Any ideas?

[lucky_1_chris]

My '99 I/S is making a growl/moan/buzz when I lean it. Starts as it just begins to lean and continues 'til it's back upright. It's causing a slight buzz in the pegs, as well. I've felt the vibe in leans for as long as I've had the bike, but just recently noticed the noise. Sounds like it's coming from the rear. I get a similar noise/feel from the rear brake, but only when the bike is just about to come to a stop.

I figured it was the rear bearings, but new bearings didn't solve the problem. Brake pads are OEM and fairly new.

Any ideas?

Thanks

[PhredValk]

I'm by no means an expert, but I would check the shock buahings. They seem to cause all sorts of odd rear end problems. Noise on leaning could be tires, how are they?
Fred.

[CajunRider]

Have you ever tried different tires?  I know the Metzler 880's will make a little noise in the curves after they wear in a bit.  

Other than that or bearings... I really can't think of anything.  

Sorry I can't help more.    

[lucky_1_chris]

I'm by no means an expert, but I would check the shock buahings. They seem to cause all sorts of odd rear end problems. Noise on leaning could be tires, how are they?
Fred.

I replaced the shock bushings while I had it apart to swap the bearings. I had always assumed that slight vibe in leans was the tires, but the noise sounds more metallic. Almost like the brake is dragging, but there is no change in the noise when the brake is applied while leaning.

[CajunRider]

Metallic sounding???  Swing arm bearings???

I'm just grasping at straws here...

[PAVALKER]

Some tires tend to "sing" in leans/corners.... but not really cause a vibration unless they are not balanced properly I would imagine.   I have had a rear brake sing to me as well, it got hung up somehow and actually heated up the rear rotor quite a bit.... but that wasn't related to a lean or cornering situation.  I would consider wheel bearings, front and rear (check em both),  the swing-arm bearings probably not an issue.   Have you heard this at varying speeds and does it change with speed or not?   Did you lube and service the rear end when you did the wheel removal for bearings?

Check tire pressure and make sure its 40 or above and see if you have a rub somewhere maybe....

I'd be interested in hearing what the verdict is.... so keep us posted.

[lucky_1_chris]

Some tires tend to "sing" in leans/corners.... but not really cause a vibration unless they are not balanced properly I would imagine.   I have had a rear brake sing to me as well, it got hung up somehow and actually heated up the rear rotor quite a bit.... but that wasn't related to a lean or cornering situation.  I would consider wheel bearings, front and rear (check em both),  the swing-arm bearings probably not an issue.   Have you heard this at varying speeds and does it change with speed or not?   Did you lube and service the rear end when you did the wheel removal for bearings?

Check tire pressure and make sure its 40 or above and see if you have a rub somewhere maybe....

I'd be interested in hearing what the verdict is.... so keep us posted.

I did change the final oil, and cleaned/lubed the splines on the flange and final. The 2 o-rings on the wheel were fine. I didn't go any further than that this time 'cuz it was all done about 3-4k ago when I replaced the u-joint. I can't see any evidence of the tire rubbing on anything. My brother was helping me out this weekend, and he mentioned that it may be something in the final drive. I dismissed it at first, but now I'm considering it. Dunno.

EDIT: I didn't check the front bearings. Didn't even consider them 'cuz I don't feel the vibe in the handlebars, and the noise sounds like it's coming from the rear. The sound can be misleading, and they're an easy check...I'll check them this weekend. I can hear the noise from 5-10 mph up til wind drowns out the noise.

[X Ring]

Sounds like you're get Dragon Growl from rear tire.  Check your rear tire if there is a nice flat strip around the middle of the tire, it is growling as you lean over on it.  #14 on this list:

http://www.valkyrieriders.com/shoptalk/Known%20Valkyrie%20Problems.htm

Marty

[Mr Steve]

It's tires.  They growl in corners as they wear.  Dunlops are worse than the others, but they all do it.

[Sigrún]

It's tires.  They growl in corners as they wear.  Dunlops are worse than the others, but they all do it.

2nd that. Most tires ( all I've tried anyway ) start scalloping or "cupping" after a couple of thousands of miles. Dunlop E III  definitely does that, as also ME880. How badly or easily your tires will scallop depends on pressure used and, well, your riding style. And yes, when it gets bad enough, you will also feel it, not only hear. Especially  when you start paying attention to it.

Personally I've grown to just accept the growl and for the most part just ignore it. I will however try a different tire next time round. Considering Avon Cobra next, just to see if it will behave differently.

Cheers!

[Bigun]

It's tires.  They growl in corners as they wear.  Dunlops are worse than the others, but they all do it.

2nd that. Most tires ( all I've tried anyway ) start scalloping or "cupping" after a couple of thousands of miles. Dunlop E III  definitely does that, as also ME880. How badly or easily your tires will scallop depends on pressure used and, well, your riding style. And yes, when it gets bad enough, you will also feel it, not only hear. Especially  when you start paying attention to it.

Personally I've grown to just accept the growl and for the most part just ignore it. I will however try a different tire next time round. Considering Avon Cobra next, just to see if it will behave differently.

Cheers!

My guess to, my Elite 3's growl when pushed, I just thought they were lazy. LOL

[Sigrún]

My guess to, my Elite 3's growl when pushed, I just thought they were lazy. LOL

They are 

And you definitely do not want to push them too hard when it rains. They may decide they've had enough and it's time to lay down.....

[Mike]

It's tires.  They growl in corners as they wear.  Dunlops are worse than the others, but they all do it.

2nd that. Most tires ( all I've tried anyway ) start scalloping or "cupping" after a couple of thousands of miles. Dunlop E III  definitely does that, as also ME880. How badly or easily your tires will scallop depends on pressure used and, well, your riding style. And yes, when it gets bad enough, you will also feel it, not only hear. Especially  when you start paying attention to it.

Personally I've grown to just accept the growl and for the most part just ignore it. I will however try a different tire next time round. Considering Avon Cobra next, just to see if it will behave differently.

Cheers!

I am currently on my third rear Avon Cobra. I didn't have any unusual wear with the first two.

This third one has started ( after 7000 miles ) with the cupping and making the growling noise you are talking about.

I always keep an eye on the air pressure, bushings etc. Can't think of anything that I have done different to have this happen.

Mike T

 

[lucky_1_chris]

At first I thought it was the tires, too, but this is a metal/metal noise. I can hear the tires moaning, too, but this is a separate issue.  I killed the bike at the top of a hill on the way to work this morning and slalomed a little bit as I coasted down the hill. (I know, bad juju, but it was only a short distance.) With the engine stopped it actually sounds like it's coming from the front. Weird. I could also feel it in the bars more with the engine stopped.  I'm hoping new front bearings will solve the problem.

[Sigrún]

At first I thought it was the tires, too, but this is a metal/metal noise. I can hear the tires moaning, too, but this is a separate issue.  I killed the bike at the top of a hill on the way to work this morning and slalomed a little bit as I coasted down the hill. (I know, bad juju, but it was only a short distance.) With the engine stopped it actually sounds like it's coming from the front. Weird. I could also feel it in the bars more with the engine stopped.  I'm hoping new front bearings will solve the problem.

In that case.... before you start tearing into the bearings, you may want to check the clearance between brake caliper bolts and the brake disc. For some reason I had to install an extra washer under one of mine since the other end was touching the disc. Not saying this is absolutely the case with yours but worth a quick looksee while you're at it.

Cheers!

[Mr Steve]

At first I thought it was the tires, too, but this is a metal/metal noise. I can hear the tires moaning, too, but this is a separate issue.  I killed the bike at the top of a hill on the way to work this morning and slalomed a little bit as I coasted down the hill. (I know, bad juju, but it was only a short distance.) With the engine stopped it actually sounds like it's coming from the front. Weird. I could also feel it in the bars more with the engine stopped.  I'm hoping new front bearings will solve the problem.

In that case.... before you start tearing into the bearings, you may want to check the clearance between brake caliper bolts and the brake disc. For some reason I had to install an extra washer under one of mine since the other end was touching the disc. Not saying this is absolutely the case with yours but worth a quick looksee while you're at it.

Cheers!

When this happens, it may be time for a new front axle, at least that was the cause for me when my caliper bolts were "suddenly" too long.

[Ricky-D]

If it is the bolts on the rotor ticking on the brake caliper bracket you ought to be able to see evidence of that on the bolt heads and a mark or two on the bracket.

The usual correction for this is to push the large end of the axle a little farther into the mounting. Like a sixteenth on an inch or so.

If the wheel has any slop in the mounting arrangement from looseness in the bearings to looseness in the assembly process, you could certainly have an interference between parts.

***

[keepinon]

At first I thought it was the tires, too, but this is a metal/metal noise. I can hear the tires moaning, too, but this is a separate issue.  I killed the bike at the top of a hill on the way to work this morning and slalomed a little bit as I coasted down the hill. (I know, bad juju, but it was only a short distance.) With the engine stopped it actually sounds like it's coming from the front. Weird. I could also feel it in the bars more with the engine stopped.  I'm hoping new front bearings will solve the problem.

What you're describing sounds much like what I had on my 97-S, growling on leans, but OK straight up. I put it off on the Metz tires, but after I changed the rear to a CT, checked the front for tightness, it grew progressively worse, 'till I could feel it in the pegs. Since I knew the rear was good (having just changed/serviced it) I removed the front wheel to check. One bearing, tight when you "wiggled" it, but putting a finger in it and turning, you could feel the roughness. Changed both bearings, now all I hear is the normal Metzler whine on turns, and the ride is smooth again.

[Russell Rice]

ok, this is what I found to be the problem with my bike. I replaced the tire, brake pads and wheel bearing....still that noise was there
I thought i had bought a junk bearing so I took the back wheel off again. upon close inspection I found that the right side bearing looked like it was not seated all the way. I pulled the bearing, put a new one back in and still the bearing looked like it did not seat all the way I pulled my extra wheel out of the attic and did some measuring and found that the wheel where the bearing goes had been grinding on something. I looked at the flange and the 5 bolt heads that stick out were worn down. I remembered that I had a tire installed at the dealer some time back and they did not install the thrust washer and I thought that was why it ground into the wheel race. It had ground down an 1/8th of an inch and the bearing was sticking out that far from the race. I bought a new used wheel and that fixed the noise. Not going to get inot the part about the new used wheel being the newer one and had to buy a diffrent rotor. Good luck and I hope this might help you some.

[six2go #152]

IT'S THE TIRES!
In the early days of Valkyriedom many were complaining about this "growling, vibrating" sound when leaned over, even just a little. After many owners tried "bearings,bushings" and other more complicated issues, it turned out that everyone was hearing the rear tire when it got off of dead center. You could make the noise even by leaning the bike while going straight down the road.

The rear tires were "cupping" at the edge of the tread & when it was rolled over to the sidewall, those "cup edges" were contacting the road and making the noise.

This is about the time when we found out that you could minimize the problem by running more psi in the tires. Back then, a lot of us were running the pressure that "Ma Honda" prescribed. The OEM Dunlops were especially prone to making the noise as well as the early Metzelers.

So, if your tires have been run at or near the Honda prescribed pressure for any length of time, I would bet almost anything that's where your noise is coming from.

Next time you put tires on, start out at a higher psi. I run 40psi front and 42psi rear and don't even notice a noise. I think most owners run something close to or more than I do.

And yes, you could actually "feel the noise" in the footpegs.

[The Anvil]

IT'S THE TIRES!
In the early days of Valkyriedom many were complaining about this "growling, vibrating" sound when leaned over, even just a little. After many owners tried "bearings,bushings" and other more complicated issues, it turned out that everyone was hearing the rear tire when it got off of dead center. You could make the noise even by leaning the bike while going straight down the road.

The rear tires were "cupping" at the edge of the tread & when it was rolled over to the sidewall, those "cup edges" were contacting the road and making the noise.

This is about the time when we found out that you could minimize the problem by running more psi in the tires. Back then, a lot of us were running the pressure that "Ma Honda" prescribed. The OEM Dunlops were especially prone to making the noise as well as the early Metzelers.

So, if your tires have been run at or near the Honda prescribed pressure for any length of time, I would bet almost anything that's where your noise is coming from.

Next time you put tires on, start out at a higher psi. I run 40psi front and 42psi rear and don't even notice a noise. I think most owners run something close to or more than I do.

And yes, you could actually "feel the noise" in the footpegs.

I can't speak to the early days of Valkdom but I've got Avons on my bike and run 44psi out back. No noise whatsoever.

[donaldcc]

At first I thought it was the tires, too, but this is a metal/metal noise. I can hear the tires moaning, too, but this is a separate issue.  I killed the bike at the top of a hill on the way to work this morning and slalomed a little bit as I coasted down the hill. (I know, bad juju, but it was only a short distance.) With the engine stopped it actually sounds like it's coming from the front. Weird. I could also feel it in the bars more with the engine stopped.  I'm hoping new front bearings will solve the problem.

No expert, but what about the "buzz bolt"?

http://www.valkyrieriders.com/shoptalk/buzz.htm

[YoungPUP]

Did you torque the rear axle to spec? I may know of a guy with a 99' std that may or may not have properly torqued his rear axle and had a bit of side to side play when "leaning" it was allowing the rotor to drag when the wheel assembly shifted.......

[six2go #152]

At first I thought it was the tires, too, but this is a metal/metal noise. I can hear the tires moaning, too, but this is a separate issue.  I killed the bike at the top of a hill on the way to work this morning and slalomed a little bit as I coasted down the hill. (I know, bad juju, but it was only a short distance.) With the engine stopped it actually sounds like it's coming from the front. Weird. I could also feel it in the bars more with the engine stopped.  I'm hoping new front bearings will solve the problem.

No expert, but what about the "buzz bolt"?

http://www.valkyrieriders.com/shoptalk/buzz.htm

What I failed to mention was that the noise sounded to me like it was from the front. Turned out it was the rear tire & the noise was echoing off the windshield.

Don't think this is a buzz bolt issue, that is more related to engine rpm in 4th or 5th gear.

[Jess Tolbirt]

its those dam ebc brake pads,, sound like a bunch of cicadas ......

[Ricky-D]

Well, lucky_1_chris, I hope you get to the bottom of the cause of your problem.

Seems like only a few have been attentive to your problem and have taken to hijacking your thread to start a new subject without (probably) reading your original post.  Not very respectful, I would say!

Anyways, maybe the new bearing will solve the problem, I think your choice of what to do is a bit extreme seeing you have yet to find the exact cause of the noise but, "to each his own"!

Are you sure it isn't just the axle not far enough in, in the left side shock?

***

[lucky_1_chris]

Did you torque the rear axle to spec? I may know of a guy with a 99' std that may or may not have properly torqued his rear axle and had a bit of side to side play when "leaning" it was allowing the rotor to drag when the wheel assembly shifted.......

It is torqued to spec.

[lucky_1_chris]

IT'S THE TIRES!
In the early days of Valkyriedom many were complaining about this "growling, vibrating" sound when leaned over, even just a little. After many owners tried "bearings,bushings" and other more complicated issues, it turned out that everyone was hearing the rear tire when it got off of dead center. You could make the noise even by leaning the bike while going straight down the road.

The rear tires were "cupping" at the edge of the tread & when it was rolled over to the sidewall, those "cup edges" were contacting the road and making the noise.

This is about the time when we found out that you could minimize the problem by running more psi in the tires. Back then, a lot of us were running the pressure that "Ma Honda" prescribed. The OEM Dunlops were especially prone to making the noise as well as the early Metzelers.

So, if your tires have been run at or near the Honda prescribed pressure for any length of time, I would bet almost anything that's where your noise is coming from.

Next time you put tires on, start out at a higher psi. I run 40psi front and 42psi rear and don't even notice a noise. I think most owners run something close to or more than I do.

And yes, you could actually "feel the noise" in the footpegs.

I keep 'em at 38-40 front and 40-42 rear. Avon Cobras. These tires do make noise in leans, that's why I always assumed that the vibe was the tires...kind of a whine or the noise brake pads make sliding over slotted rotors.. The noise in question sounds more like metal on metal, like when your brake pads are gone and you hit the brakes. I do get a very similar noise from the rear brake when stopping, but only just as the bike is about to stop.

First I thought the sound was from the rear, now with the engine stopped it sounds more like the front. Hard to tell while riding it.

[lucky_1_chris]

Well, lucky_1_chris, I hope you get to the bottom of the cause of your problem.

Seems like only a few have been attentive to your problem and have taken to hijacking your thread to start a new subject without (probably) reading your original post.  Not very respectful, I would say!

Anyways, maybe the new bearing will solve the problem, I think your choice of what to do is a bit extreme seeing you have yet to find the exact cause of the noise but, "to each his own"!

Are you sure it isn't just the axle not far enough in, in the left side shock?

***

When I last had the wheel off, I was sure to seat the axle fully. This is not to say that I couldn't have made a mistake... I will definitely check  before I tear everything down. Once I get the bike jacked up, I'll check everything front and rear... Something's definitely off/worn/wrong to be making this progressively worse sound.

My brother wrecked (probably totaled) his Vulcan 900 last night, but luckily he escaped with only a couple broken ribs and some road rash. He was released from trauma ER early this morning. A young girl pulled out in front of him from a parking lot. He hit the brakes and was going to try to go right and get behind her, but when she finally looked and saw him she stopped dead, effectively blocking the entire lane and his escape path... He laid harder into the rear brake, skidded...you guessed it...left side high side into the girl's car. I'm about to ride over to his place to check on him and work on my bike. I'll post back if/when I find the culprit.

[PhredValk]

I hope your brother is OK, and his bike is repairable.

I would get a cheap cassette recorder and tape or zip tie the mike to your right fork and go for a ride. Then move the mike to the left fork, then farther down the right, the left, under the rad, by the oil filter, etc until you can isolate the noise. Then you can look for the cause of this annoyance in the area that is the loudest on the tape.
Fred.