Got a question for all you guys "in the know."

Got a 99 RKC last week and rode it home 495 miles. Didn't ride for a couple days, then showers set in so riding has been minimal. Took it out last night for a nice cruise, everything was great.
Got up this morning and drove to 53 miles to work. Comming home I began to notice a chirping sound. It doesn't do it constantly, it seems to come and go. At first i thought it was from the front, but after trying to lean and listen, I'm not so sure.
Where do I start looking? It's def wheel related as its not consistant with engine rpm.
The PO said he'd been over the entire bike, and I tend to believe him. Should I be looking into the wheel bearings? MC do checks like these? Where's a guy to start?

Looked all over and there's no tweety birds to be found! BTW she's just rolled 29k...

Thanks in advance!
Beav

 

Nothings definate but last time I was getting a chirp and I do mean a chirp and it was only when the bike was cold and at startup, my head gasket was blown and this was right after 500 mile breakin.

 

Put some lubricant on the muffler mount under your bags where the rubber isolator is. This is a very common area to "chirp"

 

Drive belt. muffler hangers. exhaust leak. loose exhaust shield or clamps.

 

I agree that all these could cause the chirping. I know first hand about the muffler hangers, drive belt and loose exhaust shield. I would also make sure the head pipe nuts are torqued correctly. I had a 2001 Road King that was chirping from the head pipe nuts not being torqued to specs. As to the drive belt, you can tell this by pushing up on the belt from the bottom. There should only be a slight give. Spray some silicone on the rubber muffler grommets. Loose heat shield clamps should be replaced with new ones that you can buy at a local hardware store. I can't imagine it being anything with the engine if it doesn't make the chirping noise all the time. Good luck finding the gremlin.

 

One other thing you can try is to put some dialectric grease on your belt. As the belt gets older it dries out and will make that chirping sound on decel. Had that problem with my 91 springer,grease took care of it.

 

Thanks for the quick response guys...
I know what I'll be chasing this weekend!!!!
Doesn't sound like wheel bearings? That's my big worry...
Thanks again,
Beav

 

Got a way to jack the bike up? If so, spin the wheels and listen to see if they sound like crap. They'll usually (but not always) have a grinding noise or a growl. And aother vote for the loose head pipes too.

 

Good advice here. I'd start with a little wd-40 on those rear muffler mounts since it's easiest and most likely the culprit.

 

Ditto on all of the above. And I like what Cuda said. Jack the bike up and start spinning. On mine, the break pads are a little tight on the front because they are new. So they make a little chirp sometimes, because the rotors are not perfectly straight.