I don't know if it's just me, or if I'm hearing things..  But I was riding today, after not riding for a while, and I was actually trying to pay attention to sounds of the bike.  First off, I'd learned not to pay attention to EVERYTHING, cuz usually the squeaky sound isn't my own brakes, but the car beside me.. ok, enough of that... here we go..

Today, I was noticing afew things.  First, when I low rev the engine, just enough to make a vibration, on the bike, I hear a wierd sound..  I'm not sure if it's already been there, or if it happened for some reason.  it sounds like someone took some marching snare drum sticks and played a buzz roll (fast drum roll) on a metal part of my engine or something. . .

I don't think it's a maintenance issue, as I've tried really hard to put the bike in the condition it's in, and it's only had 5000 miles.  I do think there could be possible reasons though:

It's a '98, and was stored not running for 5 years (it was registered it's first year, then never touched.)   :dunno:

The tachometer cable came off from the engine side, and I noticed there was oil comming out of the hole, took 3 days before I got it back on. :x

Made a 0 mph drop (trying to learn how to skitch, got the bike to zero and then couldn't keep it up.  yes, stupid me.....)  I don't know if that might have knocked something loose.  It was a minor drop, as I let go of the bike maybe a foot before the handle bar hit the ground.  But I don't have a bar end right now, so it bent my brake handle up..  could it be this??

Could it be because I ride the B'Geezes out of my loving rat bike??  I always check screws (header, muffler, and brake screws), after every hard run.

Could it be because I try to keep up w/ 600's and liter bikes on a constant basis (hence riding real hard.) :guns:

could it be because I'm mechanically cursed?

like to hop on one foot?
sleep w/ no boxers on??
I dunno..  any help anyone??  

I also get this jingling sound sometimes, sounds like it's from the handlebars area.  I thought it was the keys before, but I tried grabbing the keys to stop the sound, and that didn't work.. errr..  wat could be wrong??

Loose passenger peg?

I have the same (well, not right now) jingling sound from around the key, and thought it was the same thing, and grabbed my key. It must be the wiring inside the headlamp shell.

I'll check out my pegs and whatever else..  Could be it..  I thought about bringing the bike to my room, but I'm pretty sure I won't get it up the stairs..  joking..  (Me and my friends keep our bikes inside the living room..  not joking)..  I tried checking the front finder to see if it's loose, that isn't either..  I dunno.. errrrr....

not my pegs..  sound is really wierd..  could it be cuz my header bolts keep getting loose for some reason??  so many wierd things on this bike, I'm starting to get scared and  thinkin' about selling.....

does this sound right?!?!?!

I put on my bar ends..  the sound went back to normal.. WTF?!?!  do bar ends do that??  hahah.. I thoguht they just stop the vibration (which they also did), but they also made the sound bac to normal, plus my rocky leaning turns are a lil' more stable again..   dunno wat happened here?>?

Quote from: TeBoCould it be because I try to keep up w/ 600's and liter bikes on a constant basis (hence riding real hard.)

Don't know what the noise is but it's not the above.  This bike loves to be run hard.  The harder you run it the more it likes it.
At this point, mine runs better than new.

Perhaps when you put the ends on, you tightend the threaded portion in the handle bar enough to prevent it from vibrating? Pull an end out and see if the threaded part wiggles slightly.

If there is some weld splatter or drilling bits in the handle bar, having the ends off may have allowed you to hear them rattling around. That's a long shot though. You would be surprised at the crap inside metal tubing after assembly or that may have gotten knocked loose from vibration or accidental impact.

My $.02 worth.