What is this sound?

[Captain Combat]

I swear I'm losing my mind. Is this a common sound? Has it always been there and I just never noticed? Have I just focused on a single sound and think something is wrong?

Whenever I rev or hit  the throttle, I hear an whine... Like escaping air? Sounds like its coming from the front radiator area. In fact, in person it sounds like a LOT of air.

My Valk idles fine, no significant power loss that I can detect.

However, 1st gear and only 1st gear doesn't feel like it pulls as strong as it did a week ago.

My exhaust (cobra 6 in to 6) also seems significantly more quiet. Exhaust doesn't sound as throaty unless i really get on it.

I recorded a video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dN8nYod4wI

13 second mark is probably the best example of it.
It doesn't sound as loud in the vid, (sounds 3x louder in person) but its still detectable .

What is this? Is it nothing? Is it something?  

[Bighead]

The only whine I hear is normal.

[slider]

mine does that to..same sound ,,I believe its normal for some valks ..

[Earl43P]

I would take a can of throttle body/carb cleaner with a straw and spray little squirts at areas where vacuum can leak, intake elbow joints carb seals and vacuum lines (may have to partially lift tank).

If you get a raise in rpm when spraying an area, investigate it doggedly.


I couldn't hear anything out of the ordinary in your video, but I have a quiet exhaust, stock IS.

[John Schmidt]

I hear what you're talking about but don't find it unusual, even at a higher volume in person. My own bike has a certain whine to it and is quite noticeable most of the time, been thinking about changing the name I gave the bike to that of one of the women I dated some years ago. Very similar sound except the bike isn't nearly as irritating so I'm keeping her.  

[Captain Combat]

 Thanks everyone.  at least I know I'm not losing my mind. (Yet)  I'm going to go ride it like I stole it.