Final drive noise

MOTOXOULET
Cobra rear looks like 227.00 rear and 160.99 front you'll like the grip on these better then the meztler
Avon Cobra Motorcycle Tires

tires

Are they pretty good in the wet?

They should be with a softer rubber compound. I just replaced my front with a Pirelli and wondered if it had enough air as it is so easy on the hands. No harsh road feel with 42lbs. I'm baffled about the rear end issue. With all of the strange noises the bike makes anyway I suppose the rear end has rights too. Hope it isn't serious Mason and welcome.

Tires

I didn't realize Pirelli made a tire to fit the front.
Do they also make a rear?
What brand of brake pads do you prefer?

The front is a 70 which I do notice but have adjusted. The brake pads were not stock but what they sold me at the dealer. They will last longer but need a little more force than stock. With the dark tire I have on the rear I use the rear brake mostly to stop. Pads and care tires are cheaper. I've sworn off Metzler. I tend to start faster and stop harder now, skidding the last foot and spinning every day.

torsional damper shaft

My 07 developed a noise which sounded like the final drive. After a couple short rides the sound got louder then she started to vibrate when I disengaged the clutch. I trailered it to dealer in Wexford Pa. and they had a factory rep diaganose it as the torsional damper shaft. New one is in Ga. and on the way to Wexford to be replaced under warrenty next week. I hope their mechanic has the skill to replace it without problems. Bike has 7k miles on the odometer and I haven't miss treated it in any way. How hard can a 73 year old captian ride?

........nothing to wear out on the Torsional Damper Shaft except the carrier bearing (which is what wears out). You don't need to replace the whole unit (well, the dealer don't...). The bearing is a press off, press on affair. My primary concern would be dealer competence. The engine has to come apart and it's most always warranty. The TDU is basically a helically wound heavy gage coil spring with a shaft attached to each end and a bearing. One end engages the transmission output and the other engages the Hookes universal joint.

If you need pads for your Rocket I have 'em at good prices on my website, along with other goodies for the beast.

rccjcc said:

My 07 developed a noise which sounded like the final drive. After a couple short rides the sound got louder then she started to vibrate when I disengaged the clutch. I trailered it to dealer in Wexford Pa. and they had a factory rep diaganose it as the torsional damper shaft. New one is in Ga. and on the way to Wexford to be replaced under warrenty next week. I hope their mechanic has the skill to replace it without problems. Bike has 7k miles on the odometer and I haven't miss treated it in any way. How hard can a 73 year old captian ride?

Click to expand...

...Like me. Cautiously. We aren't 'Captains' anyway. We are 'Commanders'.....

The way you operate the bike has no bearing on the bearing...a play on words. What happens in that the TDU bearing has a 'sealed' side and 'open' side. If the 'sealed' side is installed facing the 'wet' side of the transmission case, in most cases, the bearing eventually fails due to lack of lubricant. Not always. Sometimes, the seals pass enough lubricant to keep the bearing alive. That's why it's on a case by case basis. You could have the bearing installed backward and never have any problems. and....

It's something that don't develope right away because the bearing isn't highly loaded, it just maintains the concentricity of the rotation of the the TDU shaft as it passes through the cavity transmitting power to the final drive unit. That's why the noise can subside when the clutch is released or just under power. It depends on how the bearing is wearing.

If the engine was rubber mounted with a belt final like a HD, you'd probably never feel the vibration/noise. It's perceived rather than heard...you don't 'hear', you 'feel' it because the engine and drive is solidly mounted so any imbalance or vibration is telegraphed throughout the whole bike...and you as you ride it.

+1 on getting your brake pads from Flip. Great price and fast turnaround.

If you have wet traction concerns, you may consider going darkside on the rear (car tire). Many, many of us are running darkside with the primary benefit being improved wet and dry traction. It also may be the last tire you ever need to mount on the rear since they last so long.

welcome to the group. you sound like you got quite the deal on the bike.