Some background...I am the original owner of my 2006 Roadstar and at 11,000 miles it developed a knock/ping which was noticeable under load and could really be heard at certain speeds by slightly rolling the throttle back and forth. Even my wife asked me why it was so noisy! I took it to my local dealer who, upon taking it for a test spin, said bring it back next week and we'll get her taken care of under warranty. And they did...new front cylinder, new rings on both pistons, gaskets, etc. and it cost me nothing. The cylinder they replaced measured slightly out of round with a dial bore gage.

Fast forward to now...at 22,000 miles the bike is doing the same thing. Dealer will listen to it this week but is now wondering why just mine. I find it hard to believe these things would be this noisy and call it normal...even if they are air cooled. It sounds like there's a washer in one cylinder being batted around in there. Yamaha hasn't committed to another replacement but hasn't ruled it out either.

Am I the only one with this "problem" or is this much noise just normal? I change the oil/filter every 3,000 and have been using 20/50 Motul...which my dealer agrees with. I haven't modified a thing on the bike...it is BONE stock. This is my only experience with the Roadstar so any input is great.

Thanks,
Darol

WOW Darol you got one really good dealer there better hang on to him. I switched to Amsoil at about 8000 miles and have been running it for a long time (30000). I didn't have to adjust the valves at 16000 they were good. about the 30000 mark they started making noise so I adjusted them. In the process I decided to switch to Mobil 1 15w50 because Amsoil is so expensive and use the Mobil M1-108 filter. Guess that was a mistake the top end sounded like it was coming apart. Today I went back with the Yamaha filter and Amsoil 15w50 like I used before and everything sounds good now. I haven't a clue why id made the defferance but it did. I knew my valve adjustment was right. Maybe your valves have loosened up om tou and they need adjusting.

Our local dealer Merced PowerSports is A-1 in my book and having trouble keeping things going in this economy. I have been using Yamaha filters and haven't given any thought to using a synthetic as I have never had a catastrophic failure in anything...Rotax flat track and KTM off-road bikes included...using either 20/50 Bel Ray or Motul. However, at this point anything is worth a try...along with adjusting the valves as it has been about 11,000 miles.

Fish, I've got 28,000 miles on my Roadie and like yours, it sounds like it has rocks in the top end at part throttle.My son's 05 Midnight was louder than mine!

Seeing that it's an air cooled engine, I'd expect it to make SOME noise....

I think I'll keep mine around...... even if she does rattle......

I have a similar Noise , used to be bad enough I was embaressed to ride thru my Small downtown main street !! I hounded everyone on this Site for answers and got similar thoughts back as you did here . I took off the AIS system , Replaced the pushrods with Adjustable ones so they could be longer than stock , changed to Amsoil 20-50 nothing seemed to help BUT ..... I discovered that 10,000 km or so after I bought the bike ( 04 had 19,000 on it last sept.) that noise seemed to come and go and the only thing I did different was to use different Gas , and Run her HARD now and then . I now know that SHELL gas is by far the better in my bike ...better fuel economy =less carbon build up . Others may say Im crazy but on a 4000 kn trip this summer , every Shell fill up got me noticible extra distance per Ltr. ( 3 to 4 MPG better )
I still ocassionally hear that rattle / knock and it just gives me an excuse to hit 140 km per hr in third a couple of times !!
Might be worth a try .

Thanks for the input all. I already run either Shell or Chevron 91 octane in her. I guess I wouldn't be so concerned after all the "it's normal" comments if my dealer/Yamaha hadn't swapped out the front barrel once already which did solve the problem...and at almost the same mileage the noise is back on the new one.

Somebody PM'd me and suggested loud pipes to mask it over...maybe that is the solution. A friend of mine has a Kawi...and I know it's liquid cooled...that runs without all the rattling and banging. My Roadstar will out run and out pull his though so maybe I can live with the fact that the noise is a horsepower booster. I think I'll go buy a box of earplugs as they're cheaper than a set of pipes.

Darol

Flyinfish wrote:
[quote]Thanks for the input all. I already run either Shell or Chevron 91 octane in her.

Everyone says and I agree , DONT run that high of Octane gas . It does not burn properly and does carbon up the top end . Regular 87 works best , Id still use Shell though .

Lot's of "Fixes" to help, but there will always be some noise.

Shell gas, regular with Nitrogen is good

Synthetic oil is also another plus

Run a few ounces of Sea Foam every other tank or so

Ride in the middle of several HD's

Ear plugs, loud pipes and full face helmet with I Pod or Scala Rider head phones is the final step.

All else fails, coast down hills and make Vrooom Vrooom noises

you are one sick pup Darn.......

Some noise I understand and can accept...this noise is annoying. I never thought about the 91 octane...it is a fairly low compression engine. I'll give that a try...along with coasting downhill but with a playing card in the spokes to make the noise.

I would like to hear another bike just to compare...any other Roadstar owners in the Merced, CA area online? I understand the air cooling doesn't muffle engine noises like a water pumper and maybe that's what I'm used to on my dirt bikes. In addition, the pushrod system opposed to an overhead cam is supposed to add a little to it as well.

I'm still going to swing by my dealer and have him listen to it compared to others they've sold. And I will try the synthetic oil, 89 octane, and valve adjustment check before doing anything rash.

Thanks for all the input and help...great group of people on this site.

Darol