gear whine

red · April 10th, 2011, 05:44 PM

There has always been lot of gear noise when under power on my bike, relative to the other bikes in the garage (no Kawasaki other than the ninjette). The bike is relatively new and has less than 1000 miles on it.

The noise goes away when the clutch is pulled in. The chain is not too tight.

Do these make a lot of gear noise? Remedy?

Thanks for opinions

cwb48 · April 10th, 2011, 06:54 PM

Yeah, the whine is pretty noticible sometimes. Both my '01 and '08 do it, but sometimes I notice it, and sometimes I don't. I've always thought it was the clutch- seems to come from the right side.

It also doesn't seem to be there when accelerating hard, so there's a possible solution.

I don't think it's a defect or problem of any kind, just a quirk.

Chris

dubojr1 · April 11th, 2011, 10:00 AM

I remember a whine when mine was new. Either I don't notice it now or it was part of the "break-in".

red · April 11th, 2011, 10:05 AM

Mine is loud. Maybe break in will take care of it.

kkim · April 11th, 2011, 10:17 AM

is your oil level at the proper level in the sight glass?

red · April 11th, 2011, 12:54 PM

Oil level looks fine. I can't remember if I changed the oil when I got it so it may be time for fresh reduced-whine oil this weekend. Still has lt 1000 miles. Maybe a premium syn cycle oil.

kkim · April 11th, 2011, 12:58 PM

don't know if changing the oil will help with the whine level, just wanted to make sure you had enough in the crankcase. Low oil levels can cause more crankcase noise.

My bike whines... and pouts and even has tantrums... I just chalk it up to it being a ninjette.

btw, do you wear ear plugs? that's a good way to getting rid of hearing the whine and to save your hearing.

red · April 11th, 2011, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kkim

btw, do you wear ear plugs? that's a good way to getting rid of hearing the whine and to save your hearing.

It's probably due for an oil and filter anyway.

Typically I do not wear plugs unless I am on the highway on a bike that puts the helmet full in the wind. My helmets are pretty quiet.

I must admit that the test riding around the block I have been doing after carb flddling on the ninja have not been following the ATGATT and all bikes make a lot of mechanical racket when you're putting around with ears in the open. But this ninja's noise is a serious gear whine, lots more that anything I am familiar with.

I'll put another thousand miles on it and see if it goes away.

red · April 15th, 2011, 04:01 PM

Fresh oil seems to have helped a bit. We'll see after a few thousand miles if it subsides after break in.

sowega · April 15th, 2011, 04:38 PM

Kawasakis typically have loud drivetrains; my old 2000 ZX6R, 1998 ZX7R, and 2004 ZX636R all had tons of what I thought was loud mechanical noise while breaking in.

red · April 16th, 2011, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sowega

Kawasakis typically have loud drivetrains; my old 2000 ZX6R, 1998 ZX7R, and 2004 ZX636R all had tons of what I thought was loud mechanical noise while breaking in.

Thanks - was trying to figure out whether a lot of gear whine was normal for these. Sounds like it is.

onizthegnome · April 19th, 2011, 05:03 PM

this whine you are hearing, does it happen when you are engine braking? i am starting to notice a low humming sound when i decelerate. i cant tell if its from the engine or the front wheel. it sounds like its coming somewhere from the front though.

red · April 19th, 2011, 07:30 PM

Mine is not a low humming, but a gear whine anytime there is load on the transmission.

And of course it is mitigated quite a bit with a helmet on

April 10th, 2011, 05:44 PM	#1
red ninjette.org member Name: DJ Location: DFW, TX Join Date: Sep 2010 Motorcycle(s): TR7, Trident, SuperIII, BMW, HD, Duc, Vespa, MP3 Posts: 83	gear whine There has always been lot of gear noise when under power on my bike, relative to the other bikes in the garage (no Kawasaki other than the ninjette). The bike is relatively new and has less than 1000 miles on it. The noise goes away when the clutch is pulled in. The chain is not too tight. Do these make a lot of gear noise? Remedy? Thanks for opinions __________________________________________________ 2010 Ninja 250R SE - I got this bike for my wife. It was a good trade.

April 11th, 2011, 10:00 AM	#3
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 remember a whine when mine was new. Either I don't notice it now or it was part of the "break-in". __________________________________________________ 09 250R SE: Paying it forward one post at a time! Don't forget to add yourself to our Member Map

April 11th, 2011, 10:05 AM	#4
red ninjette.org member Name: DJ Location: DFW, TX Join Date: Sep 2010 Motorcycle(s): TR7, Trident, SuperIII, BMW, HD, Duc, Vespa, MP3 Posts: 83	Mine is loud. Maybe break in will take care of it. __________________________________________________ 2010 Ninja 250R SE - I got this bike for my wife. It was a good trade.

April 11th, 2011, 12:54 PM	#6
red ninjette.org member Name: DJ Location: DFW, TX Join Date: Sep 2010 Motorcycle(s): TR7, Trident, SuperIII, BMW, HD, Duc, Vespa, MP3 Posts: 83	Oil level looks fine. I can't remember if I changed the oil when I got it so it may be time for fresh reduced-whine oil this weekend. Still has lt 1000 miles. Maybe a premium syn cycle oil. __________________________________________________ 2010 Ninja 250R SE - I got this bike for my wife. It was a good trade.

April 11th, 2011, 12:58 PM	#7
kkim Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: Too much.	don't know if changing the oil will help with the whine level, just wanted to make sure you had enough in the crankcase. Low oil levels can cause more crankcase noise. My bike whines... and pouts and even has tantrums... I just chalk it up to it being a ninjette. btw, do you wear ear plugs? that's a good way to getting rid of hearing the whine and to save your hearing. Last futzed with by kkim; April 11th, 2011 at 02:21 PM.

April 10th, 2011, 06:54 PM	#2
cwb48 Mature motorcyclist Name: Chris Location: Sykesville, MD Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250R, blue Posts: 126	Yeah, the whine is pretty noticible sometimes. Both my '01 and '08 do it, but sometimes I notice it, and sometimes I don't. I've always thought it was the clutch- seems to come from the right side. It also doesn't seem to be there when accelerating hard, so there's a possible solution. I don't think it's a defect or problem of any kind, just a quirk. Chris

April 11th, 2011, 10:17 AM	#5
kkim Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: Too much.	is your oil level at the proper level in the sight glass?

April 15th, 2011, 04:01 PM	#9
red ninjette.org member Name: DJ Location: DFW, TX Join Date: Sep 2010 Motorcycle(s): TR7, Trident, SuperIII, BMW, HD, Duc, Vespa, MP3 Posts: 83	Fresh oil seems to have helped a bit. We'll see after a few thousand miles if it subsides after break in. __________________________________________________ 2010 Ninja 250R SE - I got this bike for my wife. It was a good trade.

April 15th, 2011, 04:38 PM	#10
sowega ninjette.org guru Name: Ed Location: Atlanta, GA Join Date: Mar 2011 Motorcycle(s): 899, 748, 250, 250, 70 Posts: 348	Kawasakis typically have loud drivetrains; my old 2000 ZX6R, 1998 ZX7R, and 2004 ZX636R all had tons of what I thought was loud mechanical noise while breaking in.

April 19th, 2011, 05:03 PM	#12
onizthegnome certified newbie Name: oniz Location: north carolina Join Date: Apr 2010 Motorcycle(s): 08 ninja 250r blue Posts: 127	this whine you are hearing, does it happen when you are engine braking? i am starting to notice a low humming sound when i decelerate. i cant tell if its from the engine or the front wheel. it sounds like its coming somewhere from the front though. __________________________________________________ locktite ALL the things!!!

April 19th, 2011, 07:30 PM	#13
red ninjette.org member Name: DJ Location: DFW, TX Join Date: Sep 2010 Motorcycle(s): TR7, Trident, SuperIII, BMW, HD, Duc, Vespa, MP3 Posts: 83	Mine is not a low humming, but a gear whine anytime there is load on the transmission. And of course it is mitigated quite a bit with a helmet on __________________________________________________ 2010 Ninja 250R SE - I got this bike for my wife. It was a good trade.

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