Ticking noise... at lean angle?

MattyJamm · July 26th, 2015, 01:32 PM

So this is a strange one.. I went out on a fairly long ride yesterday (~3-4 hours total) and after a couple hours in I noticed an unfamiliar grinding/rubbing/ticking noise. Even more odd is I could only seem to create it when at lean angle to the LEFT side. Leaning to the right it would stop.

I noticed it again today at much lower speeds, and it was more clearly a ticking sound than a grinding sound. Again I could only consistently create it when leaning left. A couple times I may have noticed it when up right, but never when leaned to the right.
It's coming from the front-ish, and if I pull the clutch in it stops.

Bike is a 2012 Ninja 250 with 7500 km (4700 mi). Has anyone ever experienced anything like this?

dcj13 · July 26th, 2015, 03:41 PM

Welcome, Matt!

Interesting observation... I have no clue what to think. It goes away when the clutch is in... Hmmm.

If you coast down a hill in neutral with the engine off and go around a left turn, will it make the noise? Or engine off, but in gear with the clutch handle pulled in (disengaged clutch)?

Kevin1956 · July 26th, 2015, 04:22 PM

Loose chain rubbing against countershaft sprocket cover, swing arm or chain guard?

MattyJamm · July 26th, 2015, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcj13

Welcome, Matt!

Interesting observation... I have no clue what to think. It goes away when the clutch is in... Hmmm.

If you coast down a hill in neutral with the engine off and go around a left turn, will it make the noise? Or engine off, but in gear with the clutch handle pulled in (disengaged clutch)?

Will have to try that. I should also try giving some throttle while in neutral during a turn.

MattyJamm · July 26th, 2015, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin1956

Loose chain rubbing against countershaft sprocket cover, swing arm or chain guard?

Wouldn't the chain rub regardless of me being in gear or not?

greg737 · July 26th, 2015, 09:19 PM

Maybe it's oil related.

Maybe gravity is affecting how the oil is distributed within the cylinder head: Like where the oil flows, or maybe it changes where it pools inside the cylinder head. You could have a valve that's making noise when the oil flows away from it in a left turn, or maybe the right-hand end bearing of the camshaft.

Or maybe the issue is in the engine's sump, at the oil pump or its plumbing. Maybe the oil pump is cavitating when you lean left. Low oil quantity?

Just guessing.

csmith12 · July 27th, 2015, 08:16 AM

Check the oil first. Then figure out if it is in motion or not in motion. Get a helper, start the bike lean it over by hand and see if the sound is there. Gut tells me though, if it goes away when you pull the clutch, then it must be mechanical. Just a feelin'...

jkv45 · July 27th, 2015, 10:41 AM

I would say something (rock, screw) stuck in the front tire, except that you said it stopped when you pulled-in the clutch. - which would make it engine/drivetrain related.

Alex · July 27th, 2015, 12:46 PM

I'd try better earplugs.

alex.s · July 27th, 2015, 01:44 PM

what kind of noise does it make during a 12'oclock wheely?

MattyJamm · July 27th, 2015, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alex.s

what kind of noise does it make during a 12'oclock wheely?

BRB, learning to wheelie a Ninja 250

alex.s · July 27th, 2015, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattyJamm

BRB, learning to wheelie a Ninja 250

if you can wheelie a 50cc, you can wheelie a 250cc

you just gotta put your legs into it.

accumack · July 28th, 2015, 06:56 AM

Check your wheel bearings, look for tight links in the chain.

akima · July 29th, 2015, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex

I'd try better earplugs.

Glad I wasn't drinking something when I read that. You made me LOL

MattyJamm · July 31st, 2015, 10:41 AM

I finally realised the noise is just something vibrating/rubbing under my fairing. When my leg is hugging the left tank/fairing (pretty much any time I'm not making a left turn) it dampens the noise. And when I stop pressing my leg against the left tank/fairing (when I make a left turn) it becomes audible again. So I'm not completely crazy, it was indirectly related to left turns

Panda · July 31st, 2015, 10:57 AM

Not everyone is a born ambiturner.

feernando · August 13th, 2015, 01:18 PM

wheel bearing

strickcharles5 · May 4th, 2017, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattyJamm

So this is a strange one.. I went out on a fairly long ride yesterday (~3-4 hours total) and after a couple hours in I noticed an unfamiliar grinding/rubbing/ticking noise. Even more odd is I could only seem to create it when at lean angle to the LEFT side. Leaning to the right it would stop.

I noticed it again today at much lower speeds, and it was more clearly a ticking sound than a grinding sound. Again I could only consistently create it when leaning left. A couple times I may have noticed it when up right, but never when leaned to the right.
It's coming from the front-ish, and if I pull the clutch in it stops.

Bike is a 2012 Ninja 250 with 7500 km (4700 mi). Has anyone ever experienced anything like this?

Might be when your lean so far over the oposite side of your lean the valves arent getting oil at that point because of the angle of you lean or not as much oil rather most of the oil is going the way your leaning.I wouldn't worry about it that's not a lot of miles you have on the engine probably just the sound of the bike.

strickcharles5 · May 4th, 2017, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattyJamm

I finally realised the noise is just something vibrating/rubbing under my fairing. When my leg is hugging the left tank/fairing (pretty much any time I'm not making a left turn) it dampens the noise. And when I stop pressing my leg against the left tank/fairing (when I make a left turn) it becomes audible again. So I'm not completely crazy, it was indirectly related to left turns

Ohhh lol

July 26th, 2015, 01:32 PM	#1
MattyJamm ninjette.org newbie Name: Matt Location: Canada Join Date: Jul 2015 Motorcycle(s): 2012 Ninja 250 Posts: 5	Ticking noise... at lean angle? So this is a strange one.. I went out on a fairly long ride yesterday (~3-4 hours total) and after a couple hours in I noticed an unfamiliar grinding/rubbing/ticking noise. Even more odd is I could only seem to create it when at lean angle to the LEFT side. Leaning to the right it would stop. I noticed it again today at much lower speeds, and it was more clearly a ticking sound than a grinding sound. Again I could only consistently create it when leaning left. A couple times I may have noticed it when up right, but never when leaned to the right. It's coming from the front-ish, and if I pull the clutch in it stops. Bike is a 2012 Ninja 250 with 7500 km (4700 mi). Has anyone ever experienced anything like this?

July 26th, 2015, 04:22 PM	#3
Kevin1956 ninjette.org guru Name: Kevin Location: Stockton California Join Date: Feb 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2012 Ninja 250R Posts: 362	Loose chain rubbing against countershaft sprocket cover, swing arm or chain guard?
	1 out of 1 members found this post helpful.

July 27th, 2015, 08:16 AM	#7
csmith12 The Corner Whisperer Name: Chris (aka Reactor) Location: Northern KY Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much. MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13	Check the oil first. Then figure out if it is in motion or not in motion. Get a helper, start the bike lean it over by hand and see if the sound is there. Gut tells me though, if it goes away when you pull the clutch, then it must be mechanical. Just a feelin'... __________________________________________________ Goal: Shake A Million Hands \| Look through the corners \| Track Day Prep \| Closest track? \| The Mid-Ohio School Last futzed with by csmith12; July 27th, 2015 at 10:00 AM.

July 27th, 2015, 12:46 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	I'd try better earplugs. __________________________________________________ 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)
	1 out of 1 members found this post helpful.

July 27th, 2015, 01:44 PM	#10
alex.s wat Name: wat Location: tustin/long beach Join Date: Sep 2009 Motorcycle(s): wat Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 5 MOTM - Oct '12, Feb '14	what kind of noise does it make during a 12'oclock wheely? __________________________________________________
	1 out of 1 members found this post helpful.

July 26th, 2015, 03:41 PM	#2
dcj13 Participant Name: Dave Location: South of Seattle Join Date: Oct 2012 Motorcycle(s): '94 K75 std Posts: Too much. MOTM - Aug '15	Welcome, Matt! Interesting observation... I have no clue what to think. It goes away when the clutch is in... Hmmm. If you coast down a hill in neutral with the engine off and go around a left turn, will it make the noise? Or engine off, but in gear with the clutch handle pulled in (disengaged clutch)?

July 26th, 2015, 09:19 PM	#6
greg737 - Name: - Location: - Join Date: May 2009 Motorcycle(s): - Posts: A lot.	Maybe it's oil related. Maybe gravity is affecting how the oil is distributed within the cylinder head: Like where the oil flows, or maybe it changes where it pools inside the cylinder head. You could have a valve that's making noise when the oil flows away from it in a left turn, or maybe the right-hand end bearing of the camshaft. Or maybe the issue is in the engine's sump, at the oil pump or its plumbing. Maybe the oil pump is cavitating when you lean left. Low oil quantity? Just guessing.

July 27th, 2015, 10:41 AM	#8
jkv45 Rev Limiter Name: Jay Location: WI Join Date: Jul 2013 Motorcycle(s): '06 SV650n, '00 Derbi GPR, '64 CA77 Dream 305, '70 CL450 Scrambler, numerous dirt bikes Posts: A lot. MOTM - Jun '18, Oct '16	I would say something (rock, screw) stuck in the front tire, except that you said it stopped when you pulled-in the clutch. - which would make it engine/drivetrain related.

July 28th, 2015, 06:56 AM	#13
accumack ninjette.org member Name: jim Location: texas currently in Temecula Valley CA Join Date: May 2013 Motorcycle(s): honda crf230l & 2013 ninja 300se wife has Honda crf230l & honda cbr250r repsol Posts: 222	Check your wheel bearings, look for tight links in the chain.

July 31st, 2015, 10:41 AM	#15
MattyJamm ninjette.org newbie Name: Matt Location: Canada Join Date: Jul 2015 Motorcycle(s): 2012 Ninja 250 Posts: 5	I finally realised the noise is just something vibrating/rubbing under my fairing. When my leg is hugging the left tank/fairing (pretty much any time I'm not making a left turn) it dampens the noise. And when I stop pressing my leg against the left tank/fairing (when I make a left turn) it becomes audible again. So I'm not completely crazy, it was indirectly related to left turns

July 31st, 2015, 10:57 AM	#16
Panda not an actual panda Name: dan Location: philadelphia Join Date: Aug 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250, 2009 CBR600RR (Sold) Posts: A lot.	Not everyone is a born ambiturner.
	1 out of 1 members found this post helpful.

August 13th, 2015, 01:18 PM	#17
feernando ninjette.org member Name: fernando Location: tacoma Join Date: Jul 2015 Motorcycle(s): ninja 300 ninja 250 project Posts: 35	wheel bearing

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