Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech Help: Funny Sound Up Front

Here's hoping you all with more aptitude for this sort of thing will be able to help (my ability with all things mechanical is somewhere south of the the sub basement).

When I hit a bump on my 08 America, I often here a tinkling sound from up front. "Tinkling" is a silly word, but it's hard to describe. Best I can do is to say it sounds about like five or six quarters bouncing on top of each other.

The sound was pretty intermittent at first but has become more frequent.

I've tried hard to pinpoint where it's coming from, but with wind noise and the acoustics inside a helmet I've had no luck. I think, though, that it originates up top, near the bars or triple tree.

I've checked every visible nut and fastener, and none are the cause.

I'm concerned because I don't want to hurt myself or the bike. Any thoughts, oh wise ones?

chain hitting the sprocket cover

Fairies in the front end. See an exorcist imediately.

Seriously though, the chain may be a little slack. Check to see how much play there is and adjust so that there is approx 1 inch movement halfway along the chain.

If your America is fitted with a centre stand check the tension on the return spring. Can be the cause of many scary noises. Islandbum Benny will confirm this!

The only suggestion I have is to not limit yourself to the front of the bike. I used to use a large carabiner to hold my spare helmet onto the backrest. I clipped onto the luggage rack. Mechanically it worked fine. But at times I could hear a clincking sound from behind me, even at 50 or more.

Check everything!

Ted

Somebody else not long ago had a similar sound and it was loose header bolts. Maybe check those.

Funny? Funny like what? Funny like a clown?

I always thought that was an italian policeman but living down under can do things to your brain!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Keys bouncing around when you hit a bump?

Best way to find it is to start bumping and slapping parts with your hand. Speedo, headlight, fender, cables, chain, etc.

I've been hearing a jingle/rattle like sound toward the front of my bike recently but only when moving and usually when slowing down. I've decided it's the speedo that vibrates with a buzz/rattle like sound only noticeable al low speeds. Can't find anything else.

Once before I had a rattle in the front when hitting bumps, etc. That turned out to be one of the wire cable stand offs barely touching the headlight can. All it took to fix that was slightly bending it away from the headlight. Check that.

Good suggestions all around. I'll report back . . .