Chirp

[hillbilly]

I hear an occasional chirp, usually during acceleration when I'm about ready to shift. I've checked the cross bolt on the front of engine. Has anyone else heard this noise?

[F6MoRider]

What kind of mileage?  Have you checked the u-joint? 

I had a similar sound at the same shift point but it quickly advanced to a whirring sound.  The u-joint was the culprit. 

Let us know what you find.

[Ricky-D]

It could be clutch related.

I'd recommend bleeding the clutch to remove any possible air in the system.

***

[old grouch]

I have a similar sound on my I/S trike.  It is intermittent.   Not RPM or speed related.  Disengaging the clutch/shifting does not affect it.  Not front brake related.  When it occurs, applying front brake makes no change.  It is definitely coming from the front of the machine.  Thought it might be the belt tensioners, but that is not it.  I have duplicated the noise by rotating the front wheel with the front end raised.  So I am now thinking wheel bearing.  I will be fitting a new tire on a spare wheel in a couple of days.  That should tell the tale.  I will post my results if I can before we leave on a two week trip Thursday.  Stan

[hillbilly]

Mileage 82,000 replaced u-joint at 74,000 it appears to be coming from front of bike. Timing belt tensoners was one of my first thoughts. checked both they spun freely. changed anyway, still chirped. Doesn't do it every time I ride, usually during acceleration and doesn't seem to matter if I'm going straight or in a curve. I'm now suspecting radiator cover it is not loose but sound seems to be coming from that area.

[F6MoRider]

Was it a used or new u-joint and did the splines get lubed? 

I swore my chirp/whirr was coming from the front of the engine, moreso when the clunk started a few days later, so I changed the timing belts while waiting for the tensioners to arrive.  I read a post here that lead me to check the u-joint and found it was the problem.

How loud is it and can you reliably recreate it?  Done anything to the front end lately?  I took my Cobra lights off and reinstalled the OEM blinkers.  I now get a wind squeal from 35 to 45 mph.  If I place a piece of tape overhanging the edge 1/4 inch closest to the shield, the wind vortex is disrupted and no squeal.  Go figure...

Greg

[wild6]

Sounds coming from the front are often actually coming from the rear reflected by the windshield. ???

[junior]

its time to replace your vacum lines. esp if it happens on a hard excell, they are dry and cracked

[blkvlk777]

X2 = Chirp on Decel = cracked vacuum lines.   That would be my vote or place I would check.

[hillbilly]

U joint was new Installed it myself and know the splines were lubed before assembly.  Front wheel bearings have never been changed. Front wheel bearings feel smooth. I have de-smogged bike and added cruise. I have heard this sound occasionally for at least 2 years. To the best of my knowledge all vacumn lines have been replaced or removed. Bike runs great ,just that annoying little chirp. I know it's not a bird ,bike never sits long enough for them to build nests!


Could be cheap gas!

[YoungPUP]

Check the vacuum caps. I used what I believed were quality ones from Napa, and 6mos. later were cracked and leaking. 

[lljjmm]

On the farm, when a chirp is heard on equipment it was always a bearing or universal joint. It can come and go. The noise location is can be difficult to locate in the beginning, but becomes quite apparent as time goes on.  At times you would swear it something else, but through experience, it was a bearing or universal. They will chirp like a bird. Problem being, on a bike you can't walk around it as it goes done the road and listen. And it also probably needs a certain the speed to make it happen.