[Explodee]

So I was riding to work the other day and I smelled what I thought was a wood burning or something in my neighborhood. The smell got stronger as I went along and as I was going through a toll and stopping for traffic I look down and see smoke coming from underneath me. I jump off and there are flames coming out from under the seat. I reach in and pull out some freakin trash that someone had jammed in there. Some of those junkmail coupon newspaper things that come with the mail. I was able to get it out but it's a little charred in there and some of the plastic melted. I'm a little worried that something might have been damaged and I'm a little afraid to ride it. I was able to get to work and home just fine but I'm pretty bothered about it. Also, should the engine get that hot as to ignite paper after riding for 5 minutes? I had just accelerated pretty hard and that's when the thing got really hot. The attached pic isn't mine but I can get better pics when I get home. The red circle area is where the papers were and the yellow line is where the plastic is kind of melted.

 

[c turner]

Damn, Explodee!

I'm not gonna make the obvious joke,

but Damn, Explodee!

 

[AnotherHobby]

WHAT THE HELL!!!? Who would do that?

 

[littleowl]

Good grief, that must have been a bit scary . I have no idea about bike engines except that they do get pretty hot quite quickly - I suppose it depends where the paper was jammed but sounds entirely plausible that it could catch fire :sour:. Could you take your bike to the dealer to check whether there is any damage?

 

[DaveInWoodland]

Right near the exhaust header is a very hot place, thats sad that some idiot would do that, I would definitely file a police report on that.

 

[CookieKing]

Ignition point of a sheet of office paper is generally speaking taught to be around 450F, So if a lighter paper exposed to a temp near that with the right amount of oxygen, a fire could easily start around the engine. It seems to me that It would have to be the right circumstances. density of the paper where the contact point was all of that. I wouldn't "think" the out side of the engine would exceed two or three hundred degrees unless near a header where exhaust gas was escaping.

 

[Tonymoulls]

Any chance you got to see who the leaflet was from? Or was it too badly burnt?
If you can remember get onto them asap! Did you keep the burnt leaflet as proof?
If yes to the above then go to the company as they are liable and should pay for repairs!

 

[nuttynick]

Ride back to where you were parked asap and look for other flyers still on cars.

 

[Hui]

Any chance you got to see who the leaflet was from? Or was it too badly burnt?
If you can remember get onto them asap! Did you keep the burnt leaflet as proof?
If yes to the above then go to the company as they are liable and should pay for repairs!

You've got a good point, when I read it I just thought it was some arse hole being smart but now you mention it, it was probably unintentional but stupid.

 

[John]

Why can't some people keep their grubby hands to themselves and leave other peoples stuff [email protected]

 

[Tonymoulls]

I do hate when you go to a bike meet or something, get back to the bike and there's fliers planted all over it!'

 

[Tonymoulls]

You've got a good point, when I read it I just thought it was some arse hole being smart but now you mention it, it was probably unintentional but stupid.

I take my old Vespa to scooter rallies and by the end of the rally scooters must have about 10 fliers poking out of every crevice!
I hate it!!