12 Weird droning noise

[The White Rabbit]

Bit of a whine.....and not from the BM owner in this case

Weird and irritating noise on the 12 GS (its a new one, I've got to know the GS repertoire, and if they all do that sir, then mine never used to ).

Like a resonating, the kind of noise you get when you blow over the end of a bottle. In other words just a drone, not a clunk, a whir or a grinding noise.

Not the servos, thats a whir and I still get that as expected.

Seems to come and go in loudness but always there. Obviously cant hear it when moving at any speed but seems to be there moving at low speed or stationary. Doesnt especially come on with revs, doesnt depend on clutch in or out, or whether in gear or neutral. Bloody annoying when idling waiting at lights etc. 'woooooOOOOOOooooooooooOOOOOOOOOoooooooo....' you get the idea I hope. Think only happens when warm, i.e. not from a fresh start.

Sounds like a gremlin using the air intake as a musical instrument :cool

Any ideas folks? Anyone had this before soemthing ahs given up? Suggestions so far have been V-belt and fuel pump grumbling.

 

[Mucky Helmetier]

Bit of a whine.....and not from the BM owner in this case

Weird and irritating noise on the 12 GS (its a new one, I've got to know the GS repertoire, and if they all do that sir, then mine never used to ).

Like a resonating, the kind of noise you get when you blow over the end of a bottle. In other words just a drone, not a clunk, a whir or a grinding noise.

Not the servos, thats a whir and I still get that as expected.

Seems to come and go in loudness but always there. Obviously cant hear it when moving at any speed but seems to be there moving at low speed or stationary. Doesnt especially come on with revs, doesnt depend on clutch in or out, or whether in gear or neutral. Bloody annoying when idling waiting at lights etc. 'woooooOOOOOOooooooooooOOOOOOOOOoooooooo....' you get the idea I hope. Think only happens when warm, i.e. not from a fresh start.

Sounds like a gremlin using the air intake as a musical instrument :cool

Any ideas folks? Anyone had this before soemthing ahs given up? Suggestions so far have been V-belt and fuel pump grumbling.

Sounds a bit like the time I cable tied a Whistle to the bottom of a mates bike... Took him ages to find it..

 

[SilverFish]

If it was an older bike Id say just leave it a while to see if it goes away. But seeing as its new, Id take a ride to the dealer and run it with the mechanic or service manger present if possible.

My guess would be either the poly belt or any moving part which becomes loose when warm, but would be interesting to find out.

Good luck,

Mike

 

[The White Rabbit]

Sounds a bit like the time I cable tied a Whistle to the bottom of a mates bike... Took him ages to find it..

Your as much help as that mate of yours I have the misfortune to know

 

[Andy Michael]

Sounds like an issue I had after having the front engine cover replaced, the fix I had was the belt and pully changed after that all was well.

 

[The White Rabbit]

I had the front engine cover changed too. But this has come on about 1k miles later. Was yours same or right away?

 

[Andy Michael]

Engine cover was changed at about 16K the noise was noticeable very soon after probably less than 50 miles seemed to get louder in slow moving traffic almost sounding like a fan cutting in (but wasn't)
Hope that helps

 

[deaninkl]

is it only a wooooooooooooo or a wooooodinkdink? if its only a wooooooooo the you need to charge your iPod, if its the woooooodinkdink buy the dink control button from your dealer. Then have a few of these, always good for dink control.

 

[The White Rabbit]

Engine cover was changed at about 16K the noise was noticeable very soon after probably less than 50 miles seemed to get louder in slow moving traffic almost sounding like a fan cutting in (but wasn't)
Hope that helps

Sounds right. Will investigate, cover off etc. Thanks.

 

[Mucky Helmetier]

Your as much help as that mate of yours I have the misfortune to know

Ahhh The Street... I have done some evil things to him over the years.

Just get yourself a louder exhaust or wear two pairs of earplugs and you will be sorted!

 

[The White Rabbit]

Ok, youre less help than the Street

 

[radrod]

I think i know what you are talking about. It does sound like some kind of woodwind instrument. Two high pitches that rapidly change at random. It doesn't bother me or the bike. It started hapening to mine after 20K service interval. I will get it investigated at my next service.

 

[John Armstrong]

You haven't lost a plug from crashbars, stand or frame?

 

[Mr Custard]

Think Andy might be right, I have had two alternators replaced in 22k cos of a strange noise, sounded to me like a dry bearing sort of whine.

 

[The White Rabbit]

Well its alternator related as I thought it had gone away but hadnt and the belt shredded a bit and came off the pulleys. Made it virtually home before everything died, residual braking left etc.

17k, 2 1/4 years if anyone has something similar going on so best check.

Now to see I guess if it was just bad luck or there's some underlying problem.

 

[SpyInTheCamp]

Have you put on a new rear wheel hugger recently?

Kai

 

[The White Rabbit]

Have you put on a new rear wheel hugger recently?

Kai

See my previous post

 

[SpyInTheCamp]

Well have you???

Never mind. Sorry to hear that. Seems pretty poor.

Worth seeing if BWM will contribute towards the cost as the mileage is so low and the bike only just over 2 years old.

Kai

 

[The White Rabbit]

Well, no, I havent if you must know

Well hopefully its just the belt, if there's more too it then yes, I will see what they have to say, probably not much seeing as I didnt buy there warranty product. However it has been pointed out to me that 17k under my ownership may be more like 30k normal ownership