Hey,

So I finally rode to work yesterday and heard a new rattle/noise from the engine region and a really weird whooshing when I reved up high at one point but may be unreated.  I got home and reved to mabye 3-4k on the sidestand and heard a weird slight rattle that seemed to be coming from the right side engine case near the dip stick.

Anybody have any thoughts as to what it could be or where I could start looking?  Bike seems to be working ok, but the rattle is new and different. I'm going on a trip in a few months, I'd rather diagnose than ride and hope the engine doesn't grenade...

Thanks! 

ps I really missed you guys when the forum was down...it was bad...

LOL to be honest, i put up a video of that on youtube, where I had the same rattle sound.  I thought it was a problem too so I brought it to my bike shop and had the mechanic take a look at it.  He told me that's totally fine and usually how GS500s' sound thought it may be slight movement in the valves? but would not be a problem.  If you drop by your local bike shop, I'm sure they'd be more than happy to take a look at it for you free of charge and take up maybe 5-10 mins of their time.

Quite a few Suzuki models seem to have a "vibration point" on the rev scale, with my Bandit it's about 4/5k and on the GS it was a little lower. I realy don't think you need to be worrying but keep an eye/ear on it and if your concern grows take Anaconda's advice.

Anaconda could you link to your video? I'll take a listen and compare.

sure, here it is

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hl5byiFCNwk

Hrrm that might be it, but I could have sworn my racket was closer to the transmission. I'm gonna have to listen to my bike again now... Thanks Anaconda.

Do all bikes just sound like they're going to rattle themselves to pieces, or is it just the GS?

Quote from: PachmanP on April 03, 2010, 12:45:28 PM
Do all bikes just sound like they're going to rattle themselves to pieces, or is it just the GS?

just the gs, afaik
my old 86 ninja 1000r was buttery-smooth, up till the point it sent a rod through the case

Quote from: PachmanP on April 03, 2010, 12:45:28 PM
Hrrm that might be it, but I could have sworn my racket was closer to the transmission. I'm gonna have to listen to my bike again now... Thanks Anaconda.

Do all bikes just sound like they're going to rattle themselves to pieces, or is it just the GS?

Pachman,

Get yourself a longish screwdriver - any kind of head will do. Touch the pointy end to the engine and the handle end to your head - like near your ear. Listen. Move pointy end to another point and listen again. Repeat until you can narrow down where the noise is coming from.

Michael

Quote from: PachmanP on April 03, 2010, 12:45:28 PM
Hrrm that might be it, but I could have sworn my racket was closer to the transmission. I'm gonna have to listen to my bike again now... Thanks Anaconda.

Do all bikes just sound like they're going to rattle themselves to pieces, or is it just the GS?

I'm sure mine was closer to the transmission as well, just that time when I was recording the video, that was the best place to hear it, most likely due to the position of the microphone on the camera.

Quote from: PachmanP on April 03, 2010, 12:45:28 PM
Do all bikes just sound like they're going to rattle themselves to pieces, or is it just the GS?

You should hear a Katana with the fairings off   

-Jessie

Quote from: PachmanP on April 01, 2010, 08:01:21 PM

that seemed to be coming from the right side engine case near the dip stick.

That's where the clutch, clutch basket, and hub are.  Next time you hear the noise, pull the clutch lever and see if it changes.  

Quote from: ineedanap on April 03, 2010, 09:33:10 PM

Quote from: PachmanP on April 01, 2010, 08:01:21 PM

that seemed to be coming from the right side engine case near the dip stick.

That's where the clutch, clutch basket, and hub are.  Next time you hear the noise, pull the clutch lever and see if it changes. 

Yamaha Radian had that sound.  It was often described as "a pair of skeletons copulating in a dumpster".

could be the starter motor welded to its clutch. Mine was and it spun at the same as engine speed. Made it sound a little like a diesel engine. Didn't realise how noisey it was till it was repaired. Thats my guess anyways. Good luck

Took it out on a ride today and listened some more. It didn't seem to be as bad as it was before and it only came on occasionally this time.  I'm starting to doubt my sanity and could have just been hearing things...

Did the screwdriver trick and didn't find anything, but probably looked entertaining to the neighbors.

I tried going with the clutch pulled in and it didn't go away with if I kept the revs up, so I guess it's not the transmission which is good. 

I'm going to keep an eye on it, and cross my fingers.

Thanks guys and/or gals.