| Author | Message | ||
     Brutus |
WTF! Checked everything. Sounds like exhaust rattle. Lifters? | ||
| Doubled |
A better explanation would help. Where is the noise coming from? Is it constant or does it change with RPM? Any rideability issues? From your current description I would say check the header bolts, the muffler clamps, and the clamp that holds the header onto the muffler. | ||
| Brumbear |
its a sportster motor get a louder pipe  | ||
| Fast1075 |
When I bought my first Buell (a Blast)..I freaked out on how many wierd noises the motor would make...I took it back to the dealer three times...on the last visit, he gave me keys to two other Blasts and told me to ride 'em...they all made the same freaky wierd noises....fast forward to last year...I bought an XB12s....same thing only double the noise. I am still not fully comfortable with the strange noises, but it runs like a raped ape (as stock XBs go)...it uses no oil so it's not a top end problem....Buellistic says a lot of the noise is from the cooling fins and is normal...another trusted mechanic says the cam bushings, 4 cams and the normal slop in the gears makes noise.....and of course the primary makes noise.... The short of it is run the piss out of it. If any normally oily parts expose themselves, you found the problem...or...taking a slightly less squidly approach...take it to a good dealer and have them check it out.. If all else fails...like Brumbear says...get a pipe....a Jardine will absolutely eliminate any and all engine noise...lol | ||
| Iman501 |
STORY TIME! so last Monday i was out riding around and was riding through the mall parking lot when i saw a blue xb9r parked (exact same bike i have) i i just parked next to it and took a pic of the two identical bikes together, and left. I didn't meet the owner and have never seen the bike around town before. skip forward two days, my best friend kyle (who has a X1) and i were out riding through town one night, and we passed an ice cream shop that a friend of mine works at (this friend has a ex500) well his ninja was out front so we pulled up to go talk to my friend. there were also three other bikes in the parking lot (two jap SB's) and this blue firebolt i saw two days previous. I pulled up to the guy w/ the 9R and we got to talking and how Buells aren't very common and such. Eventually i told him i could show him something that would creep the hell out of him, and showed him the picture on my phone of his bike and my bike that i took two days before hand. i was right. he was thoroughly creeped out haha. anyways, while we were talking and comparing our to 9r's, he asked if my bike make any funny sounds, i laughed and asked him if he was talking like a quick little tapping sound, and he's like "yea!, is that normal?" i told him idk, its a Harley engine, it was born to make funny sounds. so odds are your just hearing the engine at work. compared to four cyl bikes and others, ours are very loud and obnoxious when it comes to funny sounds. i can barely hear my dads Honda when its running | ||
| Luxor |
The best analogy I've ever heard is that the Buell/HD mill sounds like a sock full of nickels in a dryer when running properly.  (Message edited by Luxor on May 30, 2010) | ||
| Bitbear |
A few years ago, when I was new to Buells, I nearly went crazy wondering what was making all the noise. I'm on my second now, and have ridden others. That experience along with the following quote from a reviewer at motorcycle.com have finally put me at ease... "We usually wear earplugs to muffle wind and exhaust noise, but with the Buell, we use them to squelch the odd sounds akin to churning broken glass and marbles coming from below. Seriously, the engine sounds like a Briggs and Stratton lawnmower with a dozen bolts loose..." …MO Staff, Oct. 17, 2003; Motorcycle.com | ||
| Brijasher |
+1 Bitbear I now have a quote for my profile page!  | ||
| Ourdee |
If it doesn't make enough noise, put a K&N filter on it with a stock pipe. Sounds like someone is hammering on the loose bolts from below. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
I kept complaining that my 2008 was making scary clunking sounds. Every time, I brought it in for that, they found some other thing wrong and fixed it! Kickstand, clutch cable, muffler had rattling sound from valve.... Not what I was after but thanks for seeing that, I suppose! I don't think it will grenade. Mine has 27,000 on it. Noise hasn't gotten worse. This is my first bike with a quiet muffler so I'm easily spooked. | ||
| Rudolf35 |
Lack of loose nickel sound. A few days ago, I noticed that down below was a bit quiet. Getting back to the barn I let the Uly cool and checked the primary, AH! It was a bit tight. Set it, and the "sound" is back - all is well the nickels are thrashing again.  | ||
| Fast1075 |
Saturday while I was installing a new chopped tail on my bike, I found that the right side passenger peg hanger had never been tightened from the factory...the bolt was in and the prevailing torque nut was in place...but had never been seated...the peg hanger and the metal bracket in the seat tray had been loose enough to have wear marks... I installed the new tail, properly torqued all fasteners with fresh locktite....and that scary weird rattle noise is now gone  All that is left is the melodious rattle of nickles in a blender  | ||
| 1324 |
A few years ago, when I was new to Buells, I nearly went crazy wondering what was making all the noise. I'm on my second now, and have ridden others. That experience along with the following quote from a reviewer at motorcycle.com have finally put me at ease... "We usually wear earplugs to muffle wind and exhaust noise, but with the Buell, we use them to squelch the odd sounds akin to churning broken glass and marbles coming from below. Seriously, the engine sounds like a Briggs and Stratton lawnmower with a dozen bolts loose..." …MO Staff, Oct. 17, 2003; Motorcycle.com Thanks for that, you just made my morning! I typically ALWAYS wear ear plugs, but the other day I had to ride a short distance to another building at work. Speed would be less than 25 mph, so I didn't feel like putting the ear plugs in. GOOD GOD I forgot how loud the engine was!! The Briggs and Stratton with loose bolts is a great analogy. Add the open airbox chugging and the Drummer into the mix, and it's what nitro powered, cammed lawnmower would sound like....with loose bolts. Oddly enough, it warms my heart. |
