smell rubber

[slopokeRT]

My 2003 R1150RT has been a very reliable ride but at the 48,300 mile mark it made a strange mechanical noise and lost power coming home from work a couple of weeks ago then last week it made another strange noise and felt like it slipped out of gear but didn't. There is a distinct rubber burning smell coming from the bike when I stop. Can't find any oil leaks isn't low on oil. Serviced by dealer on time every time rode daily until now. Changed altenator belt at 36,000 miles two weeks later battery died makes a squeeling noise every now and then at start up since changing it mechanic checked it said belt was fine didn't know why it squeeled. Any suggestions?

[PGlaves]

My 2003 R1150RT has been a very reliable ride but at the 48,300 mile mark it made a strange mechanical noise and lost power coming home from work a couple of weeks ago then last week it made another strange noise and felt like it slipped out of gear but didn't. There is a distinct rubber burning smell coming from the bike when I stop. Can't find any oil leaks isn't low on oil. Serviced by dealer on time every time rode daily until now. Changed altenator belt at 36,000 miles two weeks later battery died makes a squeeling noise every now and then at start up since changing it mechanic checked it said belt was fine didn't know why it squeeled. Any suggestions?

If it squeals occasionally on cold start up but not ever when warmed up hot the belt is tensioned OK. If it squeals more than that, or when hot the belt is too loose. If it never squeals on cold start up the belt is too tight. A loose belt will not cause a loss of power, and unless you are hearing it squeal all the time will not cause a burned rubber smell.

You need to very carefully inspect the wiring harness until you find the source, or pretty soon you will "let the smoke out" so tos speak and have a seriously burned up wiring harness - which is expensive to buy (several hundred dollars) and more expensive to replace (a thousand or two at the dealership).

[MCMXCIVRS]

How do you describe the loss of power? Was it the engine actually faltering and producing less power, or was it a loss of power delivery through the drive train? The slipped out of gear comment leads me to believe it's a drivetrain issue.

It's possible if its a loss through the drive train that you may have clutch problems. A slipping clutch will make a smell too, which might be mistaken for burning rubber. A real long shot would be the driveshaft's rubber coupling failing. I've never heard of that happening on a BMW bike, but it does happen in other applications, so it's a remote possibility.

[PGlaves]

How do you describe the loss of power? Was it the engine actually faltering and producing less power, or was it a loss of power delivery through the drive train? The slipped out of gear comment leads me to believe it's a drivetrain issue.

It's possible if its a loss through the drive train that you may have clutch problems. A slipping clutch will make a smell too, which might be mistaken for burning rubber. A real long shot would be the driveshaft's rubber coupling failing. I've never heard of that happening on a BMW bike, but it does happen in other applications, so it's a remote possibility.

Good point Ed,

If oil from an engine or transmission seal has contaminated the clutch, then on hard acceleration it can slip and you would get an oil smell, or burned clutch smell, or both.

Sort this out by going out and gently accelerating up to 5th and then get on it. If the tach goes up and speedo doesn't the clutch is slipping. Then try 4th. If it doesn't slip under honk-on in 5th or 4th it is unlikely to be slipping at all.

[slopokeRT]

Thanks Ed and Paul. Why do you think it might be the wiring harness, the burning rubber smell? The squeal is only on cold start ups. I have read so much about the drive train failures I am worried about that. The first time I lost power the engine bogged down no matter how much I twisted the grip. The second time it was not so much a loss of power but a grinding mechanical noise and a "pause" if you will then it was as if nothing happened. I have ridden the bike since with no loss of power or noise but continually get the burning rubber smell. I'll try the 5th gear punch and see what happens and will start checking wires!

Thanks again,
Curtis