5 Sounds You Might Hear From Your Motorcycle

Vehicles are supposed to run smoothly and provide a pleasant experience on the road. Issues with components or the system can cause your motorcycle to produce weird sounds. However, each noise is an indication of an underlying problem.

If you know what each sound means, you will be able to take care of the problem. Let’s take a look at 5 possible sounds and the reasons behind them.

1. Gurgling

If you hear such a sound from your motorcycle, there might be a problem with the cooling system. If the coolant level is low, it may be the culprit. An air pocket will prevent the system to circulate the coolant properly. A blown head gasket can be indicated by a bubbling coolant.

2. Sudden ticking

If the motorcycle gives the stopwatch sound, take a look at the exhaust headers. If they aren’t properly fit, or if they are old, they can be the cause of the noise.  A gap in the seal, a header collar that hasn’t been tightly fit, or openings in the pipes, can all cause the sudden ticking sound.

3. Variable ticking

The valves can rattle off the valve tops if those have a problem. You should get them checked every now and then. Loose valves put excess stress on the top end and also cause the variable ticking sound.

4. Clattering

Your camchain might be nearing retirement if there is a rattling sound off the throttle. The chain can flap due to tension in the camchain. This can lead to serious problems.

5. Drive chain din

If the motorcycle chain is unnecessarily tight, you might be able to hear a vibrational clanking sound. To avoid this, clean the chain and look for stiff spots. Don’t forget to lubricate the chain from time to time, as instructed in the owner’s manual.

To avoid hearing this annoying sounds, make sure you are on top of the maintenance schedule of your motorcycle and its parts.