I searched on this but couldn't find a similar description. Under moderate acceleration and deceleration above about 60 KPH, there is a fairly noticable sound I could best describe as a low pitched whistling. I'm sure it's coming from the transmission area. The bike has about 5000 KMS on it. I'm not sure if this is normal or not as it accelerates fine IMHO. Is this just a "Silver Wing sound" ?

Thanks

Chris

You could try cleaning your belt air filter inside the front cover. The outer variator sheave has fan fins cast into it. Their purpose is to pull cool outside air into the variator and belt area to cool things down. You may be hearing this fan, or a partially blocked air passage creating this whistling.
Or it could just be the interaction between the belt and the variator. Every belt and variator interaction is different due to production tolerances.
As long as there is no heavy vibration, no smell of burned rubber, or any scraping sounds, I wouldn't be too concerned.

Thanks bigbird, can you get at that filter just by removing the cover?

I put it on the centre stand and took this video. The sound is much less noticable than when I'm on the road, you can hardly hear it in the video but if you turn the volume up you can hear it on acceleration and deceleration a bit. Up to 60 KPH, nothing. but as soon as I hit 60 it starts up and is actually quite loud. Much louder than when on the stand. I suppose it COULD be wind noise but sure seems like it's coming from the transmission. Above about 90 KPH it goes away.



Chris

bigbird wrote:

You could try cleaning your belt air filter inside the front cover. The outer variator sheave has fan fins cast into it. Their purpose is to pull cool outside air into the variator and belt area to cool things down. You may be hearing this fan, or a partially blocked air passage creating this whistling. Or it could just be the interaction between the belt and the variator. Every belt and variator interaction is different due to production tolerances. As long as there is no heavy vibration, no smell of burned rubber, or any scraping sounds, I wouldn't be too concerned.

Hi Chris.

To access the belt air filter you remove the left passenger peg (2 large hex bolts), then the long front plastic cover. The filter is on the inside of that long front cover. From your video clip I couldn't hear anything out of the ordinary.
Maybe it's just time to check your belt, filter, clean out the belt dust from the large aluminum belt cover, pull the variator, clean the stock rollers, change the final drive oil, and then re-evaluate everything.
There's not much to adjust or that can fail in the belt/variator area. The clutch is a different matter, but any problem there would manifest itself by grabbing, slipping, or vibrations.

Bring it to Winnipeg and I'll take it apart and clean it up for you. Then we'll slap in a set of Dr. Pulley 26 gr sliders and away you go.

Terry

I'd love to bring it to the Peg, but that's a little longer than my normal riding distance

I'll definitely follow your advice and get the cover off, clean things up and change the final drive driver oil. I'll wait til I have a free rainy day (and we haven't had many of those this summer). Actually based on your comments on another thread I'm thinking about putting in the Dr Pulley Sliders before next season. Thanks

Chris

bigbird wrote:

Hi Chris. To access the belt air filter you remove the left passenger peg (2 large hex bolts), then the long front plastic cover. The filter is on the inside of that long front cover. From your video clip I couldn't hear anything out of the ordinary. Maybe it's just time to check your belt, filter, clean out the belt dust from the large aluminum belt cover, pull the variator, clean the stock rollers, change the final drive oil, and then re-evaluate everything. There's not much to adjust or that can fail in the belt/variator area. The clutch is a different matter, but any problem there would manifest itself by grabbing, slipping, or vibrations. Bring it to Winnipeg and I'll take it apart and clean it up for you. Then we'll slap in a set of Dr. Pulley 26 gr sliders and away you go. Terry

I also could not hear anything unusual. I did hear a slight whirring noise, but that is typical. I believe it is the belt as it forms a smaller diameter in the rear and larger diameter in the front as the variator and clutch do their things.