Rasping Noise Above 8k RPM

Finesse · April 10th, 2014, 07:05 PM

My bike makes a rasping noise when I am riding above 8,000 RPM. It sounds like a very light scratching, like a piece of paper edge scratching on something, or a vibration of metal on metal... At first I thought it was my keys vibrating against the triple tree but then I held the keys while I rode. It ONLY happens after the bike passes the 8,000 RPM mark, and it doesn't happen 100% of the time, nor is it a steady/consistent sound. The bike is perfectly happy to rev to the redline and it performs normally above 8k rpm, but the noise is a bit disconcerting. It sounds like it's coming from in front of me/below me. As soon as I shift up or slow down, or in any other way drop the RPM to below 8000, the noise immediately stops.

Anyone have any idea what this is? Someone said I should re-jet after installing the two brothers exhaust, but it made this noise ever since I got it. It had the valves adjusted 1500 miles ago and the shop guy who did it didn't mention anything else out of place or needing adjustment.

Any leads would be appreciated!

misfitsailor · April 10th, 2014, 07:16 PM

Could be a sympathetic/resonant vibration, as you suspect. I had a similar case that turned out to be a baffle in the muffler that had come adrift. Look for the usual suspects: heat shields, horn bracket, ect. When the bike is cold, feel and tap things to see if anything seems loose.

Sometimes annoying noises are nothing important. Like the song says, "don't let the sound of your own wheels make you crazy...".

Motofool · April 10th, 2014, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Finesse

.......Any leads would be appreciated!

Slightly pull the clutch lever when that happens, just in case it may be.

alex.s · April 10th, 2014, 07:27 PM

its the clutch lever vibrating

Finesse · April 10th, 2014, 07:28 PM

^I will check this out tomorrow and report back.

Sirref · April 10th, 2014, 07:58 PM

are the bolts on the headers tightened all the way? if they're loose they can vibrate a bit and that's the right general location of the sound.

Finesse · April 10th, 2014, 08:05 PM

Good point, I should check those anyway since I took the headers off this winter to sand/paint them.

Finesse · April 11th, 2014, 10:37 AM

It's the clutch lever!!!

Ish · April 11th, 2014, 11:04 AM

Good to hear you found the problem.

I changed motors on my bike and have been hearing that similar noise right at 8,000 through 9,000 rpm

I'll triple check everything too!! Hopefully it’s just the clutch lever because I thought it was my valve spec so I checked and adjusted (which I did and those suckers were tight) but the noise is still there.

Guess these motors vibrate the most at 8,000 RPM

Finesse · April 11th, 2014, 11:08 AM

Yeah, it's really weird that it completely stops at EXACTLY 8,000 rpm.

Good luck!!

Ish · April 11th, 2014, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Finesse

Yeah, it's really weird that it completely stops at EXACTLY 8,000 rpm.

Good luck!!

It was my clutch lever too!

So stoked that stupid noise was bothering me so much.

THANKS Finesse & alex.s

Thought it was cam chain

April 10th, 2014, 07:05 PM	#1
Finesse ran when parked Name: Katie Location: DC/MD Join Date: Aug 2013 Motorcycle(s): Freeride 250R, KLX250SF, mopeds Posts: A lot. MOTM - Sep '17, Dec '14	Rasping Noise Above 8k RPM My bike makes a rasping noise when I am riding above 8,000 RPM. It sounds like a very light scratching, like a piece of paper edge scratching on something, or a vibration of metal on metal... At first I thought it was my keys vibrating against the triple tree but then I held the keys while I rode. It ONLY happens after the bike passes the 8,000 RPM mark, and it doesn't happen 100% of the time, nor is it a steady/consistent sound. The bike is perfectly happy to rev to the redline and it performs normally above 8k rpm, but the noise is a bit disconcerting. It sounds like it's coming from in front of me/below me. As soon as I shift up or slow down, or in any other way drop the RPM to below 8000, the noise immediately stops. Anyone have any idea what this is? Someone said I should re-jet after installing the two brothers exhaust, but it made this noise ever since I got it. It had the valves adjusted 1500 miles ago and the shop guy who did it didn't mention anything else out of place or needing adjustment. Any leads would be appreciated!

April 10th, 2014, 07:16 PM	#2
misfitsailor Ninjette Jockey Name: Tim Location: Stockton, Ca Join Date: Oct 2010 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250R, Harley Davidson Heritage Softail, 2 Honda Monkeys, Polini & GRC mini GP Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 3	Could be a sympathetic/resonant vibration, as you suspect. I had a similar case that turned out to be a baffle in the muffler that had come adrift. Look for the usual suspects: heat shields, horn bracket, ect. When the bike is cold, feel and tap things to see if anything seems loose. Sometimes annoying noises are nothing important. Like the song says, "don't let the sound of your own wheels make you crazy...". __________________________________________________ For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?.

April 10th, 2014, 07:27 PM	#4
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	its the clutch lever vibrating __________________________________________________
	1 out of 1 members found this post helpful.

April 11th, 2014, 10:37 AM	#8
Finesse ran when parked Name: Katie Location: DC/MD Join Date: Aug 2013 Motorcycle(s): Freeride 250R, KLX250SF, mopeds Posts: A lot. MOTM - Sep '17, Dec '14	It's the clutch lever!!!
	1 out of 1 members found this post helpful.

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April 10th, 2014, 07:28 PM	#5
Finesse ran when parked Name: Katie Location: DC/MD Join Date: Aug 2013 Motorcycle(s): Freeride 250R, KLX250SF, mopeds Posts: A lot. MOTM - Sep '17, Dec '14	^I will check this out tomorrow and report back.

April 10th, 2014, 07:58 PM	#6
Sirref Private Joker Name: Ben Location: Towson, MD Join Date: Nov 2012 Motorcycle(s): '99/'01 Ninja 250 "sketchy", '13 Ninja 300 "yoshi", '03 GSXR 600 "merlin" Posts: A lot. MOTM - Mar '14	are the bolts on the headers tightened all the way? if they're loose they can vibrate a bit and that's the right general location of the sound.

April 10th, 2014, 08:05 PM	#7
Finesse ran when parked Name: Katie Location: DC/MD Join Date: Aug 2013 Motorcycle(s): Freeride 250R, KLX250SF, mopeds Posts: A lot. MOTM - Sep '17, Dec '14	Good point, I should check those anyway since I took the headers off this winter to sand/paint them.

April 11th, 2014, 11:04 AM	#9
Ish ninjette.org member Name: Ish Location: San Clemente, California Join Date: Nov 2013 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250 2001 KX125 2001 Posts: 85	Good to hear you found the problem. I changed motors on my bike and have been hearing that similar noise right at 8,000 through 9,000 rpm I'll triple check everything too!! Hopefully it’s just the clutch lever because I thought it was my valve spec so I checked and adjusted (which I did and those suckers were tight) but the noise is still there. Guess these motors vibrate the most at 8,000 RPM

April 11th, 2014, 11:08 AM	#10
Finesse ran when parked Name: Katie Location: DC/MD Join Date: Aug 2013 Motorcycle(s): Freeride 250R, KLX250SF, mopeds Posts: A lot. MOTM - Sep '17, Dec '14	Yeah, it's really weird that it completely stops at EXACTLY 8,000 rpm. Good luck!!