| Author | Message | ||
     Jeepinbueller |
While warming up for the first 5 miles or so, my motor is awfully clanky. Until now I've just chalked it up as being a hard-mounted, big bore, high compression V-twin ... but it sounds like this on every cold start for the first few miles or so. It's very clanky rattle almost valve tap kind of sound ... but looser. It didn't sound like this during the first 1K miles or so. Oil is Mobil1 20W-50 V-twin which I just changed about 200 miles ago (1800 miles). I can hear it even over my Barker's exhaust w/o the quiet core. It sounds like it's coming from directly beneath the airbox, which I've taken off and checked for anything loose, like the de-noid connector flapping around or something. It's definitely metallic, though. Hopefully someone will just say "it's normal," but I don't have any other 1125s to listen to for comparison (downside of owning a rare bike  I guess). I've checked my oil level which is A-OK. Checked my throttle body seal around the lower airbox and that's fine. Took the airbox off and checked for anything loose (fasteners). Nothing came up. The clanking speed increases with engine RPM which is why I thought it's a valve. Hopefully it's just a loud engine by nature. Thanks for the help and reassurance ... I'll be taking it to the Chambersburg H-D in PA if ya'll think it's prudent. | ||
| Mountainstorm |
How many miles on the bike now? Mine started sounding louder several thousand miles ago (I'm at 11K) and I got paranoid about it and changed the oil early and looked for metal and found nothing wrong. The bike did like having the oil completely full. I added 200cc doses and did the whole routine to make sure I was topping it off precisely. It took a while but I finally got the hot oil reading right at the top of the FULL mark and the engine seems much happier on cold start. | ||
| Thurstonbuell |
How cold ? maybe a lighter weight oil ? at least for the lower number ? | ||
| Cobradave93 |
I don't think I would take it to M&S HD in Chambersburg, PA. They didn't even know what my 1125 was in the parking lot when I went there with my dad to get one of his Ultra Glides. They never were a Buell dealer and never wanted to be, so they will not know what they are looking at. Better off going to Fredrick or Williamsport in your area. If you don't like them, there is a great bunch of guys at Iron Valley in Manheim, PA even though that's a pretty long drive for you. | ||
| Gofastalot99 |
Mines got the same thing (I think) based on your description. The first time I heard it was after about 70 miles on the odometer. It now is a little loud on every start and has a bit of a slam/clunk when the starter first catches. It then settles into a louder-than-brand-new chatter once started. It also has a bit of a louder noise once the engine is warmed up all the way after 5-10 minutes on the road. I did bring it in for this and the tech heard it and said he couldn't say it was normal or not normal (very helpful). Since then I've changed the oil to HD 20W-50 and will change the oil again at 620 miles to Redline M/C 20W-50. I have to assume it is "normal" unless it blows up. My other two bikes, both HDs both got noisier after break-in so I guess it is not so strange. What caught me off-guard was that it didn't make much noise at all and then one day it was very noticeable-nothing in-between. Just quiet, then loud. If I knew 100% that it was truly normal I wouldn't be bothered one bit. I'm just not 100% sure it is normal. | ||
| Mountainstorm |
Well after 11K miles I can say that my bike makes a helluva mechanical racket all the time, not just on start. Not sure why but it's like I can hear everyone of those little elves banging away with their sledge hammers making horsepowers and torques  But it runs fantastic and burns no oil so no worries. | ||
| Captainkgb |
When I first got mine home, I called my brother and he asked "what's wrong with it? I can hear it knocking and clanking over the phone!". My vics have a bit of a noisy top due to the cam chains, I just assumed the rotax also has a vocal chain. It pulls my arms out of socket up until it hits redline, and no issues yet. I LOVE THIS BIKE!!, warts and all. Regards, CaptainKGB | ||
| Black |
I think that if you open the hood of your car and get real up close and personal with a running engine...you'll be surprised with all the noises you will suddenly hear. When I bought my X-1, I began to notice all kinds of noises after I had broken it in. Took it in to the dealer, who told me that a high performance engine producing double the horsepower of its Sportster precursor would naturally be noisier. I think my only problem was listening to too much stuff on the Bad Web...it will make you paranoid. | ||
| Aseecobra |
Try listening to a TL1000 Suzuki. Those motors make a loud knock at idle like a hammer hitting an anvil. Chris | ||
| Jeepinbueller |
I mean that's all I really needed to hear. I'm used to working on smaller engines (jet ski engines based on the ZX-14's I4, 3-cylinder two strokes in Kawi's and SeaDon'ts) so I'm not a stranger to engines. Just sounds like really loud valve clank and wondering if it was normal ... I wish there was another 1125 around so I could hear it! Haha, no worries, I feel better knowing I'm not the only one with concerns about the Helicon's persona. Thanks BWB. | ||
| Ogobracing |
I think V-Twins tend to have more clatter and clanks than in-lines, or at least noticeable ones. An example is the SV, which has a fair amount of rattle. I also think the Rotax design plays into it. Ducs are another example of an engine I think just is louder. They all have a lot of clatter, not just the dry clutch ones. | ||
| Froggy |
Your bike is a POS, the engine that was made by one of the best engine companies in the world will explode tomorrow! Sell ASAP! | ||
| 03fatboy |
LOL Froggy you trying to make another hypermile Buell on the cheap? | ||
| Dannybuell |
Mine does it and I can't help but think - piston slap. Seems to go away after warm up right? | ||
| Boogiman1981 |
shoot man my shadow is far more noisy than the buell | ||
| Jules |
It's quiet compared to my old TL1000S, but then again so is a box of grenades. With the TL owners used to say it stands for "Ticks Loudly" The 1125 is not a quiet engine, but it all sounds about right to me, loud enough to tell you it's raring to go, not so loud as to sound as though it's about to explode... Nice  | ||
| Jeepinbueller |
Haha Froggy damn! Anybody wanna' buy it before it spontaneously combusts in my garage?!!1?!!11one!! Just investigating and learning is all  Yeah it goes away once warmed up Danny. Thanks for the responses everyone, I feel better now. |
