Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

Hi all,

For a small while now I've noticed a noise coming from my bike when I slow down. I assume it's always there, but just easier to hear when you pull the clutch and the bike begins to slow down.

It's easier to hear since the engine revs lower with the clutch down.

The noise slows down too as the bike slows down and is kind of a 'ting ting ting' noise that gradually stops as the bike comes to a stop. Somewhat metallic noise.

Unfortunately I can't pinpoint where it's coming from. The engine or front wheel methinks, but I'm wondering if anyone has had any experiences with this. I suspect it could be the wheel as the noise slows down and is only a few 'tings' per second until it's slower and slower.

It's an 09 model.

Any clue?

Thanks in advance!

How long since you lubed your chain?
Or adjusted the chain tension?

I lube it regularly (pretty much every time I fuel the bike). The tension was adjusted when I took it in for a service and appears to be ok.

The noise started after the service. However 2 other things happened at around the same time so I can't blame it on something they may have done:

1) It was cold around then, so I assumed the cold could perhaps have made a difference and some metal contracted and behaved a little differently - as the noise isn't always there. However now I rode it in warmer weather and it's still making that noise.
2) I had a plastic bag which got stuck in the chain. I cleaned most of it up but there are traces of melted plastic in bits of the chain.

Weird thing is that it doesn't always do it. And when it does it's very easy to hear (even through the helmet).

Wattie wrote:...How long since you lubed your chain?
Or adjusted the chain tension?.....

+1 - this is nearly always the source of funny noises.......

do you get the noise pushing the bike with the engine off?

If you can get the front and rear wheels up on stands you can spin the wheels.....

I've pinpointed the origin of the noise and it appears to be coming from the front - so I think it's not chain related.

Unfortunately I have no stand to give it a test spin. It doesn't happen at lowish rotations (below say 15km/h or so). It's also in rhythm with the wheel spin from what I can tell, as the little metallic piece that's used to balance the wheel spins in rhythm with the noise.

I read on a site that it could be due to too much tension on the axel? But not sure what that is exactly - still a bit of a noob when it comes to bike maintenance.

It also seems to start after a bit of a ride, which makes me wonder if it's due to the metal expanding and clipping something. Brakes maybe.

Will do more investigating today if I get the chance, but it's not really annoying as the sound is quite easy to hear.