Creeking noise in rear end at low speed

[Sodge]

01 I/S with 40k miles. Had bearings replaced and serviced drive shaft end of last season. Ridden maybe 1,000 miles since.

Rode for several hours on Saturday with no issues. As I was coming home, a couple of blocks from the house, I was just poking along and heard a creaking noise from the rear.

I got it out on Monday to see if I could pinpoint it.......couldn't get it to do it again.
Go for a ride yesterday thinking all is well, after about an hour and a half we pull over and I hear it as I am coming to a stop. My brother tried to listen as I could get it to happen by holding the front brake and letting out on the clutch.

I load it on a trailer at his house and haul it to a shop this morning. When I unload it and describe the problem to the tech, I can't get it to act up....

Any suggestions ????

[The emperor has no clothes]

Do you have original shock bushings ?

[Jess from VA]

Not trying to make fun of your legitimate question, but as these bikes get older the number of posts initiated on odd, strange, out of he ordinary, worrisome sounds has been increasing exponentially.

The disk brakes get very dirty and corroded over time; the parts get worn, the pins lose their lube, the rotors reach the end of wear, the pad retaining springs lose their push, and pads wear unevenly.  They often make noises.  Just replacing worn pads is inadequate upkeep.

The creaking I get on my bike at slow speed is the driver's backrest post moving in the slot.  I once wrapped it with electrical tape to quiet it down, but it melted a bit and two years later I about needed an overhead crane to yank it out.  Now I live with the creaking.

The bad rear end sounds can be wheel bearings, pumpkin/drive flange, pinion/shaft, swingarm.  Though bad damage is usually more than sound, and includes thumps, grinding or vibration (often felt in the pegs).  

You can always put it on a lift and try to make it make noise, even running in gear (careful!!).

[Sodge]

Shock bushings are original and with the sound I'm hearing, shocks were my first thought.
However, I jumped up and down on the bike and moved side to side to create the noise and I couldn't.

[Pappy!]

Wheel bearing?

[TJ]

Wheel bearing?

 

[The emperor has no clothes]

Shock bushings are original and with the sound I'm hearing, shocks were my first thought.
However, I jumped up and down on the bike and moved side to side to create the noise and I couldn't.

It may not be the bushings making the noise, but I would probably replace them with new poly ones anyway. The VTX ones are pretty cheap. Someone posted once that their seat was making the noise you are describing also.

[Tfrank59]

Yeah it's the classic "I can't get it to do it when the mechanic is there" problem.   Well, assuming you rule out that it's just rear shocks squeaking, if it were me, I would jack up the bike and start messing with the rear wheel myself to see if I could hear where the creaking comes from.  I actually had my bike up in the air yesterday – I had the rear wheel off in fact – so I could tell from that whether there's any problems.  You may need to go down to Harbor freight and buy a motorcycle lift and then build the wooden lift adapter that's described in detail on this forum.  In any case, let us know what you learn. Good luck.

[Tx Bohemian]

Are your wheels chromed?

[ValkISDan]

Had a squeaking noise in rear hitting bumps when riding 1 up on the Interstate and drove me nuts. Ended up being the drivers seat tab that slips into the mount on the front side of the rear fender. A little lube and squeak is gone.

[Firefighter]

I had a Honda Rebel years ago, and sometimes the rear shocks would make a creaking noise. Temperature seemed to make a difference as to when I would hear it. You said you bounced the bike, did you do that after you heard the noise or the next day? I would possibly suspect the seat mounting, but would make sure everything is tight, bags, rails, fender, chrome, etc. Probably will be something not to important.

[Sodge]

They replaced the wheel bearing. I pick it up in the morning. I am still doubtful but we shall see.
Thanks for the input so far.

[Tfrank59]

They replaced the wheel bearing. I pick it up in the morning. I am still doubtful but we shall see.
Thanks for the input so far.

You should ask them to show you the old one they took out--that'll be in bad shape if it was the real problem. 

[Farther]

Without reading the whole post I would suggest that you replace the shock bushings with urethane ones of your choosing.  Hondaline VTX ones are cheap and available or the Redeye ones too.  If yours are original, they need replacing.