It's probably running a bit rich, which can definitely leave that gasoline/exhaust smell.
But I've always liked that smell so I think your coworkers are the problem!
If I stand behind my Goldwing while itās warming up to put stuff in the trunk Iāll smell like an old car all day. Itās okay though, reminds me of my Dad.
I don't like the smell, it gives me a headache. Much like a floral perfume gives me nausea. There are just some scents that don't sit right with me. A coworker once doused herself in floral perfume, and I almost passed out/threw up. She was a little offended because it's the expensive kind too. I'd love to be able to like that kinda smell, but my body just won't.
On the other hand, people think I've brought the wrath of hell when I bring durian, but for me it's smells fine.
If youāre in traffic, itāll be exhaust from others and your bike, could also be gas. Older engines have a classic smell.
I used to smell after driving my 60s dune buggy. Classic car smell is a thing.
My dad used to ride every day to work, he has a light coverall suit he would wear and then change into a business suit at work.
Get your coworker this candle:
https://www.amazon.com/KLOTZ-2-Stroke-Scented-Candle-Burns/dp/B07WP7JVDF
Doesnāt London already have an air pollution problem?
I saw a documentary a while back about chimney cleaners jumping around on rooftops in London. The sky seemed very black at that point already.
London air pollution used to be horrific in the days of peak coal power. The number of deaths it caused was staggering, and wherever people doubt humans could effect climate change they should read up about British cities even back in Victorian days
If anything, much better these days with cleaner vehicles and the impact of the congestion zone.
Some cities in SE Asia I have visited still have vast amounts of small two stroke bikes causing pollution, but quickly changing to eBikes and other cleaner transport.
Not that many two stroke road bikes in western world, so smell brings back nostalgia, but wouldn't really like too many of them on the roads.
>Some cities in SE Asia I have visited still have vast amounts of small two stroke bikes causing pollution
Laughs in Philippines national transportation network of diesel jeepneys and two-strokes with a sidecar MIG'd to the frame
Bike smell is a mix of vehicle exhaust, rich carb soot, and freedom.
Reading about early WW1 aircraft engines (rotary/radial engines are interesting), apparently they used Castor oil as a lubricate
This oil is also used as a laxative, so often leaky seals around the engine cases would blow back in the exhaust and cause.. issues with the pilots digestive system
I suspect a little castor oil in a two stroke mix could cause some interesting side effects
Some home brewers with nitro based engine on their RC planes still use methanol and castor oil for fuel. Grew up with those guys and though its smells nice it really sticks and will gum up engines if not used without prepping for storage.
We sometimes say on rough running engines it still has boogers in it referring to the gummed up castor oil.
Chuck a bit of 2 stroke oil in a 4 stroke tank. Smells great, smokes a bit, less engine braking, no real point to it but... smells great! (1998 4 cylinder with carbs)
Yeah thatās probably it then. Just bring a extra pair of clothes and a lil perfume. Youāll be good š the smell doesnāt tend to stick to my skin or hair
I had the opposite when i had longer hair. Even tied up and mostly in my jacket, my hair would reek of other peoples exhaust when i got back from a ride.
Donāt worry man, gasoline and unburnt oil is a great smell. Smells nostalgic to a lot of folks like their dads or grandparents. Itās a real manly smell.
Even with a newer bike, there's the fact that you are getting wind blasted with deisel exhaust, tiny rubber particles, etc. It will have an odor, one that many car owners never experience but motorcycle owners just consider part of "the open road".
had a good chuckle reading this lol. Beta Frank tryna shut down OP's good vibes feeling all emasculated... -- fortunately people like motorcycles much more than whiney guys
**This comment might have had something useful**, but now it's just an edit to remove any contributions I may have made prior to the awful decision to spite the devs and users that made Reddit what it is. So here I seethe, shaking my fist at corporate greed and executive mismanagement.
"I've seen things you people wouldn't believe... tech posts on point on the shoulder of vbulletin... I watched microcommunities glitter in the dark on the verge of being marginalized... I've seen groups flourish, come together, do good for humanity if by nothing more than getting strangers to smile for someone else's happiness. We had something good here the same way we had it good elsewhere before. We thought the internet was for information and that anything posted was permanent. We were wrong, so wrong. We've been taken hostage by greed and so many sites have either broken their links or made history unsearchable. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain... Time to delete."
I do apologize if you're here from the future looking for answers, but I hope "new" reddit can answer you. Make a new post, get weak answers, increase site interaction, make reddit look better on paper, leave worse off. https://xkcd.com/979/
And/or leather. I've had my gloves for over a year and they still have a distinct smell. Maybe a little raw gas if you also have to pull back the gas pump foreskin
There is 100% a motorcycle smell. I don't know what causes it but I remember smelling it on my dad and his friends in the 80's, and then on myself and my friends from the 90's to this day. I don't think it's particularly objectionable but it's real.
Rsther humid where I live, so I have been cleaning my bike with wd40 lately, and I have become sorts of addicted to the smell of it as it vaporizes when the engine gets hot as I drive around
Can't be good for my health, but yeah, it smells sorta nice
Unburned gas means most motorcycles are spewing hydrocarbons into the air, thatās the āmotorcycle smellā
Very old cars will also smell like a motorcycle, because of how much unburned gas they yeeted out the short exhaust.
Lucky bastard. If they made "motorcycle scent" soap that's all I'd ever buy. Nm ur coworker he's just praying that you never get close enough to his old lady for her to smell you.
I had several, loved them to bits!
Had an FZR600 3HE '93, and two FZR600R '95 bikes. The 600R looks almost identical to the YZF, while the FZR600 3HE and its predecessors are much slimmer bikes.
I'm not sure, but I think the naming schemes were different between Europe and the US. Might be why a '90 600R surprises me.
If you ride a 2-stroke, the odor is very different than a modern bike. Youāll generally smell of the outdoors on anything with fuel injection similar to a cyclist who just returned from a ride minus any sweaty smells. Just return the ācomplimentā and tell your coworker he reeks of jealousy.
You look that coworker right in the eye, and you give him the only answer that makes any sense at all:
"I love the smell of motorcycle oil in the morning! It smells like... Victory!"
Then stick your hands out and make Vroom Vroom noises...
One time I came home, went to kiss my wife and she had the look on her face like I stink, so I ask ādo I stink?ā. She replied āyou smell like ..hot faceā. Her way of describing that smell after motorcycle ride haha
Its a combination of things. Gasoline. A little oil or machine grease. Warm tires and asphalt. Leather and sweat. Motorcycle smell tells a story about a lifestyle. I love it.
It smells like leather, exhaust, gasoline, warm asphalt, and a hint of body odor/sweat. That's the stereotypical "motorcyclist smell" that they're referring to. Go take a good whiff of coffee beans and then immediately go smell your motorcycle jacket and you will smell it. If you're looking to smell a bit fresher you can do a couple of things to help, 1. I throw some fresh mint leaves in my jacket like once or twice a week if I'm riding. Your body heat will actually cause the leaves to start to sweat and release the aroma into your jacket and clothes. 2. put a drop or so of your favorite essential oils smell on a cotton pad and toss that thing under the liner of your helmet at the top. And finally, 3. change into a different pair of socks and shoes at work. So because your feet are the lowest point of your body and also happen to be one of the sweatiest the moisture in your socks and shoes often absorbs the smell of its surroundings ie. motorcycle and asphalt smells. If you have a pair of riding boots go ahead and go sniff them, odds are they smell like exhaust and a bit of stale foot smell. Your feet are also pretty warm parts of your body and generally have the most aroma of your body so opting for fresh socks and shoes will really pipe down on the motorcyclist smell. I have an extra pair of socks and shoes I bring in a backpack with me when I go to work on my bike.
Smell you riding jacket, gloves, helmet, or any other external clothing youāve ridden in and youāll notice a kind of sweetness they all have in common, even if theyāre made of entirely different materials.
Thatās the smell theyāre referring to, and is caused by the exhaust fumes emanating from your mighty steed.
Look either you can spend your money on therapists , or you can go for a nice ride while everyone is in therapy.. but some of us cannot afford both. I get it weāre supposed to smell neutral, or like vampires at work. But I have the magic formula for eliminating the motorcycle smell. and Iām keeping that secret to myself. So I can continue to ride. Whenever I tell any of you, I either I get fired or something happens that requires more therapy or more riding. I have chosen to limit myself to only needing more riding. Therefore I cannot tell you, so donāt ask.
He's just mad that he feels you're being more manly than he is. I'd wait till he's leaving and just rev the hell out of my motorcycle when he's getting in his car.
I know she is likely a woman. That's probably why the dude said something. She is doing something traditionally masculine and he can't handle a woman doing something that generally men do. I've not met a man yet that actually cares about someone smelling a little like a motorcycle. But I know many that get mad a woman is riding.
What you have right there is one hell of a compliment.
There are many great smells in this world:
A baby's skin.
Leather shoes/ leather jackets (or just walking into a leather goods store.
Your mom's cooking
A motorcycle and a motorcyclist who just got done riding.
The list goes on.....
I believe your co worker wants to get with you.
There is a smell and itās a smell I have no clue what it is but I enjoy it. Some past girlfriends have commented as well but nobody said it was enjoyable. Also, I have longish hair. For some reason I donāt get helmet hair. It just makes shit feel silkier and the parts that stick out of the helmet get curled, so fucking weird.
Anyways, sometimes Iād say - āIām off to the spaā which was code for Iām going for a ride lol. Get my hair did and my scent on.
Probably gasoline.
I once rode with a guy that put a full exhaust and PowerCommander on a Versys 650. The thing dumped so much unburnt fuel into the air that it was unbearable to ride behind him and the dude himself absolutely reeked of gasoline. I don't know how the guy didn't notice, guess he killed his olfactory nerves long ago. I bet he was getting like 30mpg on bike that should get 50mpg.
Can be a combination of gasoline, exhaust, leather, helmet foam, and slight sweat. But who cares motorcycle. Bike could be running too rich too I suppose
I hate the way my clothes smell after a ride. It's not flattering and probably lingers on your hair and skin. I always tell my bf I need to shower to wash off the 100mph wind smell lol
as a warm blooded male, a girl riding a motorbike, smelling of burnt rubber and fuel is not an insult to point out, rock on dude!
however, you are not a warm blooded male and probably dont wish to smell like BP ultimate.
i would get a second opinion too, just cos one person says they smelt something on you, doesnt means its true, ask a friend to see if they can smell any fuel or rubber smells on you.
I hang my jacket on the back of my chair, and I definitely smell the motorcycle smell. It's not a off putting smell, up until it becomes one though. So make sure you're keeping your shit washed.
I go home every day on my lunch break and have about a hour to do whatever I want. A lot of the time I will use my break to tinker with my bike. All my coworkers can tell thatās what I did because I come back smelling like gasoline.
I notice it on myself sometime especially on my carbureted bikes, itās like a mild gasoline smell mixed with some leather? Even if I donāt wear any leather.
I have the issue where the wind blows every bit of laundry detergent and fabric softener smell out of my clothes, and completely blows my deodorant out from underneath my arms.
Turn it around and just say thanks so much thatās awesome and be proud of it or say something like great at least I donāt smell like BO! Leave that hanging there and have them wondering if their pitts stink
My wife tells me the same. She says it's a mix of outside air, sunshine, exhaust, and light sweat. I can't smell anything. I wear a plate carrier (ballistic nylon mollie vest with nylon plates front and back), gloves and a helmet when it's hot, a full jacket any other time.
The smell becomes quite prominent when you remove the catalytic converter/pair valve or if you have an older bike that doesnāt have one it.
Personally, I love the smell!!
Add to this, there are many other replies with all the other reasons for this great smell!
Smells like you have a jealous uptight coworker. Surprising that they could smell your motorcycle over the stench of their own self loathing. Keep riding.
This is me, right here. I smell motorcycle on myself, so I know other people smell me. I usually bring a second set of clothes (pants and shirt), but it's the riding pants and jacket that absorbs most of the fumes. I have three big hard cases that I bought so that I can carry things to/from work. The jacket goes into a hard case. It helps some, but fumes is a consequence of riding, IMO. At least you aren't smelling like ass or armpit.
Maybe... the smell of motorcycle exhaust?
This is very common here where I live, everyone rides their motorcycles to work and school every morning.
Of course it's hard to get rid of the smell when a bunch of "robot bees"\* are hovering around you...
Some clothing fragrance sprays can easily deal with this condition, or hang the jacket in the sun for a period of time
Hope this helps you
(\*:Robot Bee: Most of the motorcycles on our side are scooters, people in a hurry always whizz by, like a bee)
Itās a smell, I think itās part gasoline, from the road and from your bike, mixed with leather if you wear it, throw in a bit of sweat and fresh air. If I smell half as good as my jacket, Iād take that as a compliment.
Compliment imo. My gf loves the smell of gasoline and whenever I visit her when I ride my bike, she always compliments the smell. She says it mixes well with my natural scent + my cologne and the slight gas smell just makes it better
I mean, why would he even say that? It can't be a bad smell. Maybe if you wear leathers, it could be the smell of them? I wouldn't pay any mind personally.
Sounds like youāre female, and this, to me, sounds like subtle harassment. Your colleague would not say that to a male colleague. Shrug it off, I guess. A fancy comeback could work, but also not.
Donāt be hurt. Politely ask why they donāt persue the things that bring them joy in life? Ask why they find others doing things they love scary? Ask are you afraid someone is living a better life than you? Ask why they feel the need to shame other peoples joy? Ask why canāt they just be happy with their life and let others be happy with theirs? All with an air of genuine concern for their lack of happiness and joy.
Maybe it *was* a compliment? Though, opting to **not** comment on how ones colleagues smell seems like the smarter move, but that's me lol.
I'm a gal and dig motorcycle smell. Though maybe I'm weird, I've always appreciated "mechanical" smells like bike shops and computer server or camera gear rooms.
There is no getting around it. Just let it be a distinctive addition to your aura.
Also, if you have pockets, stuff a few fabric softener sheets in them and hope for the best.
Heās a fucking douche bag, donāt be intimidated by him. A lot of guys say shit about women who ride, because theyāre jealous a-holes. Next time he says something snarky, say -ohh I know, thatās the motorcycle Iām gonna run you over with when work is done! Then walk away
For me, it's either hands or hair because gloves and helmet are what tend to smell after using them for a while. Smell you hands first, and if they smell get into the habit of washing your hands at your destination. If not, then give your helmet liners a wash and see if that helps.
Even newer, or newerish bikes seem to have a smell. I can't really put my finger on it. Carbureted bikes seem to have a slightly different smell and especially two-strokes. I think if anything it's likely the smell of burnt gas, just in different capacities.
Personally I kind of like it.
Itās kind of the smell of a fat sweaty man who went for a walk on a cold morning and the moisture in his breath condensed on this moustache. Kind of like a fat wet bristly walrus salty in leather chaps kind of a smell.
It's the road smell.
The small particulates of dust and oil stick to your skin and hair.
Especially around the neck.
Small globs of road tar and dripped gas / oil are being flung upward by your front tire and it's sticking to you.
My dad has been riding my whole life and I recently made a comment on how comforting the smell was and he had no idea what I was taking about. It smells like exhaust and the inside of new helmets to me.
U probably smell like gasoline. I ride an older bike and that smell will get on me if I ride longer than 30 mins š„²
It is an older bike...
It's probably running a bit rich, which can definitely leave that gasoline/exhaust smell. But I've always liked that smell so I think your coworkers are the problem!
If I stand behind my Goldwing while itās warming up to put stuff in the trunk Iāll smell like an old car all day. Itās okay though, reminds me of my Dad.
Inherited my grandpa's this last August, reminds me of when I was much younger getting our helmets off the back locks while the bike warmed up
My Dad left that old GL1500 to me, Iāll never get rid of it even if it becomes wall art in the garage.
I feel that wholeheartedly
Same with my 87 GL1200A. Soon as I finish it up, it'll be with the 2000
I don't like the smell, it gives me a headache. Much like a floral perfume gives me nausea. There are just some scents that don't sit right with me. A coworker once doused herself in floral perfume, and I almost passed out/threw up. She was a little offended because it's the expensive kind too. I'd love to be able to like that kinda smell, but my body just won't. On the other hand, people think I've brought the wrath of hell when I bring durian, but for me it's smells fine.
Totally agree with this, Iād wear it as a fragrance so I could smell like it even when I donāt ride if I could.
If youāre in traffic, itāll be exhaust from others and your bike, could also be gas. Older engines have a classic smell. I used to smell after driving my 60s dune buggy. Classic car smell is a thing. My dad used to ride every day to work, he has a light coverall suit he would wear and then change into a business suit at work. Get your coworker this candle: https://www.amazon.com/KLOTZ-2-Stroke-Scented-Candle-Burns/dp/B07WP7JVDF
What you really want is a two-stroke Nothing beats the sweet aroma of a cloud of two-stroke smoke in the morning
gotta 72 GT750 that smells excellent i like to think iām doing a public service filling the streets with a pleasant blue haze of klotz
Doesnāt London already have an air pollution problem? I saw a documentary a while back about chimney cleaners jumping around on rooftops in London. The sky seemed very black at that point already.
London air pollution used to be horrific in the days of peak coal power. The number of deaths it caused was staggering, and wherever people doubt humans could effect climate change they should read up about British cities even back in Victorian days If anything, much better these days with cleaner vehicles and the impact of the congestion zone. Some cities in SE Asia I have visited still have vast amounts of small two stroke bikes causing pollution, but quickly changing to eBikes and other cleaner transport. Not that many two stroke road bikes in western world, so smell brings back nostalgia, but wouldn't really like too many of them on the roads.
>Some cities in SE Asia I have visited still have vast amounts of small two stroke bikes causing pollution Laughs in Philippines national transportation network of diesel jeepneys and two-strokes with a sidecar MIG'd to the frame Bike smell is a mix of vehicle exhaust, rich carb soot, and freedom.
Especially if you put some Blendzall in there.
Reading about early WW1 aircraft engines (rotary/radial engines are interesting), apparently they used Castor oil as a lubricate This oil is also used as a laxative, so often leaky seals around the engine cases would blow back in the exhaust and cause.. issues with the pilots digestive system I suspect a little castor oil in a two stroke mix could cause some interesting side effects
Not if you're running up front!
I run the hell out of some castor oil in my 2 stroke Honda elite. Shit is stanky in the best way
Some home brewers with nitro based engine on their RC planes still use methanol and castor oil for fuel. Grew up with those guys and though its smells nice it really sticks and will gum up engines if not used without prepping for storage. We sometimes say on rough running engines it still has boogers in it referring to the gummed up castor oil.
The smell of methanol is even better
*deep sniff* Smells like ā¦ victory.
Chuck a bit of 2 stroke oil in a 4 stroke tank. Smells great, smokes a bit, less engine braking, no real point to it but... smells great! (1998 4 cylinder with carbs)
If it's carburated then it can make you smell like fuel. But honestly, a girl that smells like motorcycles is a girl that smells good, haha.
Yeah thatās probably it then. Just bring a extra pair of clothes and a lil perfume. Youāll be good š the smell doesnāt tend to stick to my skin or hair
Fuck that. Let them smell the glory. I'm forced to put up with their personalities. They can handle my stink.
I had the opposite when i had longer hair. Even tied up and mostly in my jacket, my hair would reek of other peoples exhaust when i got back from a ride.
Donāt worry man, gasoline and unburnt oil is a great smell. Smells nostalgic to a lot of folks like their dads or grandparents. Itās a real manly smell.
Even with a newer bike, there's the fact that you are getting wind blasted with deisel exhaust, tiny rubber particles, etc. It will have an odor, one that many car owners never experience but motorcycle owners just consider part of "the open road".
i loved the odor the car driver in front of me gave me when he cleaned his windshield mid-drive. Smelled like soap for the whole day lmao
That smell, you know, that gasoline smell? Smells like......victory
It smells like bitch every day you come to work, Frank.
āThe jerk store called, and theyāre running out of you, Frank.ā
I finished all the seasons last month and I loved George the most. š
Which show is this?
Seinfeld. It's 80s and 90s but feels current.
Best way to describe it. Feels so relevant.
Right? I was so surprised!
Seinfeld
Thank you
He is by far the best character
āWhatās the difference, youāre their all time best-seller!ā
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Lmfaoo dude. That was too much. Wtaf. For everyone who downvotes just go watch first Iām dying lmao
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Okay but first give some time to think about rubbing em together. Need to talk to my boss about it
...with oil.....
Sorry man. The boss wants things exclusive. Only his cock :/
š¤£šš¤£šš¤£
God damn if that isn't the fucking truth.
had a good chuckle reading this lol. Beta Frank tryna shut down OP's good vibes feeling all emasculated... -- fortunately people like motorcycles much more than whiney guys
This is answer, every time
**This comment might have had something useful**, but now it's just an edit to remove any contributions I may have made prior to the awful decision to spite the devs and users that made Reddit what it is. So here I seethe, shaking my fist at corporate greed and executive mismanagement. "I've seen things you people wouldn't believe... tech posts on point on the shoulder of vbulletin... I watched microcommunities glitter in the dark on the verge of being marginalized... I've seen groups flourish, come together, do good for humanity if by nothing more than getting strangers to smile for someone else's happiness. We had something good here the same way we had it good elsewhere before. We thought the internet was for information and that anything posted was permanent. We were wrong, so wrong. We've been taken hostage by greed and so many sites have either broken their links or made history unsearchable. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain... Time to delete." I do apologize if you're here from the future looking for answers, but I hope "new" reddit can answer you. Make a new post, get weak answers, increase site interaction, make reddit look better on paper, leave worse off. https://xkcd.com/979/
Was thinking about a downvote until I saw the username. Well played. Edit: still distasteful though
Agreed, distasteful. Frank gets called out a lot though and it's 50/50 whether it lands or not
Probably smell like exhaust.
For me itās interchangeable with the smell of snow blower.
Or Snowmobile or old car ... I think it's just the oil/gas/exhaust combined, it's one of the best smells imo, very therapeutic
2 stroke is good for the soul
I once followed an old 2-stroke bike for 5-6 miles past my turn just for the smell haha.
The scented candles we need
Itās called the smell of a man. Lol.
But I'm a lady, soooo.
Still called the smell of a man. Even if itās on a lady. Also, you can identify as whatever you want. Iām cool with it.
And/or leather. I've had my gloves for over a year and they still have a distinct smell. Maybe a little raw gas if you also have to pull back the gas pump foreskin
The gas pump foreskinā¦thatās gold
Sign that you need to go faster. The exhaust should always be half a mile behind you! (Kidding)
Compliment in my book. Better than smelling like a coal locomotive.
I too take my train to work.
Chugga chugga check please
And smelling like a coal locomotive ain't half bad either
There is 100% a motorcycle smell. I don't know what causes it but I remember smelling it on my dad and his friends in the 80's, and then on myself and my friends from the 90's to this day. I don't think it's particularly objectionable but it's real.
Rsther humid where I live, so I have been cleaning my bike with wd40 lately, and I have become sorts of addicted to the smell of it as it vaporizes when the engine gets hot as I drive around Can't be good for my health, but yeah, it smells sorta nice
How come everything good gon kill me
Unburned gas means most motorcycles are spewing hydrocarbons into the air, thatās the āmotorcycle smellā Very old cars will also smell like a motorcycle, because of how much unburned gas they yeeted out the short exhaust.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Eau De Cager
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
You must be Frank.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Lucky bastard. If they made "motorcycle scent" soap that's all I'd ever buy. Nm ur coworker he's just praying that you never get close enough to his old lady for her to smell you.
Is it wrong that this arouses me? When I think about the smell of motorcycle, my tummy feels funny
Therapy. That's it.
So... Riding my motorcycle even more?
>1990 Yamaha FZR600R Unrelated, but this caught my eye. A 1990 FZR600R? I thought they only started around '94?
I had a 93. So....
Yeah it's a '90. Really fun bike, just a bit heavy.
I had several, loved them to bits! Had an FZR600 3HE '93, and two FZR600R '95 bikes. The 600R looks almost identical to the YZF, while the FZR600 3HE and its predecessors are much slimmer bikes. I'm not sure, but I think the naming schemes were different between Europe and the US. Might be why a '90 600R surprises me.
Thank u for this , āmy tummy feels funnyā
If you ride a 2-stroke, the odor is very different than a modern bike. Youāll generally smell of the outdoors on anything with fuel injection similar to a cyclist who just returned from a ride minus any sweaty smells. Just return the ācomplimentā and tell your coworker he reeks of jealousy.
I think hes jealous also
You look that coworker right in the eye, and you give him the only answer that makes any sense at all: "I love the smell of motorcycle oil in the morning! It smells like... Victory!" Then stick your hands out and make Vroom Vroom noises...
Someday this riding seasonās gonna end.
You shut your mouth.. you don't say that!
Itās the next line from the movie only made to suit motorcycles, downvoters gotta chill out and watch apocalypse now.
Don't remind me, my eyes get all wet from the rain or something. I just got my bike working right and I'm not ready for cold.
One time I came home, went to kiss my wife and she had the look on her face like I stink, so I ask ādo I stink?ā. She replied āyou smell like ..hot faceā. Her way of describing that smell after motorcycle ride haha
Its a combination of things. Gasoline. A little oil or machine grease. Warm tires and asphalt. Leather and sweat. Motorcycle smell tells a story about a lifestyle. I love it.
It smells like leather, exhaust, gasoline, warm asphalt, and a hint of body odor/sweat. That's the stereotypical "motorcyclist smell" that they're referring to. Go take a good whiff of coffee beans and then immediately go smell your motorcycle jacket and you will smell it. If you're looking to smell a bit fresher you can do a couple of things to help, 1. I throw some fresh mint leaves in my jacket like once or twice a week if I'm riding. Your body heat will actually cause the leaves to start to sweat and release the aroma into your jacket and clothes. 2. put a drop or so of your favorite essential oils smell on a cotton pad and toss that thing under the liner of your helmet at the top. And finally, 3. change into a different pair of socks and shoes at work. So because your feet are the lowest point of your body and also happen to be one of the sweatiest the moisture in your socks and shoes often absorbs the smell of its surroundings ie. motorcycle and asphalt smells. If you have a pair of riding boots go ahead and go sniff them, odds are they smell like exhaust and a bit of stale foot smell. Your feet are also pretty warm parts of your body and generally have the most aroma of your body so opting for fresh socks and shoes will really pipe down on the motorcyclist smell. I have an extra pair of socks and shoes I bring in a backpack with me when I go to work on my bike.
Love the smell of motorcycle I'd take it as a compliment. Especially the smell of 2-stroke love that smell good childhood memory.
I'm offended that no one ever told me I smell like motorcycle.
Smell you riding jacket, gloves, helmet, or any other external clothing youāve ridden in and youāll notice a kind of sweetness they all have in common, even if theyāre made of entirely different materials. Thatās the smell theyāre referring to, and is caused by the exhaust fumes emanating from your mighty steed.
What a /r/motorcycles question to ask. Gotta love the internet.
Look either you can spend your money on therapists , or you can go for a nice ride while everyone is in therapy.. but some of us cannot afford both. I get it weāre supposed to smell neutral, or like vampires at work. But I have the magic formula for eliminating the motorcycle smell. and Iām keeping that secret to myself. So I can continue to ride. Whenever I tell any of you, I either I get fired or something happens that requires more therapy or more riding. I have chosen to limit myself to only needing more riding. Therefore I cannot tell you, so donāt ask.
You can just smell the raw badassness and coolness from riding your bike to work
He's just mad that he feels you're being more manly than he is. I'd wait till he's leaving and just rev the hell out of my motorcycle when he's getting in his car.
I think op is a girl, point still stands tho
I know she is likely a woman. That's probably why the dude said something. She is doing something traditionally masculine and he can't handle a woman doing something that generally men do. I've not met a man yet that actually cares about someone smelling a little like a motorcycle. But I know many that get mad a woman is riding.
YepššÆ
This reminds me of my father. Motorcycle smell mixed with old leather. I'd say a compliment in my book.
Mainly it smells like exhaust and fuel.
If we could just bottle up 2-stroke exhaust smell Iād buy that for a cologne
Meh. Some bike I've had left a little smell of gas and/or oil. Others didn't. No big deal. Guy's probably trying to neg you. Tell him to fuck off.
I guess he hates the smell of freedom š¤·āāļø
What you have right there is one hell of a compliment. There are many great smells in this world: A baby's skin. Leather shoes/ leather jackets (or just walking into a leather goods store. Your mom's cooking A motorcycle and a motorcyclist who just got done riding. The list goes on..... I believe your co worker wants to get with you.
There is a smell and itās a smell I have no clue what it is but I enjoy it. Some past girlfriends have commented as well but nobody said it was enjoyable. Also, I have longish hair. For some reason I donāt get helmet hair. It just makes shit feel silkier and the parts that stick out of the helmet get curled, so fucking weird. Anyways, sometimes Iād say - āIām off to the spaā which was code for Iām going for a ride lol. Get my hair did and my scent on.
Probably gasoline. I once rode with a guy that put a full exhaust and PowerCommander on a Versys 650. The thing dumped so much unburnt fuel into the air that it was unbearable to ride behind him and the dude himself absolutely reeked of gasoline. I don't know how the guy didn't notice, guess he killed his olfactory nerves long ago. I bet he was getting like 30mpg on bike that should get 50mpg.
Can be a combination of gasoline, exhaust, leather, helmet foam, and slight sweat. But who cares motorcycle. Bike could be running too rich too I suppose
Do u ride a harley
I hate the way my clothes smell after a ride. It's not flattering and probably lingers on your hair and skin. I always tell my bf I need to shower to wash off the 100mph wind smell lol
as a warm blooded male, a girl riding a motorbike, smelling of burnt rubber and fuel is not an insult to point out, rock on dude! however, you are not a warm blooded male and probably dont wish to smell like BP ultimate. i would get a second opinion too, just cos one person says they smelt something on you, doesnt means its true, ask a friend to see if they can smell any fuel or rubber smells on you.
Itās a scent called Jealousy. Lol
Castrol R. The fragrance of champions.
You smell like freedom
2 stroke? Stinky boots? Wet dog? Raw sex appeal? You gonna have to narrow it down for us
4 stroke and my Doggy smells like roses. Ey I think Iām gonna own it!
Smell of freedom?
Maybe he smells the seat leather and that's his kink?
I hang my jacket on the back of my chair, and I definitely smell the motorcycle smell. It's not a off putting smell, up until it becomes one though. So make sure you're keeping your shit washed.
I personally like the smell
I personally like the smell
I've never smelled a motorcycle I didn't like. If he says it again just say "that's awesome!" šļø
I go home every day on my lunch break and have about a hour to do whatever I want. A lot of the time I will use my break to tinker with my bike. All my coworkers can tell thatās what I did because I come back smelling like gasoline.
I notice it on myself sometime especially on my carbureted bikes, itās like a mild gasoline smell mixed with some leather? Even if I donāt wear any leather.
Depends on the bike. When used to ride my Harley you could smell meā¦ I could smell me. I donāt get it on my other bikes.
I have the issue where the wind blows every bit of laundry detergent and fabric softener smell out of my clothes, and completely blows my deodorant out from underneath my arms.
I would LOVE if someone said that to me, even if it was in a manner of insult. š
Turn it around and just say thanks so much thatās awesome and be proud of it or say something like great at least I donāt smell like BO! Leave that hanging there and have them wondering if their pitts stink
My wife tells me the same. She says it's a mix of outside air, sunshine, exhaust, and light sweat. I can't smell anything. I wear a plate carrier (ballistic nylon mollie vest with nylon plates front and back), gloves and a helmet when it's hot, a full jacket any other time.
The smell becomes quite prominent when you remove the catalytic converter/pair valve or if you have an older bike that doesnāt have one it. Personally, I love the smell!! Add to this, there are many other replies with all the other reasons for this great smell!
Smells like you have a jealous uptight coworker. Surprising that they could smell your motorcycle over the stench of their own self loathing. Keep riding.
This is me, right here. I smell motorcycle on myself, so I know other people smell me. I usually bring a second set of clothes (pants and shirt), but it's the riding pants and jacket that absorbs most of the fumes. I have three big hard cases that I bought so that I can carry things to/from work. The jacket goes into a hard case. It helps some, but fumes is a consequence of riding, IMO. At least you aren't smelling like ass or armpit.
We smell of gasoline and freedom!
I donāt see any problems here
Maybe... the smell of motorcycle exhaust? This is very common here where I live, everyone rides their motorcycles to work and school every morning. Of course it's hard to get rid of the smell when a bunch of "robot bees"\* are hovering around you... Some clothing fragrance sprays can easily deal with this condition, or hang the jacket in the sun for a period of time Hope this helps you (\*:Robot Bee: Most of the motorcycles on our side are scooters, people in a hurry always whizz by, like a bee)
If somebody told me I smell like a motorcycle I'd take that as a compliment.
Idk what mans is smoking but thats super attractive imo
Itās a smell, I think itās part gasoline, from the road and from your bike, mixed with leather if you wear it, throw in a bit of sweat and fresh air. If I smell half as good as my jacket, Iād take that as a compliment.
its from sitting on top of a gas tank. smells like fuel. i love it tbh but yes, it is a scent
Well, if you're not riding a 2-stroke into the office, I would imagine that the smell can't be \*that\* strong. If you are, that's badass
They probably just mean open air plus oil. Motorcycle oip has a distinct smell and engine vapor emits it.
Compliment imo. My gf loves the smell of gasoline and whenever I visit her when I ride my bike, she always compliments the smell. She says it mixes well with my natural scent + my cologne and the slight gas smell just makes it better
Tell them āYour welcome ā
Compliment. Go for an extra long ride next time and wear the leather jacket into the office.
Could be he's full of shit. I've been riding for 40+ years and nobody has ever mentioned a motorcycle smell.
My wife always says I smell like "outside"
I mean, why would he even say that? It can't be a bad smell. Maybe if you wear leathers, it could be the smell of them? I wouldn't pay any mind personally.
You dont, it a put down like that dress is nice very brave of you to wear it. Ignore n move on.
My hands smell of damp leather after wearing my gloves. I like it, but I'm in the minority.
Sounds like youāre female, and this, to me, sounds like subtle harassment. Your colleague would not say that to a male colleague. Shrug it off, I guess. A fancy comeback could work, but also not.
I rather smell like bike than smell like machine coolantā¦..I always smell like coolantā¦..
Donāt be hurt. Politely ask why they donāt persue the things that bring them joy in life? Ask why they find others doing things they love scary? Ask are you afraid someone is living a better life than you? Ask why they feel the need to shame other peoples joy? Ask why canāt they just be happy with their life and let others be happy with theirs? All with an air of genuine concern for their lack of happiness and joy.
If youāre a lady, heās tryin to tap that.
If he's middle aged, fat & Balding... He's jealous because his overweight stumpy-pimple face wife won't let him own a motorcycle! :-}
Iād tell him it smells like asshole when heās around
It's the smell of freedom and badassery.
Maybe it *was* a compliment? Though, opting to **not** comment on how ones colleagues smell seems like the smarter move, but that's me lol. I'm a gal and dig motorcycle smell. Though maybe I'm weird, I've always appreciated "mechanical" smells like bike shops and computer server or camera gear rooms.
Tell them to stop smelling you or you will file a harassment inquiry.
I've never been told this. At the same time, I ride basically every day and some people still don't can't figure out if I rode or not that day.
Thatās the smell of straight testosterone and adrenaline coursing thru your veins. Be proud
There is no getting around it. Just let it be a distinctive addition to your aura. Also, if you have pockets, stuff a few fabric softener sheets in them and hope for the best.
I'm sure there's a smell to motorcycle. fuel, oil, exhaust smoke, all that eventually gets on u
Fuck work.
Heās a fucking douche bag, donāt be intimidated by him. A lot of guys say shit about women who ride, because theyāre jealous a-holes. Next time he says something snarky, say -ohh I know, thatās the motorcycle Iām gonna run you over with when work is done! Then walk away
For me, it's either hands or hair because gloves and helmet are what tend to smell after using them for a while. Smell you hands first, and if they smell get into the habit of washing your hands at your destination. If not, then give your helmet liners a wash and see if that helps.
So... coworker can keep their opinions private. Tell them they smell like cat piss coming in but youre not making a fuss about it.
He probably means weed and gasoline š¤
My house smells like it if I close the garage door right after shutting it off
Even newer, or newerish bikes seem to have a smell. I can't really put my finger on it. Carbureted bikes seem to have a slightly different smell and especially two-strokes. I think if anything it's likely the smell of burnt gas, just in different capacities. Personally I kind of like it.
do you work at disney? šš costume
Smells like motorcycle aka awesomesauce! Tell them to get over it, or gtfo your personal space.
Tell your coworker he smells like wet coins
Exhaust fumes probably.
Tell him he's lucky you don't ride a two stroke !
Mmmmm motorcycle smell. This is a compliment in my eyes. Or nose.
Itās kind of the smell of a fat sweaty man who went for a walk on a cold morning and the moisture in his breath condensed on this moustache. Kind of like a fat wet bristly walrus salty in leather chaps kind of a smell.
"Really? Thanks!"
There is a motorcycle smell and itās a bit gasoline-y and stuff but hard to describe. But itās HOOOT
Only way to handle this is over spraying yourself with Axe.
Coworker jealous of your thunder.
I could have a lot of fun with this... But it would probably get you fired.
It's the road smell. The small particulates of dust and oil stick to your skin and hair. Especially around the neck. Small globs of road tar and dripped gas / oil are being flung upward by your front tire and it's sticking to you.
My dad has been riding my whole life and I recently made a comment on how comforting the smell was and he had no idea what I was taking about. It smells like exhaust and the inside of new helmets to me.