Noisy Driveshaft, Normal?

[jerry2005]

Hello, I am a newbie here in the Everett Wa. area and have a question and looking to get some opinions.

In May I purchased a new 2005 FJR. First bike I have owned that is shaft drive.

My question is: Do all the FJR drive shafts have a good deal of slop and make a

fair amount of noise? The noise is more noticable during deceleration. I inspected

the lube at the rear wheel and no evidence of metal filings or?

My friend told me this is a known thing with the FJR's is that they are noisy.

Is this true? I have been taking it easy and just recently hit the 1000 mile mark.

The noise does not appear to have changed any yet?

Any opnions, feedback or ?? will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Coyote]

That doesn't sound normal to me. I have plenty of mechanical noise, but nothing like that.

You'll be getting some good advice here.... hang on!

 

[markjenn]

If by "slop" you mean driveline lash (clunking when you roll the throttle on/off), I'd say that the FJR is about average. Generally, the bigger and heavier the bike, the worse the problem is.

If by "slop" you are referring to the 2" of play at the circumference of the rear tire with the engine off and in gear, that is completely normal. Again, most big bikes are about the same here.

As to the "noise", I think we need more information. I don't discern any unusual noise coming from the driveshaft or rear drive when I'm riding, but I'm not sure how I'd localize the noise to this system anyway. The FJR does have a turbine-like whining noise that is somewhat louder than many bikes, but I don't think it's the final drive - it sounds like primary gear whine to me, as it rises and falls with engine speed. Any noise form the rear end would be strictly road speed dependent.

- Mark

 

[Geezer]

My FJR made quite a bit of 'clunking' from the gearbox during shifts while I was breaking it in. After the first thousand miles or so it improved but hasn't completely disappeared. I have been riding a Maxim for the past 15 years, which is also a shaftie, so maybe I'm used to the peculiarities of shaft drive, but I don't notice any unusual slop or noise from the shaft or differential. When I decided to buy a new bike the top of my list of features was that it had to have shaft drive. No chain to lube and adjust.

 

[Hotboot]

Low RPM and a higher gear will give you a noticable amount of lash. Try a lower gear. As for noise, not normal on mine. Some of the early '05's had a lack of grease back there (not mine) so check that out.

I heard all kinds of ticks and pings while breaking mine in. All good now.

 

[Bounce]

You can get some serious whiplashing if you lug the motor as the bike jacks the drive shaft lash back and forth. Up your RMPs, don't feather the clutch so much, downshift, don't "parade ride" even if riding with a bunch of Wingsters.

(oops! did I say that out loud?)

 

[snowmonkey]

Hello, I am a newbie here in the Everett Wa. area

Jerry, is that your FJR parked off of Hewitt by Judd and Black. I'm in Marysville and I ride a silver '04. How about meeting at Scuttlebutts for a some FJR conversation and a beer. As far as the noise which you are questioning.., I believe this is typical with the FJR. And I tend to agree with what Bounce posted.

 

[Craig in Denver]

The FJR does have a turbine-like whining noise that is somewhat louder than many bikes, but I don't think it's the final drive - it sounds like primary gear whine to me, as it rises and falls with engine speed.
I second this idea. It's quite noticeable and music to my ears.

FNG

Maybe when I figure out the quote, FNG will go away?? :huh:

 

[jerry2005]

Thanks for the info everybody. The noise is worse when I am in 5th gear low RPM going down a hill at about 35mph. With helmet off and side bags off the grinding from the shaft sounds terrible. Again though I haven't seen any filings.

I am thinking I may take it to the dealer and let them listen to see. On the center

stand it is not noticable.

Snowmonkey- No that is not my FJR by Judd and Black. I am in South Everett

and work over by Boeing. You can find my bike just off Hardeson when I am at work on nice days.

On another note compeletly off tech stuff, is there any riding clubs around here

or??

 

[HIGHLANDER]

Thanks for the info everybody. The noise is worse when I am in 5th gear low RPM going down a hill at about 35mph. With helmet off and side bags off the grinding from the shaft sounds terrible.

I don't know why you'd be in 5th at 35mph? Sounds like your somehow causing the problem??? I don't know,...... 35mph should be 1st or 2nd gear. You do know 2nd will go to about 80mph ???? :blink:

 

[RTSR1/FJR]

All my riding over the last 45 yrs. has been on chain driven bikes. The last 25 being on Sportbikes. When I first got the the FJR (1st shaft driven bike) I thought the same thing, "Man this thing clunks and bucks a lot!" But after riding it for about 1500 mi., I now realize it's just the nature of the bike. Nothing to be concerned with, exept that you need to keep the rpm higher than what they are @ 35 mph in fifth gear. Your lugging the motor too much! Drop to 4th or even 3rd and all should be good then. The problem I have is that I'm used to having to keep the revs up in order to make my R1 perform, so I keep the FJR revved up too much. I'm finally getting used to the torqure now and letting the motor do the work! lol

 

[FJRottie]

Craig...

Maybe when I figure out the quote

Press the Quote button again after the text to end/seal the quote.

Notice the first time you press it the button changes and has an asterisk at the end.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jerry...

The noise is worse when I am in 5th gear low RPM going down a hill at about 35mph

Like the others said, you are too high a gear.

Shaft bikes are a bit sloppy but you will get used to it. Low RPM's are usually the reason. If you ride it right, you shouldn't notice anything much at all.

 

[jerry2005]

Guys, I don't ride it this way it is just coming home I have a hill that I go down.

By shifting to 5th the coasting will get the engine up to about 2K with no throttle.

This is when the noise is the worst.

It does sound like it is normal for the FJR from what everybody is saying.

And for the record I do not ride in a manner that lugs the engine and helps to cause this noise.

I was simply explaining how/when the noise is the worst. I was hpoing that somebody

else with a FJR would try this and reply back that thiers does about the same.

Again though thanks alot for all the information. I do feel a little better thinking

it is somewhat common for this bike. In reading some of the other posts I have

come across other little quirks about this bike as well. No problem as long as it is nothing something unique with my bike.

Since the warranty is only a year and I put very little mileage on them I just don't want manufacturer defects to show up after warranty.

I bought the bike in May and I now have 1033 miles on it. I suspect by the end of the year it may be slightly over 2500 but not likely.

Fair weather rider only and since I live in the Seattle area!! Well you know.

Again thanks for all the advice

 

[radman]

If you are off the gas, simply coasting down a steep incline, using engine braking, and off the gas, there should be no noise. The noise everyone here is talking about is the result of the on-off nature of the FI and it's effect on the driveline slack; a loud clunking sound coming from the driveline in several spots, from the trans on back to the final drive. If you are are hearing anything but that, like a whine, grind, or chatter while coasting, you're eating the final drive, as they are shimmed or adjusted in two modes-accel and coast. Drain the final drive lube into a spotless container and look for metal, also examine the drain plugs magnetic tip for excessive (there will always be a little dark matter attached) metal. This problem could also be found in the bevel gear transmitting power to the drive shaft; a final drive in reverse, if you will. Same principle, same set-up. Localise the noise if at all possible, right below you, or from behind you? The front gearset will not show the evidence of destruction as readily as the final drive, being as it uses engine oil as a lube, and the oil filter will remove much of the metal.

 

[markjenn]

Jerry, you need to have someone listen to you bike. If it's truly a "grinding" sound (instead of a clunking sound associated with lash), and you're sure it is coming from the final drive, that doesn't sound right. I'm down in Bellevue if you want to bring your bike down and you can compare to mine.

The FJR engine is fine being run down to 2K as long as you don't load it. On trips, I idle through towns all the time at 30 mph in high gear, but I don't put any load on the engine.

- Mark

 

[radman]

The FJR engine is fine being run down to 2K as long as you don't load it

Word. Actually, Frank will pull from 1500 r's in the lower 3 gears with a gentle throttle hand. I don't have a PC, it's in the cards, only the Barbarian mod, which helped to alleviate somewhat the on-off tendencies of the FI at lower engine rpms. Thats one of the amazing things about this powerplant-for all it's idiosyncrasies, it's very tractable once broken in, synched, and FI adjustments made, especially considering it's power output. The wonders of FI.

 

[Craig in Denver]

Maybe when I figure out the quote, FNG will go away?? 

Press the Quote button again after the text to end/seal the quote.Notice the first time you press it the button changes and has an asterisk at the end.

The wonders of

computers.
FJRottie:

Again thanks for all the advice

WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HEY, I'm still a FNG :agent:

 

[Hotboot]

Waats a FNG. I used to be one...

 

[Yambone]

Sounds from MY FJR:

*George Jetson hovercraft whirling noise at lower speeds

*Someone playing a slight wha-wha peddle while in 4th gear droning

*F-16 jet turbine whine / mother of all quiet nuclear vacuum cleaners at cruise speed

*Throaty beast-like noise at roll on / the old iron fist in velvet glove trick

All these strange sounds more prominent right after wheel removal, TBS, spline lube service, etc. , :bigeyes: