That new bike smell... How long?

[kevvyd]

Recently our household replaced a well used Breville "toaster oven". It was real good, so we bought pretty much the same one again ten years later.
The manufacturer makes a point, by way of Additional Instructions stickers strategically placed to:
Turn on the product and set it to BAKE @ 400* for 20 minutes before cooking any food with the oven. During this time the device might emit mild smoke and a non-food burning aroma due to the processes used in manufacturing. This is normal and the aroma will dissipate until undetectable. If it does not, repeat the heating procedure again.

I understood completely. I've completed plenty of "processes" that might cause some residual smoking and aromas. In some cases it might even be called off gassing?

So the question for riders who took one home from the showroom and made it their own is this....
Did you notice the aroma or "off-gassing" of the engine after riding it in earnest for a while and then parking it?
If YES....how would you describe the smell?
--and how long did it persist?

I've put a little more 300 miles on my brand new '22 since showroom a month ago. Loving it and using it almost daily. I know thats not a lot of miles, but I've ridden it a bunch of times and gotten it hot/cooled dozens of times. I think it should be done "off-gassing" and/or "Fully Cured" by now. Especially since its a '22... But she still smells kinda of like an overly hot chemical lab.....and persists much longer than the new toaster oven.

I've had a bunch of experience with lots of different bikes, new and used...plenty of scenarios.
What I'm trying to say is this: "It's not combustion or crankcase type aromas (petrochems)....I know really well what that smells like. And it's definitely NOT currently on fire."
I think I know its totally normal, but its been detectable much longer than I'd expected or experienced.

 

[CTExplorer]

Mine lasted quite a while from what I remember and when I added a high flow air filter several thousand miles in it had that smell again, tipping me off that it probably needed more fuel to compensate and not run too hot.

 

[kevvyd]

Mine lasted quite a while from what I remember and when I added a high flow air filter several thousand miles in it had that smell again, tipping me off that it probably needed more fuel to compensate and not run too hot.

Thank you for this relevant response
Interesting point about the odor being associated with a lean running condition. Cold dense air season here as well, so more lean too. Again......."I think I know.........." applies!
I'm definitely the type to do something(s) about optimizing engine performance. But am waiting it out for a bit. At least till that first 600 mile oil change interval.

 

[stickthefigure]

Oh thank god, here I was thinking I was crazy or that I somehow goofed something up with my bike. Didn't realize they all had that smell when new. Still under 300 miles on mine given my available time and Pittsburgh winters but I'm glad to hear it should clear up in time.

 

[Kev250R]

That new engine smell is actually one of my favorite parts of getting a new bike LOL!

I've had three brand-new bikes (two air-cooled, one water-cooled) and all did it for the first hundred miles or so, more if they were ridden hard. I noticed the same thing a few years ago when I bought a brand-new Tacoma. I could smell the off-gassing or whatever you want to call it from that engine for the first 300-400 miles, again more after hard usage.

 

[BANANAPPEAL]

When I got my CT I rode to a friends house to show him, first thing he said was, Ahhhhhh, I haven't smelled that in years. I love that smell!

 

[RustyRodder]

I still get the smell a bit at the 800 mile mark,but not nearly the same as it was

 

[Daytripper]

Mine has around 1500 miles on it, and if I have been running it hard I still will get a slight smell which associate with the exhaust. I would describe it as high temp paint under heat. Its very similar to when I bought my new wood stove and it took several burns before the smell went away.

 

[FizzBuzz3000]

I got a funky smell from when I installed my current exhaust, which went away after a bit. Just assumed it was the stainless steel of the new exhaust burning off residue. never smelled it since

 

[BoonDonkey]

I bought my Trail 125 used, so N/A on the "new bike smell". However, since you analogized with a toaster oven, I will do the same with new tire smell. About 2 weeks ago I got new tires on my pickup truck, which is parked the same garage as my bikes. Every time I walk in there, I smell the tires - which pleases me because new things are fun. Taking a road trip with the truck this coming week, so pretty sure that will scrub off the "new" smell.

P.S. The Trail 125 is in the bed of the truck.

 

[kevvyd]

Mine has around 1500 miles on it, and if I have been running it hard I still will get a slight smell which associate with the exhaust. I would describe it as high temp paint under heat. Its very similar to when I bought my new wood stove and it took several burns before the smell went away.

Yeah, that smell. Exactly

 

[Pittsburgh_Bob]

Oh thank god, here I was thinking I was crazy or that I somehow goofed something up with my bike. Didn't realize they all had that smell when new. Still under 300 miles on mine given my available time and Pittsburgh winters but I'm glad to hear it should clear up in time.

Hey I'm in Pittsburgh too! GIve me a shout.