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Several times on this board we have talked about high pitched sounds from our bikes. I thought we all were probably talking about the same sounds, but discribing them differently. The first and loudest high pitched sound, and the one I most dislike, is more like a whistle, chirp, or bird worble. I notice this chirp most when pulling hard or at higher speeds except when wind noise drowns it out. This one has caused me to look for exhaust leaks, but I am not finding them. The second sound is from the transmission area and is noticable only at low speeds generally in third gear. I don't mind this one; it kind of reminds me of the old Triumph cars. The third sound is not high pitched and is more felt than heard. It's when in second gear and at low speeds. It is a loop, reminding me of working on a old belt driven lathe or milling machine back in the 50s while in high school. Do you folks have these sounds or is each bike different with different sounds?
Dave

Haven'r heard any of those. But with 30+ years in an industrial environment - Not so sure my ears can detect those noises anymore.

Chirps and squeeks generally aren't exhaust - they're generall metal on metal - That could be normal chain noise, could be brake noise, or, any other source where metals contact. If you hear a noise on under certain circumstances, it's generally related to the conditions that are present at the time - i.e., if you hear a noise ONLY in second gear, I'd lean toward gearbox noise. Keep in mind chains are noisy buggers - even when lubed to the max and aligned perfectly - When you're along side a barrier, wall, bridge rail, that noise is amplified.

Most of that noise is from the geared Primary drive. The rest is from the gearbox. For technical reasons, Belt and chain drive (and a lot of shaft drive) bikes use straight cut gears in the primary drive and gearbox.
With geared primary, the input shaft on the gearbox turns backward (unless the engine runs backward) so there is no way to make a true direct drive gear like they can with a chain/belt primary. This means there will always be a bit of gear noise in every gear.

Thanks Greybeard and Piper. You will have to excuse the new rider. I only have 2600 miles under my belt. I guess these machines are just tougher than my sole wants to believe. I am just going to ride and enjoy. If something goes wrong, well there is the great warrenty that we have.
Dave

If you still have the AI installed, that could be the source of the chirping noise....

Grump, you convinced me to remove the AI about 1300 miles ago. I also turned out the fuel/air mixture to 3 turns after getting a D tool from Brent. I drilled a series of holes around the back end of the mufflers. At least at 40 I can now here the engine a little.
Dave

Simmer,

AHHH, forget what those old coots are tellin' ya!

It's the mating sound of the Red-breasted Trumpet Bird! This species thrives of the remains of dinosaur guts which is found mostly in the arid regions of the Middle East. It has been known to cause great interest in humans when the rare sighting has occured.

You must, at all costs, never let it's parasitic "bug", that lives off of it's existence, BITE YOU, as there is NO known cure for the....."Triumph Fever"!

Dwight
(yeah...the G-men and pipedr are right)

I sometimes feel a pulsing or roughness in second gear on acceleration...low/mid RPM. Is that what you're talking about in second gear? No other odd vibes or sounds.

During the first ride bringing the new BA home I noticed a whine that most here blew off as me 'whining'... turned out to be a badly cut gear requiring replacement of several gears and shafts in the transmission. The noise sounded like the change from riding on smooth pavement to riding on grooved, so much so that I'd look around to see what happened. It was only in 4th gear (didn't have a tach at the time). The mechanic working on it knew it was something wrong. Also had a bad noise that got worse with rpm, that turned out to be one of the wire loops that hold the cables above the headlight shell. The loop would vibrate off the shell and make a heck of a racket. All it took was bending it up a bit. But both noises were noticeable even to those riding with me.
So everything is not always 'normal' or engine related. Sometimes it takes someone else riding your machine to give you a second opinion to identify something as a valid concern or not.

My bike has a vibration in second gear at low revs....sort of a sympathetic vib that surges in and out.........you can feel it in smooth parking lots at low revs...

Well it sounds like Dannyboy and Gibson722 have the same second gear that I have. It's nice to know I am not the only one.
Dave

I kinda figured that the counter balancer works great all the time and second gear just has some freaky thing that sets up some symp vibes.....i felt the vib the first week i had the bike

Simmer, I have heard the same sound on mine, more of a whistle when the engine is pulling at about 50. It comes and goes. I have been told it is a plug missing in the air box. I did find a rubber plug in my driveway after I washed it last year sometime, but hav'nt checked the box to see if it is missing or not. I'm not too wooried about it, but I believe it is definetly an air associated noise and not bearing or grease related. AI is removed and carrbs adjusted.