stand, take advantage and do maintenance cleaning underneath the bike. Take a look at bikes leaned over in motorcycle mags, their filthy.

 

[foxbass]

Believe it or not, only a couple of days ago I decided to pull off the sprocket cover, mainly to check and tighten the front sprocket and was amazed at the depth of grease build up. I scraped most of it out and sprayed some cleaner all around. Got to ride it this evening so will see if its less obvious. Next week I'll set to with a vengeance regardless. The front sprok, chain and rear are knackered and up for replacement real soon anyway.

 

[psnbye]

The front sprok, chain and rear are knackered

Does that mean they are wore out? Sometimes I'm a little unsure what some of the phrases on here really mean, It's fun trying to figure out what you guys are referring to. Like those crazy Aussies!

 

[macem29]

knackered=pooched, shot, fawked....

my bike sitting stationary for even a few minutes gets odorous when it's warm, a lot of plastic near that underseat exhaust, shielded I know, but ti still gets bloody warm

 

[foxbass]

:thumbup:Thanks Spidey. The clean out did the trick. No more pong at the lights making me paranoid that I've cooked something!
I guess that because the chain is worn out, I 've been over lubing it a bit.

 

[Spideyrex]

Glad to be of help. I love sharing little bits of info that you'l never find in the owner's manual. This forum has taught me so much about my bike.