After a decent ride yesterday I noticed a hot brakes smell at as I pulled up to stop lights. When I got home I realized it was my bike, I felt the rear brake rotor and it was smoking hot. I don't ride the brakes while I ride and I wasn't slowing the bike from speed so I think the rear brake pads are dragging on the rotor. The bike seems to roll freely enough in neutral so it's not like they're locked up but I don't have a way to get the rear wheel off to see how smooth it is turning by hand. If these pads were brand new I would understand but they have over a thousand miles on them and I've never noticed this issue before. I did ride in a big thunderstorm yesterday but I don't know what that would have to do with it. Any ideas?
Actually, you DO have a way to see if the rear wheel spins freely (this works, as long as you are tall/strong enough to manage it but actually does not require much force):
1) Put the bike on the side stand
2) Position yourself on the kick stand side of the bike
3) Turn the wheel to the right
4) Pull the bike towards you and forward so that the bike stands on the kick stand and front wheel (when balanced properly, this is actually quite easy to do but may seem awkward the first time to try it)
5) Have a friend (wife, boyfriend, whatever...) spin the back wheel with bike in neutral and see if it drags
Here is a video that demonstrates the same principle, which can be used to actually spin a bike around 180°
http://youtu.be/uWWnf0niufk
In terms of why your back brake would be dragging, debris may have gotten in the caliper if you were riding in wet conditions. Some compressed air, brake cleaner and a visual inspection would be a good start. If it's not related to that, then I'd check your rear brake fluid as well as the action on the caliper when you pump the brake.
Hope that helps.
