Whine/squeak from front wheel

GeneJunkie · January 9th, 2011, 04:17 PM

Recently I am having this whine/squeal/squeak coming from the front wheel. It starting happening after I unfortunately had to ride in the rain. I think it starts at +5mph and I probably stop hearing it over 35mph probably because the wheel is going so fast. I can hear it when I pull in the clutch as well as when the clutch is engaged. It also continues through braking with both brakes, as well as using either the front or rear.

At first my fiancé thought it was the chain and complained that I never wash my bike, so I cleaned my entire bike and cleaned and lubed the chain. After having a clean bike, I hop on for a ride, and the whine is still happening. It is not the normal ninja tank whine, I know that sound well.

After complaining for about a week, Ryan went for a ride on my bike and took a video... it's currently being uploaded and won't be up for a few hours. He said he heard it and we put the bike up in stands. We can't reproduce the whine when it is on the stands. We even turned on the bike and went through 1st and 2nd gear and still no whine, so we determined it's from the front wheel and it isn't the chain or the rear brake. We can't spin the front wheel fast enough to get to the "whine speed."

I really dislike riding my bike with this sound, so is there anything else I can do at home to further diagnose this or do I need to bring my bike into a shop?

I will update this when I get the movie online.

bob706 · January 9th, 2011, 04:28 PM

oil the speedo gear

GeneJunkie · January 9th, 2011, 05:13 PM

What kind of oil/lube should I use? Also is there an easy way to do it without taking the whole wheel and assembly off?

Alex · January 9th, 2011, 05:16 PM

Hi Cindy - some links and info up in our wiki:

http://www.ninjette.org/wiki/My_Bike...ont_Tire/wheel

GeneJunkie · January 9th, 2011, 05:29 PM

here's the vid.

http://contour.com/stories/127267

ztrack157 · January 9th, 2011, 05:35 PM

Just sounds like normal brake drag on the rotor to me.

GeneJunkie · January 9th, 2011, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ztrack157

Just sounds like normal brake drag on the rotor to me.

If it were brake drag it wold go away when I mash on the front break, which it doesn't.

GeneJunkie · January 9th, 2011, 06:04 PM

Yaay thanks Alex and Sean! Some WD 40 at the speedo gear did the trick. I always check the ninjette wiki first, I don't know why I missed this one.

Alex · January 9th, 2011, 08:52 PM

Glad you tracked it down. The WD40 is pretty light, so the squeak may come back. Some chain lube in the same place might last longer if it does happen to come back.

bob706 · January 9th, 2011, 09:17 PM

I used some motor oil on the speedo once...two years ago

acadiantheone · January 9th, 2011, 11:46 PM

Can you tell me where is the speedo gear located on the 09 ninja 250r?

GeneJunkie · January 10th, 2011, 12:41 AM

Sitting on the bike its on the left side on the front between the wheel and the fork. You will see a cable running to it.

kkim · January 10th, 2011, 01:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by acadiantheone

Can you tell me where is the speedo gear located on the 09 ninja 250r?

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeneJunkie

Sitting on the bike its on the left side on the front between the wheel and the fork. You will see a cable running to it.

dubojr1 · January 10th, 2011, 05:40 AM

I've replaced the speedo on a friends bike I believe due to this same issue. He had been telling me that he had a squeak coming from the front wheel and ultimately the gear on the inside seized and failed. You could see factory grease on the inside of the speedo gear. I know it's no fun but I'd suggest disassembling the front tire axle/speedo assembly and either re-grease or clean factory grease out then re-grease.

GeneJunkie · January 10th, 2011, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dubojr1

I've replaced the speedo on a friends bike I believe due to this same issue. He had been telling me that he had a squeak coming from the front wheel and ultimately the gear on the inside seized and failed. You could see factory grease on the inside of the speedo gear. I know it's no fun but I'd suggest disassembling the front tire axle/speedo assembly and either re-grease or clean factory grease out then re-grease.

I was planning on doing that if/when the squeak returns.

January 9th, 2011, 04:17 PM	#1
GeneJunkie ninjette.org sage Name: Cindy Location: Wethersfield, CT Join Date: Apr 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Ninja 250R Posts: 691	Whine/squeak from front wheel Recently I am having this whine/squeal/squeak coming from the front wheel. It starting happening after I unfortunately had to ride in the rain. I think it starts at +5mph and I probably stop hearing it over 35mph probably because the wheel is going so fast. I can hear it when I pull in the clutch as well as when the clutch is engaged. It also continues through braking with both brakes, as well as using either the front or rear. At first my fiancé thought it was the chain and complained that I never wash my bike, so I cleaned my entire bike and cleaned and lubed the chain. After having a clean bike, I hop on for a ride, and the whine is still happening. It is not the normal ninja tank whine, I know that sound well. After complaining for about a week, Ryan went for a ride on my bike and took a video... it's currently being uploaded and won't be up for a few hours. He said he heard it and we put the bike up in stands. We can't reproduce the whine when it is on the stands. We even turned on the bike and went through 1st and 2nd gear and still no whine, so we determined it's from the front wheel and it isn't the chain or the rear brake. We can't spin the front wheel fast enough to get to the "whine speed." I really dislike riding my bike with this sound, so is there anything else I can do at home to further diagnose this or do I need to bring my bike into a shop? I will update this when I get the movie online.

January 9th, 2011, 05:16 PM	#4
Alex ninjette.org dude Name: 1 guess :-) Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 7	Hi Cindy - some links and info up in our wiki: http://www.ninjette.org/wiki/My_Bike...ont_Tire/wheel __________________________________________________ Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered)

January 9th, 2011, 05:35 PM	#6
ztrack157 The Sportisi Master Name: Matt Location: Chico Join Date: May 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250 Posts: A lot.	Just sounds like normal brake drag on the rotor to me. __________________________________________________ Sportisimoto USA is born.

January 9th, 2011, 08:52 PM	#9
Alex ninjette.org dude Name: 1 guess :-) Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 7	Glad you tracked it down. The WD40 is pretty light, so the squeak may come back. Some chain lube in the same place might last longer if it does happen to come back. __________________________________________________ Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered)

January 10th, 2011, 05:40 AM	#14
dubojr1 ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Jason Location: Jacksonville, Florida Join Date: May 2010 Motorcycle(s): 09 Ninja 250R SE, 07 Honda CRF230F, 06 Honda CRF150F Posts: A lot.	I've replaced the speedo on a friends bike I believe due to this same issue. He had been telling me that he had a squeak coming from the front wheel and ultimately the gear on the inside seized and failed. You could see factory grease on the inside of the speedo gear. I know it's no fun but I'd suggest disassembling the front tire axle/speedo assembly and either re-grease or clean factory grease out then re-grease. __________________________________________________ 09 250R SE: Paying it forward one post at a time! Don't forget to add yourself to our Member Map

January 9th, 2011, 04:28 PM	#2
bob706 ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Sean Location: Mary Esther, FL Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250 1998 HD Road King Posts: A lot.	oil the speedo gear

January 9th, 2011, 05:13 PM	#3
GeneJunkie ninjette.org sage Name: Cindy Location: Wethersfield, CT Join Date: Apr 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Ninja 250R Posts: 691	What kind of oil/lube should I use? Also is there an easy way to do it without taking the whole wheel and assembly off?

January 9th, 2011, 05:29 PM	#5
GeneJunkie ninjette.org sage Name: Cindy Location: Wethersfield, CT Join Date: Apr 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Ninja 250R Posts: 691	here's the vid. http://contour.com/stories/127267

January 9th, 2011, 06:04 PM	#8
GeneJunkie ninjette.org sage Name: Cindy Location: Wethersfield, CT Join Date: Apr 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Ninja 250R Posts: 691	Yaay thanks Alex and Sean! Some WD 40 at the speedo gear did the trick. I always check the ninjette wiki first, I don't know why I missed this one.

January 9th, 2011, 09:17 PM	#10
bob706 ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Sean Location: Mary Esther, FL Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250 1998 HD Road King Posts: A lot.	I used some motor oil on the speedo once...two years ago

January 9th, 2011, 11:46 PM	#11
acadiantheone ninjette.org newbie Name: Ahmed Location: Austin,Tx Join Date: Jan 2011 Motorcycle(s): 09 NiNjA 250R Posts: 1	Can you tell me where is the speedo gear located on the 09 ninja 250r?

January 10th, 2011, 12:41 AM	#12
GeneJunkie ninjette.org sage Name: Cindy Location: Wethersfield, CT Join Date: Apr 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Ninja 250R Posts: 691	Sitting on the bike its on the left side on the front between the wheel and the fork. You will see a cable running to it.

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