Buddy has a Street Glide he says makes a growling noise when he's 2 up in a lean. Worse going left than right, but does it both ways. Wheel bearing maybe?

 

How many miles on the rear tire?
Probably just cupping of the rear tire.
Mine did the samething. Nothing to worry about.
It will go away when he puts new tires on it.

 

More than likely its a cupped tire.

Pretty common on the 09 and up frames.

 

Could well be wheel bearings.

I would check the air pressure in the tires first! I would say typical wheel cupping caused by not having the proper air pressure and/or time for some new shoes. (Tires)

Wolf and HB beat me to it.


YB

 

I get the 'growl' often also and is not all the time.....seems like when I get on it and then start leaning into a corner.........so this is a tire issue? I got a 2012 SG with about 12K on it and the tires are almost ready for replacement........

 

He says tire tread and pressures are fine.

 

An inexperienced eye might not catch the cupping...I'll bet that's the problem. A wheel bearing would probably growl all the time if it were bad. But, OP...your job is done...you gave the info to your buddy, if he wants to believe, great. If not, great!

 

What year, may be the rubber mounts between the swingarm and the frame. The rubber mount is behind the football shaped plate low and aft on the frame. There are 2 bolts clamping the plate to the frame and a center chrome plug to access the swingarm pivot bolt. Basically when the rubbers get worn the swingarm wobbles and when the swingarm wobbles you are throwing the vehicle alignment out. Maybe the growl is the final drive belt cogs rubbing aginst 1 side or the other of the rear pulley. I broke 1 of the plate bolts once pulling holeshots and wheelstands with the wife on the back. Start with the plate, check the bolts, then look at the rubbers.

 

Have him run his hand along the tire, if it is bumpy it is cupped. If it is smooth, get the wheel bearings checked. https://www.google.com/search?q=cupp...ng%3B742%3B562

Toby

 

Look far right to see the plate i am talking about. if you zoom in you will see that I replaced the original grade 5 bolts with grade 8 after fishing that 1st broken bolt out of my frame. This is a 2003 and I replaced my rubbers at around 30K mi in 2009 so it was only 6 years old at that time.