Welcome to the clinic..

DRW wrote:
[quote]I have a 2007 R and was very surprised(and concerned)about the "noises" it makes as well. As far as the whinning noise I'll tell you that the belt and brake rotors can put off quite a bit of noise. The rotors are dilled (like most) and can sound like a bunch of angry bees.

As far as the chatter during cruising, I'm still blown away that this is "normal". Some of the guys in the clinic will joke about the concern which was a little frustrating. But, they are probably the guys who have had very little, if any trouble from their R's.[quote]



I doubt anyone was joking because they didnt have problems, or because they had. It was probably because each and everyone one of has asked that same question when we got our bikes. I found mine alarming when I got it. I believe the noise it made are what made me find this site. It is just a very common question. I legit question, just a very common one. If you hang around the clinic long enough you will see it a hundred times. So please don't take any offense if you didnt think someone gave you an open answer, it is just one that we all have had. Alot of it depends on what you rode before you got the roadie. I was on a water cooled Honda, and had no idea V twin air cooled bikes would make so much racket.

No offense at all. The clinic has been far more helpful than Yamaha ever was. It was just frustrating not being certain if somehting was wrong. I agree, I had a water cooled bike as well so that added to the concern. I had never owned such a large displacement air cooled twin before.

As I've said before. I'd love to get on a couple of other brands and give a listen.

I have an 08 HD and although it is not quite as bad, it has all the same sounds. Both of them sound terrible when hot, a little better when cool. But I swear you can hear every valve open and every push rod move. on both of them.

I kind of think of it as mechanical music now that I'm used to it.

people can and should use this board to find someone with a star near you and compare. Probably the only way to put your mind at ease, or decide you truely have a problem.

What sound??? All I hear is a big V Twin talking to me and singing her song. Air cooled engines are noisy there is nothing to shield the noise like those others with water jackets and you get it all. I sometime just listen to her sing as we roll along and enjoy the sounds of a healthy engine. Then of course I have never owned a liquid cooled scoot so it all sounds right to me.

I had an old panhead once upon a time and it pretty much made the same noises as my 01 Midnight except more so. I too hear a whirring noise that may be the lifters or maybe the pistons and I too have a little bit of a whining noise that I associated with the tranny, but heard it before on the panhead. I just put it all down to normal V Twin stuff amplified by being behind the windshield. FOG

Holy smokes! I am the original poster and I am very impressed by the response! I want to thank everyone for chiming in...I already feel better that I'm not alone. I found the reply about synthetic oil making the noise go away interesting. OK, how many of you are using synthetic? or agree with the noise going away thing...

syn didnt do anything for mine. Sounded the same.