Bangs and Ricochets

I'm relatively new to the forum but see a lot of great experience posted here. I have an '09 Rocket III Touring, TORs, K&N air filter, with 17k miles. Just this month it will intermittantly make a bang noise from the engine. No change in performance. The first time, just cruising along, I heard what sounded like a bang and then ricochet, thought it might have been a rock kicking up and bouncing off the frame or something, but then I heard the bang twice more, about a week apart.

Had the dealer do a 20k mile service, oil was clean, no noise on the test drive, can't figure it out either. Any ideas appreciated. Noise seemed to come from left rear of engine, but hard to tell when riding with a full helmet on.ullhairout:Last thing I need is it locking up while tooling down the highway!

hard to tell..ride it harder?..:lol:..put louder pipes on?..don't worry about it until she blows?..you're close to Carpenter speed shop..ride it down and have 'em take a look..

Could be a fuelling issue - a detonation in/near the throtle bodies?

Owl could have a point there the easiest way to check that would be to run a few tanks of premium fuel through her and see if the noise still shows up. Or you could add some octane boost foe a few tanks to accomplish the same test. Other then that this is what I posted to your same question on the .net site.

Joe, have you ever had the final drive off to grease the splines on the drive shaft? I am thinking from reading your post you have two things going on there. However, one would depend on if it has happened since the dealer did the 20k service. First lets continue taking about greasing the splines on the drive shaft. This is something that is not listed in the manual unless you are for some reason pulling the final drive. This needs to be done at every tire change or every 10,000 miles if you are one of those people that are running a car tire. If not besides the splines getting tore up I believe the shaft does not move inside the final drive cup as it is designed to when the swing frame moves. If it does not move it could be putting a bind on front of the shaft where the U-joint is. I am thinking this could be where you are hearing your bang from as it finally releases and the U-joint flexes. Therefore, I would grease it and see if your problem goes away. If not then we can wait and see if your U-joint fails but I recommend greasing it as it is a cheaper way to find out. In addition, with it greased you will have had the opportunity to visually inspect the splines on the shaft and on the drive cup of the final drive. Thus eliminating it from the list of what it can be.
Now the rattle you hear has it gone away since the dealer has done the service/maintenace. How is the free play at the clutch handle? Is there a difference in the free play or feel of the clutch since the service has been done?

@Warp9.9: Final drive has never been off the bike yet. I dropped the bike off at the dealer where I purchased it after the noises started, hoping to find some clue to the cause with the 20k service. I run the stock Metzler tire, chew them up every 6,000 to 7,000 miles. The last time I had the tire changed, it was at another dealer who had the tire in stock. It took three hours for the tire change, and watching the mechanic did not instill a sense of confidence.

I appreciate your ideas around the final drive u-joint and splines. I'll have the dealer where it is at now pull the drive, inspect the u-joint and splines, and grease them. I should get the bike back this weekend, and will post any differences in the free play or feel in the clutch.

Thanks for the advice.:Tip-Hat:

Joe_Rocket said:

@Warp9.9: Final drive has never been off the bike yet. I dropped the bike off at the dealer where I purchased it after the noises started, hoping to find some clue to the cause with the 20k service. I run the stock Metzler tire, chew them up every 6,000 to 7,000 miles. The last time I had the tire changed, it was at another dealer who had the tire in stock. It took three hours for the tire change, and watching the mechanic did not instill a sense of confidence.

I appreciate your ideas around the final drive u-joint and splines. I'll have the dealer where it is at now pull the drive, inspect the u-joint and splines, and grease them. I should get the bike back this weekend, and will post any differences in the free play or feel in the clutch.

Thanks for the advice.:Tip-Hat:

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They will not be able to inspect the U-joint as the only way to get at it is to take the swing arm down off the bike this is time consuming and most likely pricey. the first step is to lubricate the driv shaft splines and final drive cup its a easy job once the wheel is off its only 5 bolts 1 lower shock mount bolt and 4 final drive bolts. not to expensive and easy to do yourself if you mechanically inclinded. they need to use something like moly60 which can be bought at a Honda dealer. this aloows lubrication to the splines and freedom of movement of the drive shaft in the final drive when the swing frame is flexing during different riding conditions. It is worth paying for if not covered under warranty or specified in the manual as a normal routine maintenance.
6 to 7 k on a metz is not bad you can get more but you have to ride nicely. Next time you change the tire try another brand.

jrhorton said:

What dealers have you dealt with? I've had work done at two dealers near you and only one is worth using.

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name?

Dealers in my area include:
Eurosports, Coopersburg, Pa, closest to home, had front and rear tires changed here last time
Martin Motosports, Boyertown, Pa (where Rocket was purchased), good customer relations and reliable
Jack Trebourne, Ledgewood, New Jersey, never been here
Hermys, Port Clinton PA, never been here
Manayunk Triumph, Manayunk, PA, been here, heard good things, but too far for convenience

warp9.9 said:

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6 to 7 k on a metz is not bad you can get more but you have to ride nicely. Next time you change the tire try another brand.

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80% of the time I'm riding two up with with the bride and about 50 pounds of stuff in the saddle bags. Probably pushing 1500 pounds GVW, between that and the power, not sure how much better mileage I can get out of a rear tire.

Joe_Rocket said:

80% of the time I'm riding two up with with the bride and about 50 pounds of stuff in the saddle bags. Probably pushing 1500 pounds GVW, between that and the power, not sure how much better mileage I can get out of a rear tire.

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Im a big guy and the bike and I with half a tank of fuel,weigh about 500kgs ,thats 1100lbs(as tested on a public weighbridge). Please dont tell me your wife is 350-400lbs.
A lot of us with the r3 standard have switched over to the BRIDGESTONE EXEDRA MAX,I dont know if they make it in your size but I got almost 17000klms out of my last one and it was 20% cheaper than the metz.
It handles well and everyone that I know of has got better mileage out of it