Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech High pitched noise

I just got my Speedie's 500 mile service and bought a new windshield. Before I had her serviced and put the windshield on, I wore a full face helmet. I rode today with a half helmet and windshield for the first time and noticed a loud high pitched noise everytime I hit the throttle at speed. I was doing 75 on the freeway and the noise would continue as long as I was giving her gas. As soon as I let off the gas the noise went away. I'm wondering if it has always made this noise and I just didn't notice because I was wearing the full face helmet. I checked the oil level when I got home and it is fine. Can anyone tell me if this is normalfor the Speedie? I still have stock pipes so I don't hear any exhaust noise when I'm on the freeway.

Mal

Wondering if you are hearing the cam chain? If so, the fix is to get louder pipes.

Soren

You meed to be as specific as possible. Some noises are not normal, but you don't know what you don't know. While riding, move around the machine and try to isolate it. One of the most annoying things I had was an acceleration noise that turned out to be a cable loom rattling off the headlight housing but just during hard acceleration! A quick tweak and it stopped but it was darn difficult to isolate. There was also a noise at cruise just in 4th between 3k and 3500rpm (at brand new) that turned out to be a major transmission problem.
If you can find a local Bonneville rider try to get a second opinion.

Could be you're picking up my wife and two daughters having thier daily bout of estrogen induced territory claiming battles. If it ain't that - I'd say the windshield is amplifying or redirecting the already existing noise generated by the engine (for which the probable cure is louder pipes.

Noises are a pain to locate sometimes.... I had a loud ticking noise above 50 mph that was driving me nutzo, turned out to be the visor on my helmet vibrating against the snaps.
Do you still have the AI installed? The reed valve makes a high pitched noise at speed.
Maybe it's an intake noise - check the clamps on the rubber tubes on the front and rear of both carbs.
It could also be the chain. Chains sometimes make noise under load at speed.

Find a road with a divider barrier and ride next to it. Or an alley. It may help you locate the general area where the sound is coming from.

Listen closely next time you see a kowsackie going through the gears. If your noise sounds like that, only not near as loud, it is the primary drive. That is normal as long as it doesn't get as loud as the kaw.

I wore my full face helmet this morning to work, and did not hear the sound. On my way home tonight I could hear the noise with the full face helmet but it was not as loud as with the half helmet. So I'm thinking the sound might have been there all along and I just did not notice it before. Probably what pidedr said, the windshield might be amplifying an existing sound. Thanks for all your suggestions. I will keep an eye on it and maybe take it to the dealer if it bugs me too bad.

Mal

It's amazing what I hear when I am not wearing my headphones... I get all paranoid. But it's normal. These are noisy buggers.

HiJack time.

My Frontier, after having a 10amp fuse replaced with a 20amp fuse developed a whine. Then a smell. Burnt me alternator up. Backup a bit moe. Ok. Blowing 10 amp fuse. Tried to trouble shoot. Took it to highschool friend who owns an auto lectric shop. He looks up what is on this circiout and says 17 things. I says Dang man. He says dang man. No aftermarket or added current vampires so, put in 20 amp and fix what burns up. (I have full auto ins coverage). Drove for one day. Left work yesterday and hum that varies with rpm. Dang it. So after I smell yota farts, I pull into Mike's shop, leave truck running and pull fuse. No more whine. Damage? Don't know yet, but most likely the cost of a chain kit. (got new battery too).

PS: Most whines on our motorsickles emanate from the pillion area