Exhaust Suddenly Got Deeper and Fan

[k]

Shortly after I crested some hilly twisties, I noticed the exhaust was deeper. The bike still runs strong, and all cylinders mist water on the header pipes, but the exhaust suddenly developed a deeper tone, not outrageously different, but just different enough for its daily rider to notice. Do mufflers wear out? Did I spring a leak? Did I crack a seam?

While I was squirting water and snooping around for exhaust leaks, I let the bike idle for about 10 minutes. It's about 85 outside. The temp light came on, and I could smell glycol. That never happened before. Quickly shut it off. The smell dissipated, and I didn't see any coolant on the ground. Shouldn't I be able to idle the bike indefinitely? Do I have a fan out?

Thanks for the thoughts.

[Laitch]

Do I have a fan out?

Yes. Check the blades to see if they'll rotate easily by pushing them with a long screwdriver or dowel. Check the electrical circuit using diagrams from this site.

[Martin]

Easiest way to check for exhaust leaks is to stick a vacuum cleaner hose, set on blow wrapped in a rag up your exhaust pipe. You can substitute compressor air hose wrapped in a rag. Then spray your exhaust with a mixture of water and detergent, if you see bubbles you have a leak.
Regards Martin.

[kris]

How many miles on this machine? It's not inconceivable that something internal in the exhaust let go....

[k]

Kris,

A ton. Really impossible to know.

[Chaos]

The bike still runs strong, ...... but the exhaust suddenly developed a deeper tone,

Congratulations!  Your bike finally passed adolescence! :clap:

[Laitch]

Your bike finally passed adolescence! :clap:

How quickly they grow up. Bittersweet.

[Chaos]

Kris,

A ton. Really impossible to know.

Somewhere, on some forum, there was a chart for figuring K bike mileage by how far down the little pyramids on the brake pedal had worn.  Probably BMWMOA.org but those elitist a**hole snobs banned my cheap arse for being too cheap to pay their idiotic ransom every year.

[Laitch]

Somewhere, on some forum, there was a chart for figuring K bike mileage by how far down the little pyramids on the brake pedal had worn. r.

Well, there's always this thread for preliminary calculation.

[k]

Shortly after I crested some hilly twisties, I noticed the exhaust was deeper. The bike still runs strong, and all cylinders mist water on the header pipes, but the exhaust suddenly developed a deeper tone, not outrageously different, but just different enough for its daily rider to notice. Do mufflers wear out? Did I spring a leak? Did I crack a seam?

Found a large hole in top of muffler.

[Martin]

Very interesting. I don't want this to sound personal but I'm sure lots of inmates would love a picture of your exhaust hole, the bricks hole not yours.  :nono
Regards Martin.