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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Humming noise at midrange speeds
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Message started by luckylouie82 on 08/03/17 at 19:37:11

Title: Humming noise at midrange speeds
Post by luckylouie82 on 08/03/17 at 19:37:11

2011 s40 3300 miles. Never noticed any unsusal noises while riding until tonight. Riding two up with wife, when I got to between 40 and 50 mph a loud whirring or humming noise started to develop. Non existent at lower speed and seemed to go away at higher speed. While noise is present, it did seem to respond to throttle position, i.e. at midrange throttle it seemed the loudest. Any ideas? I was thinking belt at first, but I don't understand how that would only happen at that speed. Throttle or carb I would think would cause the noise at any speed as long as the throttle is in the right place. So I'm lost! Thanks in advance for the help everyone

Title: Re: Humming noise at midrange speeds
Post by Ruttly on 08/03/17 at 21:34:57

Zip up your fly !

Title: Re: Humming noise at midrange speeds
Post by verslagen1 on 08/03/17 at 22:28:18

check the easy things 1st, speedo, headlight, any part on the bike that can come loose. just put your hand on it and if it goes away then you know what to fix.

Title: Re: Humming noise at midrange speeds
Post by Dave on 08/04/17 at 04:09:11

As Verslagen said.....the headlight trim ring and speedo can make a lot of noise. I thought my cam/rockers were coming apart....turned out to be my headlight. A full face helmet can collect and amplify those sounds.

Also uneven tire wear can make those kind of sounds - check your air pressure and see if the sound only happens when you ride double.

Title: Re: Humming noise at midrange speeds
Post by Gary_in_NJ on 08/04/17 at 05:37:44

You mentioned that the noise occurred while riding two up. Is it present while riding solo? If not, I would suspect the belt drive, the muffler connection or possibly something rubbing on the tire.

Title: Re: Humming noise at midrange speeds
Post by luckylouie82 on 08/04/17 at 11:01:49

I haven't ridden again since last night. I'll ride solo in the morning and see if it went away. Maybe it was some tire rub.

Title: Re: Humming noise at midrange speeds
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 08/04/17 at 11:16:12

If it's not still noisy hit the same road and see if it's the road.

Title: Re: Humming noise at midrange speeds
Post by norm92de on 08/04/17 at 14:10:15

My bike has almost the same problem. A sort of hollow whine that starts at 40, peaks at 45, stops at 50.

I have not been able to trace it yet:
I've even coasted downhill with the engine off, also disconnected the speedo. Changed the tire pressures. Adjusted the belt all over the spectrum. Nothing changes it. I am fearful that it is the output shaft bearings or gear whine. :'(

Title: Re: Humming noise at midrange speeds
Post by luckylouie82 on 08/04/17 at 14:42:00

Yes! That describes it perfect. Definitely not the road. I ride same roads all the time.

Title: Re: Humming noise at midrange speeds
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 08/04/17 at 14:49:23

Belt teeth have to engage the pulley, loose or tight,

Title: Re: Humming noise at midrange speeds
Post by Dave on 08/05/17 at 04:37:15

If it is gear noise....don't worry about it. There really are very few problems that come from the gear box and transmission on this bike.

The gears can make a bit of a whine at certain speeds and throttle settings - it is nothing to worry about as long as it doesn't get louder as the miles rack up.

Title: Re: Humming noise at midrange speeds
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 08/05/17 at 05:12:11

If you're not using Rotella T, now is a good time to start.

Title: Re: Humming noise at midrange speeds
Post by Papa Bear on 08/05/17 at 05:59:54

As EAGLES -Take It Easy - recommends:

"Don't let the sound of your own wheels drive you crazy" 8-)

Title: Re: Humming noise at midrange speeds
Post by ohiomoto on 08/05/17 at 07:42:25

33080512030F141209010C13600 wrote:

-----------------------

Yeah, mine whines a ton on deceleration. It's been doing that since I picked it up with low miles so I assumed (actually hoped) that it was normal. I've put more than 4k problem free miles on it since I've owned it.

Title: Re: Humming noise at midrange speeds
Post by Rodger on 08/05/17 at 10:15:30

My bought-new S40 has that same deceleration whine. Since it's my first belt drive, I thought it might be that, but someone on the forum likened it to the whine of a military Jeep tranny. Sure 'nuff, the belt adjustment was fine & running in center of sprockets...and just got used to the whine as "pleasantly quirkie."

Title: Re: Humming noise at midrange speeds
Post by luckylouie82 on 08/05/17 at 21:45:47

I wouldnt be so sensitive to it if itd had been doing it since ive owned the bike, but its a new sound, that says to me something has changed. Took the bike out solo tonight and its still making the same noise. I've almost convinced myself that its rear tire or wheel bearing noise. Nearly certain that its coming from the back of the bike. Seems like really low miles to have worn out either though

Title: Re: Humming noise at midrange speeds
Post by batman on 08/06/17 at 12:23:05

It doesn't sound like it should happen at such low miles but I'd check to make sure your front drive pulley is tight (torque 94 ft/lbs) if loose it can move in and out and rub on the inside or the cover against the raised ridges,you'll see wear marks there if the pulley is floating on the shaft.

Title: Re: Humming noise at midrange speeds
Post by norm92de on 08/06/17 at 14:38:11

My situation sounds identical. I rode this morning and it is very annoying.

It seemed to start when I changed the oil and adjusted the belt. Logically, you would say it was caused by what I did to the bike. I have since adjusted the belt and no matter what I have done no change whatsoever. It is definitely not the speedo and it is still there when coasting with the engine shut down. It also seems to come from the rear of the bike. By the way the bike has only 6000 miles on it and otherwise runs really well.

Title: Re: Humming noise at midrange speeds
Post by Savageman on 08/06/17 at 16:54:04

I found that the springs that hold down the Speedo buzz loudly at cert speeds. Try tightening them a litle and or put a piece of rubber tubing in place of the springs. Hmm buzz vibration noise gone from the speedo area.

Title: Re: Humming noise at midrange speeds
Post by LANCER on 08/08/17 at 11:02:41

When you are checking things do not neglect looking and feeling the wheel bearings (front and rear) and the front fork oil level. When I got my '96 it was brand new and I didn't think about that, I just assumed that it MUST have been serviced when it was impact from the crate. WRONG !
There was no oil in the forks and the wheel bearings were virtually dry.
After tending to these basic things it was amazing how much better it rode.
So take a good look around, you never know.