Guys, I really could use some help diagnosing a "swooshing" noise on my 2007 Street Glide that I have been chasing since last season.

Noise sounds like a wheel bearing, goes at wheel speed. Pulling in clutch has no effect, still continues. Does not happen when cold, seems to only happen when warmed up after riding for a while, then noise gets louder. Also happens in neutral.

If I put bike on table lift and get rear wheel off table, shift into 3rd and I can hear it, sounds like coming from rear wheel (definitely not front as stationary on table lift), but wheel bearings are brand new (noise happened before replacing them). Brake pads new, noise also happened before replacing. Rotor not warped and in good shape.

I examined belt, looks perfect. Pulleys look perfect. Doesn't matter if belt run tight or loose.

Engine is 120R with Bandit Sportsman clutch and the inner primary bearing is a Baker or All *****, I forget which, but the sealed one that has its own race, where you remove the mainshaft race. Manual primary adjuster.

Again, this tracks along at what appears to be wheel speed, not engine RPM and I am confident it's not the engine as will also happen when going 30MPH with clutch engaged or not and in neutral or not.

I can't feel any play in tranny drive pulley.

Any ideas? I leave for Sturgis in a little over a week, so this is a big concern.

Thanks,

Jeff

 

Tire?

 

+1 on tire noise, may be starting to cup. I noticed noises that differed on different road surfaces and usually ended up going away after a tire change.

Do you have a freshly paved or different road surfaces that you can ride in and compare the sound to?

Sometimes you can spot cupping in the early stages when viewing the tire from a distance on an oblique angle...

 

Inner primary bearing?

 

The Cush drive has a bearing in it too. Most people don't take that with them when they take the wheel to the shop for tires and bearings.

 

I had a noise with similar characteristics as yours. I knew it had to be a wheel bearing , but it wasn't. I cleaned my belt pulley (rear) and wiped my belt down with soapy water. Also adjusted belt and made sure axel was dead even as the floppy right side adjuster can throw allotment off. Bottom line , noise was gone

 

Thanks for the replies and suggestions!

I wouldn't think it is the tire, pretty new and in good shape.

No IDS on this bike, so no bearing there.

Inner primary bearing? Possible but I would think it would not make noise when clutch pulled in?

As to cleaning belt and pulleys, that is definitely worth a shot and I will try that.

I just have a feeling it may be the tranny main drive bearing.

 

You didn't mention how many miles are on your bike? My fathers 2007 Road King had to have the transmission drive bearing replaced at approx 70,000 miles (2 weeks before going to Sturgis last year). His was more of a "growl" than a "whoosh", and quite obvious when bike was ridden. Maybe yours is in the early stages of going bad. Just a thought.