Burning smell

[Pat C]

I have an 07 ae, with about 450mi on it and everytime I bring home and park it in the garage I smell a burning smell it seems like it's coming from the right side right below tank, it's not the exhaust, it smells like paper burning. Is this something I should be concerned about?

 

[mech 1 twa]

Put a few more miles on it and see if it goes away.

Could also be road debris, leaf or paper somewhere near exhaust. Mine smells that way sometimes, mostly in the fall.

Anything close to a header pipe will burn, get hot enough to smell it. No problems so far.

 

[Silver Penguin]

I've had that burning smell a couple of times on my '03. I thought it smelled 'electrical' and asked my dear husband to take off the fairing and have a good look around. There was nothing to see. The bike ran fine. I definitely thought it was in the area near the battery.

It happened again this weekend, but went away on it's own. Suggestions are: road debris on hot engine, riding near big rigs with hot brakes (and thinking the smell came from the bike, when really it was from the truck).

Jill

 

[L2M]

Probably nothing but gunk on the headers or exhaust. I've had that smell come and go on my 07 over the past 8k miles. Never seen anything burned when I've had the plastics off or the tank pulled. The first time it happened (shortly after purchase) I pulled the tank, plastics, dash, everything. Looked for anything that looked burnt or scorched. Nothing. By the time I came back from my next 600 mile day the smell was gone.

If you stop with the bike warmed up you can often feel heat coming up off the right side of the engine and hitting your right wrist. I don't feel that on the left so I think that natural airflow from the fan or engine shape must cause the smell of things on the pipes to waft up on that side. Just a theory.

 

[ionbeam]

I've had that smell occasionally since new ('04 Gen I). I have smelled it most often in the quiet, still, cool mornings and very frequently after a short highway romp well in excess of 45 mph It is more prevalent when there is a lot of moisture in the air, be it dew or fog. Only once have I found anything wrong, and that was a huge amount of smoke which was very scary, my motorcycle looked like it was going to immediately burst into flames. The root cause turned out to be a popped fork seal that blew a huge amount of fork oil onto the headers (after one of those extensive rides at >45 mph).

However, your bike is a Gen II '07. Next time you have that smell put a nostril over the key hole and give it a stiff sniff. Not to be an alarmist, but jjjuuuussstttt in case

 

[madmike2]

If your weather is cold and damp, it could be normal.

The headers seem to collect road grime on the header and the collector where the catalytic converters live. When it bakes it gives off a most unpleasant odor. It could also be the "cats" burning in, though that odor would be from the rear of the muffler.

 

[DaveFJR]

I agree with others, road debris. A funny thing happened to me. I installed a heated seat last winter and the first day after on my ride home from work I smelled something burning. Checked all the connections and everything looked great. Smelled it again when I got to work & when I got home the next day. So I looked all around & saw a shiny spot the size of a half dollar on the header by the centerstand - then I remembered saw a plastic bag at 75mph on the way to work in another lane. That smell was there after 44mi round trips for 3 days.

 

[artistic rider]

I had the same smell until I lost one of those foam pads between the exhaust and the bodywork. Haven't had the smell since.

 

[Solo]

Well heck, I'll throw my $.02 in also. When I took my bike in for my first service I complained about the burning smell and was told that it was just gunk that was put on the motor in preparation for shipping (we used to call it cosmalen sp? back in the day). Sure enough, after a couple of thousand miles it seems to have disappeared.

 

[FJRBluesman]

One time when I pulled over it smelled like steaks on the BBQ. I like that.

Seriously, every so often my Gen1 has a goofy smell, hot smell, rarely electrical smelling, but different. It's probably road scum, etc.

 

[motorcycle-ed]

It seems to be universal. I have an 06AE and it does the same thing. It seems to come and go and the smell is different from time to time, so I agree with Jill. It is just road grime, sometimes bugs, sometimes paper, plastic, etc. being cooked off the exhaust headers or the CAT. Not to worry i think.

Ed

 

[mdisher]

Ditto...

On my first trip with the FJR to Vermont, I thought for sure it was going to burn to the ground...

My smells somewhat nasty after every rain that I ride through. I'm used to it now.

Now if I could only get that funk out of my helmet ....

 

[madmike2]

Now if I could only get that funk out of my helmet ....

Yes...but you must wear your helmet....or perhaps go headless!?!?!? :blink:

Oh...wait...you didn't mean your brain, but the "odiferous remnants" from wearing your helmet.

 

[Thumperbike]

Had the plastic bag thing myself. I kept checking the exhaust after I noticed the smell. It was not until I checked it cold that I could see the plastic.

 

[artistonFJR]

It could be the rubber sole on your flip flops is contacting the pipe! Maybe try a leather-soled sandal... or a low pump with a heel strap...heh heh

I notice the smell on occasion, after longer rides, or maybe just notice it as I check things out after long rides... after short rides I generally just park it and move along and not linger.

I thought originally that it might be a label or a sticker on a pipe or the block that Yammie puts on at production.

C

 

[luvtoride]

I get that burning odor from time to time, also. I stopped paying attention to it awhile ago.

 

[radman]

I had that smell too, turned out to be a slow pedestrian. Went away after a few years. No biggie, it happens.

 

[sin_loki]

Well heck, I'll throw my $.02 in also. When I took my bike in for my first service I complained about the burning smell and was told that it was just gunk that was put on the motor in preparation for shipping (we used to call it cosmalen sp? back in the day). Sure enough, after a couple of thousand miles it seems to have disappeared.

+1

also sometimes thin grease from who put it together from their hands. new car/ trucks are the same way, your inside and can't usually smell it or see it.

 

[odot]

You won't get that "breaking in" smell if you use amsoil.