Growling clutch sound.

[John Schmidt]

It's on the trike I recently bought, while idling in neutral I hear a growling sound from inside the motor. It goes away when I pull in the clutch handle. I've also noticed shifting is also rather sloppy but may be due to the system needing a good flushing. Re. the noise, am I possibly looking at a new clutch in the near future?

[Bighead]

John my Bee has made a noise in neutral since the day I test rode it with 0 miles on it. As you say pull i. Lever and it quits.

[John Schmidt]

It's in the shop getting the leaky differential taken care of. Soon as I get it back I'll start with a flush of the hydraulics, see if that helps the rather choppy function of it. Might need an overhaul of the master and the slave.

[CoreyP]

I would think a trike is harder on the drive train so it's probably harder on the clutch. I really know nothing about trikes so ???????? What does that trike weigh? The clutch may run hotter then on a standard bike, that's my line of thought. I've burnt up a couple of clutches along the way but that was from 360's, burnouts etc.  I'm thinking you would need to put higher pressure springs in the clutch on a trike to keep it from slipping as much? Assuming a trike would have more slipping from the drive train.

[klb]

I have a 1999 and 2001 Standard and they both have that noise.
My first one I bought new back in 2001 did it from day one until
I sold it.

[Skinhead]

Isn't that just normal great rattle?

[Timbo1]

It's on the trike I recently bought, while idling in neutral I hear a growling sound from inside the motor. It goes away when I pull in the clutch handle. I've also noticed shifting is also rather sloppy but may be due to the system needing a good flushing. Re. the noise, am I possibly looking at a new clutch in the near future?

I've had very similar sound on my Blue / Cream standard since around 2003 when I got it, goes away when clutch is pulled in just like yours.  But I thought it was just normal.  It wasn't until this September I picked up another Valkyrie (Project) and once I got it running found it doesn't have that same growl or whirring at idle.  It also shifts a little smoother and feels a little more agile, a little more rigid underneath me.   Since it's been so many years with the growl I guess that's not a major concern for me but I will be looking into why old blue is a little more sluggish feeling underneath me.

[Jims99]

It's on the trike I recently bought, while idling in neutral I hear a growling sound from inside the motor. It goes away when I pull in the clutch handle. I've also noticed shifting is also rather sloppy but may be due to the system needing a good flushing. Re. the noise, am I possibly looking at a new clutch in the near future?

I have two valks and have riden a few others. Same thing with mine, one is quiter and shifts different then the other. Everyone seems to be a bit different. Both only have around 65k and seem to make the same noises as ones with over 100k. I’m always listening to see if I need to do any work on these old girls, but I know I should just enjoy the ride. Old habits.


I've had very similar sound on my Blue / Cream standard since around 2003 when I got it, goes away when clutch is pulled in just like yours.  But I thought it was just normal.  It wasn't until this September I picked up another Valkyrie (Project) and once I got it running found it doesn't have that same growl or whirring at idle.  It also shifts a little smoother and feels a little more agile, a little more rigid underneath me.   Since it's been so many years with the growl I guess that's not a major concern for me but I will be looking into why old blue is a little more sluggish feeling underneath me.

[3W-lonerider]

mine growled from day 1 straight off the showroom floor. after 112,000 miles i had to replace the clutch. it still growled at 214,000 miles.  so i'd say its normal on some bikes.