So, my 97 Ultra has a chirping sound between 2200 and 2600 rpm. That's the only range it happens in. It sounds like it's coming from the front head area. Any thoughts of where to start?

 

check faring and mount points of it, floor boards, exhaust and mounting points of it, and belt

 

carb if you have one

 

Head pipe leak where it meets the cylinder head (exhaust gasket/doughnut). Check if nuts on pipe flange worked loose. Don’t over tighten

also check pipe heat shield clamps for coming loose or rubbing.

 

"Chirp" covers a lot of territory. I had a chirp that took me years to find. I finally pulled the front fairing off at a camp ground and tracked it down to the metal bar going across the top of the inner fairing over the radio rubbing on the metal fairing supports. Some time with a file made enough clearance for the 3 parts not to touch each other. The bar is visible in this pic:

between the gauge cluster and the radio.

 

I’m gonna say it’s probably in the fairing. There’s a lot of crap in there that can and will chirp.

Even though it may sound like it’s from that area….it could be coming elsewhere.

I had a squeak/chirp that drove me nuts. Thought it was the floorboards, rode one day with saddle bags off and no noise. Ended up lubing the saddle bag rubber mounting blocks above the exhaust. Noise never returned.

Good luck

 

Thanks, I'll get a stethoscope and try to narrow it down. I did have a squeek from the saddle bags and rear heat shields, I got that fixed.

Generally speaking, it shouldn't be a motor issue though right?

 

I'm not saying for sure this is your chirp, but always the first thing to check is heat shields and clamps. Tighten with a 5/16 socket or nut driver, not a screwdriver. Clamps do wear out/stretch and will make all kinds of weird sounds. Check them cold and warm. Make sure the front isn't touching the stud in the head and if you can make it chirp sitting still, push on it with a piece of wood. Ocassionally a tack weld will break on the small strap where the clamps run under. And look for the end of the clamp sticking thru and touching the edge of of a shield. If you need to replace clamps they are size "24"'

Again, not saying that's your noise, but always check them first when a mystery noise arises.