Interesting day. Little help please
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 222
Likes: 1
From: Jacksonville, Fl
Interesting day. Little help please
Took a ride today, about a 30 mile round trip. To start, I haven't done anything to my bike in a while. So I don't know what could cause this. On the highway, cruising about 65.. get up to around 85 and let off the gas- just cruising... I hear an unfamiliar noise. Hard to describe, something like when you used to put playing cards in your bicycle spokes as a kid. Only you're going 80 and it sounds more like ticking than a paper card. Very fast, repetitive... when i get below 70 mph it stops, I can't hear it any more. To test it, I get back above 70, to 75, to 80 it's doing it. I slow down, and pretty much right below 70 I can't hear it any more. I did this a couple times and it all happened the same each time. That's the first thing.
On the ride home, sun is going down, my instrument cluster goes out. speedometer sticks at 67 mph... ok.. headlight is on, taillight is on. About 5 minutes later, head and tail light go out. Rode the rest of the way home in the dark. Get back to the garage, check the fuses. "lights" fuse is blown, "gauges" fuse is blown. I replace them both, everything works. Bike cranks, runs(in neutral on idle). I cut it off and call it a night. What's the deal?
I know this is a lot, and these 2 different issues are not likely related to one another, but some of you guys work wonders with your knowledge about mechanical issues so I'm hoping someone can give me some insight. Thanks in advance
On the ride home, sun is going down, my instrument cluster goes out. speedometer sticks at 67 mph... ok.. headlight is on, taillight is on. About 5 minutes later, head and tail light go out. Rode the rest of the way home in the dark. Get back to the garage, check the fuses. "lights" fuse is blown, "gauges" fuse is blown. I replace them both, everything works. Bike cranks, runs(in neutral on idle). I cut it off and call it a night. What's the deal?
I know this is a lot, and these 2 different issues are not likely related to one another, but some of you guys work wonders with your knowledge about mechanical issues so I'm hoping someone can give me some insight. Thanks in advance
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 222
Likes: 1
From: Jacksonville, Fl
Lol... no kidding.
And yeah, I was assuming some type of wiring issue. I'll have to wait til tomorrow to check. As for the noise I was hearing on the highway. It sounded like it was coming from the front, motor area. Hard to pin point on the highway at 70 though. Anyone have any ideas? Like a very VERY fast ticking noise. But only at the speeds I mentioned. Thanks again for everyone's help
And yeah, I was assuming some type of wiring issue. I'll have to wait til tomorrow to check. As for the noise I was hearing on the highway. It sounded like it was coming from the front, motor area. Hard to pin point on the highway at 70 though. Anyone have any ideas? Like a very VERY fast ticking noise. But only at the speeds I mentioned. Thanks again for everyone's help
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 684
Likes: 71
From: Illinois
If you had the bike in storage you may have had a few visitors over the winter. Mice love to chew on wires.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,593
Likes: 6,435
From: Honah Lee
The first thing was your guardian angels knees knocking in fear. Nice looking bike but 85 mph on your mod? That was him pulling things to slow you down.
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Tourer
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 413
Likes: 0
From: Leesville, SC
Check for an exhaust leak at the heads. Mine I could only hear it when I let off the throttle. After a little riding you can see the black build around the exhaust port. You either had some critter chewing on your wires or pinch a few putting it back together. Sometimes it may not show up right away, but after a little vibration it starts wearing down the insulation.