6th gear whine.

[Jiffy176]

2001 1150.
Ever since I've owned the bike, I noticed that it whines when in sixth. Initially I thought it was just a feature but after finding what I could on the web was a little more concerned.
The gearbox runs fine, goes nicely through the gears and everything else seems silent. When I put it in sixth there is an audible whine is the best way of describing it that tends to tail off as I near 70mph.
I've tried searching the web and get conflicting views and nothing about 6th gear. Is this just another GS quirk and ignore it and ride or is it indicative of a more serious problem that I could get fixed before it goes bang big time and potentially locks up on me?
There are no other grinding noises etc ,oil has been changed recently and it is shell GL5 spec.

Any thoughts?

 

[Flipfly]

What came out after the oil change?

Personally I wouldn't worry about it, do you wear ear plugs, if not start doing so

 

[Jiffy176]

The change was clean from memory it was about 18 month ago but I was particular about checking and the oil was a good golden colour. Since I've had the bike it doesn't seem to have changed in either loudness or duration. In fact it was only on my last ride out where my earplug had started to come out that made me think about.

 

[GSmiles]

They all do that Sir...
Sixth is a very "long" overdrive.
Don't worry, just do more miles.

 

[Udders]

My gearbox was as quiet as a mouse until I thrashed it round the Alps twice last year and now my 4th gear is deffo more noisier than the others. I put it down to keeping it in 4th more than any of the others going up and down the passes. It still changes smoothly in all gears and the oil was still a golden colour when I changed it on my return. If I were you I'd not worry too much.

 

[Giles]

Ummmmm ..... you're hearing a whining noise??

Have you been taking Flipfly as pillion?

 

[tuftywhite]

Six gears. When did that happen? I'm back off to the airhead section before I get a nose bleed.