Sounds like a bearing. But the previous posts are correct. Get the front end off the ground. Hand spin it forward in normal travel direction then reverse. If there is a noise forward, sometimes it's louder when you spin it in revers. If the brake pads are rubbing, open them up a little so there is no friction on the rotor. You need the wheel to have least resistance for the spin and sound check. Soiunds dumb,. but its great prevention. FYI I had all my wheel bearings replaced this past winter. 87k and lower side, (Left side) bearings were starting to drag and make sounds. New bearings and installed is cheaper than paying someone to scrape your *** off the pavement (if you get my meaning)
Have a Great Riding Season

 

It's the tire I bet.

Mark

 

Tape a washer on the center of the tire and roll it a full turn. Some tires vary in actual size. If the tire is rubbing the washer will bind it up or fall off

 

If your tire was spin balanced when it was installed they would/should have caught it if it was a bearing.

 

Brake pads dragging on the rotor.

 

My buddys bike had the same problem. Would have bet it was front wheel bearing. Replaced front wheel bearings, had same noise. Ended up being drive belt was too tight. For what it is worth.

 

Ok guys I jacked up bike today and spun wheel there is definetely a sound other than brake drag but didn't notice any binding or tire problem while spinning, I did notice a problem with the right side spacer, I have a shop manual and the groves on the spacer should be toward the fork but mine is toward the wheel, I have ABS so hard to tell on left side. I'll bet this was done by the company at Assy. I say this because usually when you take wheel off the spacer stays on axle, no reason to take it off on the right side. Any comments? And again thanks for all replies.

Dan

 

I went round and round one afternoon with a tire dealer -- that has the machinery to mount and balance motorcycle tires -- when he mounted a genuine HD tire that I bought on line, wrong.

The "peanuts" of the cut outs of the disc rotors "always follow" and "never lead" going forward. Now, my 2007 rotors are marked "L" and "R". The fellow took this to mean left and right looking from the rear of the bike. But for some unknown reason, HD distinguishes R & L marks looking from the front of the bike.

If your tire direction arrow is pointing forward and the disc rotor cooling slot "peanuts" are "leading", it could very well be causing your new noise.

Your service manual will show the proper rotor and tire position and it will have an explanatory photo of the "peanuts".

 

Just thought I'd add that from now on whenever I get a tire mounted I will have a copy of the service manual page to show the tire dealer the correct position of the tire mounted on the wheel..

When I made the tire dealer dismount, remount and re-balance my tire the way I wanted it, he told me there would be "no guarantee". I agreed and told him the next tire I have him change, I'll bring my manual so he could see for himself. I left there wondering how many touring tires he had mounted improperly (?).

I wasn't mad at the guy and I will pay for his services in the future. Anyone would/should think that L & R means left and right looking from the rear of the bike, car or whatever the vehicle is.

At times I think HD did this just to jack with independent tire dealers...

 

That is interesting..maybe to your 07. I know the parts manual/fish is pictured inversed but my rotor is marked correctly to the left being looking fwd for the 44156-00 left rotor. Safe to say, rotor is correct, picture is wrong but since there is no bike with picture, someone should not assume direction..HA