Engine Noise

[Haroldsenior]

Whilst, as a very new owner of an LC, I have been trawling through the many posts looking for a reference to "Engine Noise", I found, on Page 11, that You Tube animated build up of the engine. One of the replies from REGS12 was "OK, which is the bit that rattles"?
I wonder if he has (or had) my question, that I shall now pose:
I know engine noise is very subjective and can be heard and accepted by one and not by another. I'm the sort that is prepared to accept provided I know the cause and it is accepted as standard. My TE has been driven by one dealer's service member and listened to while stationary by another. Both say "It's quite normal, they are a noisy engine" (What ever that means) Have they heard what I hear? Now I ask for your input!!
On start up, engine cold, just a beautiful "rustle" from the valve gear. Very soon, however, underway as the engine warms, the rattling starts. Another descriptive word might be "cackling". Mostly heard at lowish traffic speeds and is worse under load and better on the overrun. I do wear earplugs and I enjoy the ride better but I still need to try and identify the one thing that at the moment, spoils it for me. Once on the move, in "Dyna" it performs as I expect it should.
Having just located members who live not very far away, I do intend to do some real comparisons but the input of any on the Forum would be welcome.

 

[Wapping]

Noises in my head.

Just so it's clear....

The noise of the bike is normal when you first start it. However, you think your engine is then noisy when you ride along from cold.

The noise (described as 'cackling') decreases to zero when the bike is up to normal operating temperature and / or in 'dyna' mode.

Two independent dealer's employees have listened to the noises of the bike's engine (one static, the other in motion) declaring it to be normal.

You are not sure what the two employees heard / listened to and / or what constitutes normal.

You want to compare it with other forum members' bikes, preferably in the Rochdale area.

Is that it?


Two further questions:

1. To make the comparison, do you intend to ride the other forum members' bikes and / or let them ride yours, each time starting from cold?

2. How many times would you like to repeat the process?

 

[GC6269]

I think ear plugs exaggerate certain engine sounds and dampen others.

I always ride with plugs in and at times the engine sounds more 'tappety' than I know it does in reality.

 

[Nutty]

I despair. I really do.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

I despair. I really do.

Why........

The OP is merely expressing his opinion

Watercooled engines are usually mechanically quieter, than aircooled engines

Only BMW could produce a watercooled engine that is mechanically noisier than it's aircooled predecessor

 

[Nutty]

Only BMW could produce a watercooled engine that is mechanically noisier than it's aircooled predecessor

How do you know its mechanically noisier? Has the OP had a GS before? The dealer has confirmed that its "normal", yet the OP is still here worrying.

The watercooled GS is my fifth GS, and is much quieter than the twin cam, I even had to fit an Akra to mine to make it sound more like a GS. And don't get me started on how much quieter it is compared to the 1150.

 

[Wapping]

The OP won't be able to hear anything over the noise generated by this thread.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

How do you know its mechanically noisier? Has the OP had a GS before? The dealer has confirmed that its "normal", yet the OP is still here worrying.

The watercooled GS is my fifth GS, and is much quieter than the twin cam, I even had to fit an Akra to mine to make it sound more like a GS.

And don't get me started on how much quieter it is compared to the 1150.

You've never owned a 1150GS - so you have never experienced such a refined dinosaur

There's a difference between mechanical engine noise and exhaust noise...............

Thw WC engine definitely clatters more than the previous 1200 - when I rode the WC I was also alarmed at how noisy the engine was, sounded like it was falling to bits, when I was stood at a red light and the bike was hot

 

[Flipfly]

The OP won't be able to hear anything over the noise generated by this thread.

 

[Engineer]

Whilst, as a very new owner of an LC, I have been trawling through the many posts looking for a reference to "Engine Noise", I found, on Page 11, that You Tube animated build up of the engine. One of the replies from REGS12 was "OK, which is the bit that rattles"?
I wonder if he has (or had) my question, that I shall now pose:
I know engine noise is very subjective and can be heard and accepted by one and not by another. I'm the sort that is prepared to accept provided I know the cause and it is accepted as standard. My TE has been driven by one dealer's service member and listened to while stationary by another. Both say "It's quite normal, they are a noisy engine" (What ever that means) Have they heard what I hear? Now I ask for your input!!
On start up, engine cold, just a beautiful "rustle" from the valve gear. Very soon, however, underway as the engine warms, the rattling starts. Another descriptive word might be "cackling". Mostly heard at lowish traffic speeds and is worse under load and better on the overrun. I do wear earplugs and I enjoy the ride better but I still need to try and identify the one thing that at the moment, spoils it for me. Once on the move, in "Dyna" it performs as I expect it should.
Having just located members who live not very far away, I do intend to do some real comparisons but the input of any on the Forum would be welcome.

Engines make noises, it is a side effect of what they are designed to do, don't worry about it otherwise you won't enjoy the bike.

 

[mcinlb]

Needs better earplugs.............

 

[Nutty]

You've never owned a 1150GS - so you have never experienced such a refined dinosaur

There's a difference between mechanical engine noise and exhaust noise...............

Thw WC engine definitely clatters more than the previous 1200 - when I rode the WC I was also alarmed at how noisy the engine was, sounded like it was falling to bits, when I was stood at a red light and the bike was hot

Nope, I've not owned an 1150, but I have several friends with them, so know what they sound like. My comment about the exhaust noise was tongue in cheek, hence the

I disagree on your comments regarding the WC engine being noisier than the previous 1200. You've taken one for a short test ride for a couple of hours, but I've done tens of thousands of miles on the previous incarnation, and over 7500 miles on the WC, and I can tell you that it IS much quieter.

 

[Engineer]

You've never owned a 1150GS - so you never experienced such a refined dinosaur

There's a difference between mechanical engine noise and exhaust noise...............

Thw WC engine definitely clatters more than the previous 1200 - when I rode the WC I was also alarmed at how noisy the engine was, sounded like it was falling to bits, when I was stood at a red light and the bike was hot

One of the reasons the LC sounds noisier than the 1150 is that new bike makes 47% more power and gobs more torque than that 'refined' old ladies bike.

 

[telbenj]

I think ear plugs exaggerate certain engine sounds and dampen others.

I always ride with plugs in and at times the engine sounds more 'tappety' than I know it does in reality.

Hi All
When I first started up my bike I was surprised at how noisy this engine is, but just got on with it and rode it, now with 9000 on the clock, it either seems to have got quieter or ive got used to it. or its because
I used to wear ear plugs but no longer wear them as ive now got a Bluetooth kit and listen to music, either way its a cracking bike and the performance is just right.

I think that some of the noise people are hearing is the clutch and also the valve gear all of which is normal

Terry

 

[ahutcheon]

worrying 'cackling' noises

I suspect witches. Does it weigh the same as a duck?

 

[Engineer]

Nope, I've not owned an 1150, but I have several friends with them, so know what they sound like. My comment about the exhaust noise was tongue in cheek, hence the

I disagree on your comments regarding the WC engine being noisier than the previous 1200. You've taken one for a short test ride for a couple of hours, but I've done tens of thousands of miles on the previous incarnation, and over 7500 miles on the WC, and I can tell you that it IS much quieter.

I rode both the twin-cam 1200GS almost every day for 3 years and 27,000 miles and have done 11,000 miles of daily riding since March on my LC - the LC is far more refined and quieter of the two - it sounds 'more mechanical' at tick-over and this is what people are referring too.

P.S. Johnny Boxer spends more time talking bollix on here than he does riding so don't take anything he says too seriously.

 

[Wapping]

Summary so far...

Be-witched possession (and an oblique reference to Monty Python's Holy Grail)

All engines make noises

Nutty's despair

It's the ear plugs / lack of Bluetoothed music

... And a small (though predictable) dispute over the relative qualities of WC 1200's over earlier incarnations of the brand, involving three respondents.

 

[Flipfly]

Surely a lack of engine noise is something to be more fearful of

 

[Nutty]

Summary so far...

Be-witched possession (and an oblique reference to Monty Python's Holy Grail)

All engines make noises

Nutty's despair

It's the ear plugs / lack of Bluetoothed music

... And a small (though predictable) dispute over the relative qualities of WC 1200's over earlier incarnations of the brand, involving three respondents.

That's wrapped it up nicely. Shall I close the thread?

 

[B4ndit]

In fairness to Harold I test rode a WC with the intention to buy but found it to be as noisy as my 1150GS (75000 miles) at low speeds. Instead I bought an older DOHC GSA which was much quieter to my suprise.
Have been on three of the WCs now and they were all noisy.