Burning rubber smell

[Lunepilot]

I'm new to the GS so just getting used to it but,when stationary at traffic lights ive noticed a burning rubber type smell.Bike appears to be running ok but wondered if its normal or there is a fault.
Thanks for any advice

 

[stigboots]

They all do that sir but should improve with age as they fully bed in, or at least that's my experience. I think its oil fumes from the crankcase breather !

 

[oldnfat]

They all do that sir but should improve with age as they fully bed in, or at least that's my experience. I think its oil fumes from the crankcase breather !

Not sure about that one. I have had two new 1200s and do not remember a burning rubber smell.

Is your bike new....does it have an ancillary electrics....are you sure nothing is shorting. I would defo be getting this checked out.

Cheers

 

[Beemerman59]

Are you sitting at the lights in gear? Could be you have some clutch slip and you're smelling your dry clutch plate burning.

 

[oldnfat]

Are you sitting at the lights in gear? Could be you have some clutch slip and you're smelling your dry clutch plate burning.

Good point but if the clutch is fully in you shouldn't be frying it...only when you slip it.....I think.

 

[Mad_Accountant]

Are you talking in the dry or during rain?

If its the latter you'd be amazed by the smell that comes off the hot exhaust pipes which is organic matter (ie muddy water) burning off the pipes.

 

[Fanum]

Alternator belt?

 

[Photoguy]

Are you talking in the dry or during rain?

If its the latter you'd be amazed by the smell that comes off the hot exhaust pipes which is organic matter (ie muddy water) burning off the pipes.

New the GS also and I was getting a smell. Decided it was the above.

 

[Old Wobbly]

My '13 GSA does this at lights/in traffic and only when I've been riding for a while. Smells like engine oil and I assumed wafting up from the breather. Bike doesn't use any oil and is still tight with 1.4k miles.

 

[Beemerman59]

Good point but if the clutch is fully in you shouldn't be frying it...only when you slip it.....I think.

I was thinking more along the lines of there being an issue with the hydraulics/MC/pushrod that could be giving some slip even with the clutch pulled in. If you sit at the lights in gear and front brake applied then you may not notice the clutch is biting a little. OP hasn't said how old the bike is and its mileage.

 

[Steptoe]

I'm new to the GS so just getting used to it but,when stationary at traffic lights ive noticed a burning rubber type smell.Bike appears to be running ok but wondered if its normal or there is a fault.
Thanks for any advice

Good point but if the clutch is fully in you shouldn't be frying it...only when you slip it.....I think.

I was thinking more along the lines of there being an issue with the hydraulics/MC/pushrod that could be giving some slip even with the clutch pulled in. If you sit at the lights in gear and front brake applied then you may not notice the clutch is biting a little. OP hasn't said how old the bike is and its mileage.

Yep, it's best not to sit with the clutch pulled in on a single plate BMW clutch.
The slave cylinders can fry - that tiny little slave bearing (not oil fed, just greased from the factory when new) spinning around at crank speed with the clutch load on it is a ball breaker over time.


Another reason for the OP smelling burning rubber could be a medical problem.
Apparently the first signs of having a brain tumour can result in you smelling burning rubber.
Or it could be just a rubbish bag attached to your downpipes.
Have a nice day.

 

[Old Wobbly]

Yep, it's best not to sit with the clutch pulled in on a single plate BMW clutch.
The slave cylinders can fry - that tiny little slave bearing (not oil fed, just greased from the factory when new) spinning around at crank speed with the clutch load on it is a ball breaker over time.


Another reason for the OP smelling burning rubber could be a medical problem.
Apparently the first signs of having a brain tumour can result in you smelling burning rubber.
Or it could be just a rubbish bag attached to your downpipes.
Have a nice day.

What a cheery thought - I'll stick with the breather idea - sounds less painful!!

 

[Bobbin-Man]

When I first bought my GS, stopped at junctions/lights I noticed what I would describe as an electrical burning smell .... more so when riding 2-up. Eventually decided the smell was the front brakes. Never caused any problems though.

 

[Lunepilot]

Thanks for the replies
The bike is a 2011 GS with 10000 miles on clock.Ive done 600 miles since purchase,and i havent noticed anything up untill now, its only been out in the dry and i always let clutch out at the lights.However i fitted one of the canbus plugs for the sat nav last week so going to check this weekend if alls well there,however the sat nav was not in its cradle when this happend so would there still be power being drawn through wiring.
Also booked in at Doctors for an emergency appointment

 

[Mr Pastry]

it might just be burning rubber

P

 

[davegs]

Burning smell

Flog it quick, and meanwhile carry a fire extinguisher!. (buy a w/c even better).

 

[E. Buygum]

I'm new to the GS so just getting used to it but,when stationary at traffic lights ive noticed a burning rubber type smell.Bike appears to be running ok but wondered if its normal or there is a fault.
Thanks for any advice

When I recently picked up on an electrical burning smell, it turned out to be... burning electrics...first the smell, then smoke, then proper flames.

The dealer's theories on causes were: non standard (too high) battery or defective seat bar shorting out the battery terminals (neither of which applied in my case...in fact the rubber boot on the positive terminal was intact and in place protecting from a short. The battery was BMW dealer issue (no Odyssey malarkey) and the seat fine and in high setting front and rear).

Still, can't hurt to make sure battery is seated correctly and no part of the seat could cause a short.

Here's my "after" picture, BTW:

Photo taken immediately prior to removal and had been connected correctly prior. Still don't know the cause.

 

[Lunepilot]

Blimey Hope everythings ok and back to normal now. Will check this when i get home tomorrow,at work at the moment thanks for posting

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

If you've been filtering through traffic and feathering the clutch/lots of stop, start then it's very likely to be the clutch. They stink when hot. However, I would describe the smell as more like rotten fish than burning rubber.

Take your bike green laning, you'll soon get used to the smell

Andres

 

[Lunepilot]

If you've been filtering through traffic and feathering the clutch/lots of stop, start then it's very likely to be the clutch. They stink when hot. However, I would describe the smell as more like rotten fish than burning rubber.

Take your bike green laning, you'll soon get used to the smell

Andres

Definetly no green laning or traffic filtering just a straight forward run to work and back on good roads with very little traffic.