Toward the end of a 10k mile trip earlier this summer (putting me over 50k) on my SG (2012 CVO), I started to get a squeak coming from the rear. Hoping to get some pointers on the the likely culprit.

I assumed initially it was the exhaust mount. I've had that happen before and had the dealer tighten/lube the mount and it went away. And again this time when I had the bike serviced that's what they said the cause was and replaced the rubber isolater mount but this time it didn't help. I even took it back apart myself, cleaned the nuts/washers/clip, put silicon lube on everything and put it back together. Nothing. (Granted I only did this to the left pipe.) I even got up to 55mph, killed the engine and coasted w/ the clutch in - even w/ the loss of engine vibration the noise did not change or stop.

I'm left thinking it's got to be either belt or wheel bearing related? Not sure what else it could be. Despite reading a few posts that it's not a good idea I added a bit of silicon lube to a portion of the belt (just the part I could see and the exposed teeth on the rear wheel, w/out moving the bike) and went for a ride. I figured even if only a part of the belt was lubed if that was the source the sound would at least have changed in some way. It seemed to have no effect. By touch the belt seem quite tight so - would an over-tight belt have these symptoms?

Symptoms:

-Only happens in motion
-I can only hear it once above 25-30mph
-Lower speeds slows the sound down, so the squeak rate is tied to speed (as I come to a stop it transitions to squeak/pause/squeak/pause... before disappearing to my ear below 20mph)
-After the bike sits, it usually needs some time (~ 1/2 hour of riding) to come back (***this one is perplexing***), but once it's back it doesn't go away for the rest of the ride
-Intensity seems to come and go, highway speed seems to make it loudest, with respect to both squeak rate and volume
-Turning my head side to side I can def hear it from both ears, close to equal volume. Left side may be slightly louder.
-Air temp does not seem to have any effect (unlike a loose belt chirp issue which is more prevalent in cold weather)

Thoughts?

The fact that it stops happening after the bike sits means I can't just drop my off for the day the night before like I would normally because on a test ride the tech wouldn't hear the issue.

 

Sounds to me like it could be a wheel bearing gone bad or going bad. Make sure your belt is properly adjusted and that should help to narrow it down.

 

I have 75K on my bike and I now have a belt squeak. Try using some soap and water and do your best to wash the rear pulley and belt. Good new is if it is your belt the squeak will go away. The bad news is it will eventually return. So give it a wash and see if that stops the noise.

 

How many miles on the bike, what model and year.

Sounds like you have a misaligned rear wheel and the belt is squeaking after it heats up when it rubs one of the edges of the rear sprocket. Common problem.

When was the belt adjusted last, or tire changed or anything like that? If you have upwards of 50K miles I'll bet your swingarm bushings are gone and need replacing.

The dealer will want to change the belt, rear sprocket and front pulley and it will cost big money.

 

I have the same issue on my '12 RK with 50k on it and I agree with Oldhippie in that I've put belt dressing on the belt with short lived results. I'll be doing work this winter and will see if I can correctly align rear wheel at that time and hopefully correct this annoying squeak!!

 

When this drove me nuts on my Nightrain I figured out it was synched with the wheel rotation but couldn't find anything. Then, when I was getting ready to go on a long trip I had the bike up on a jack so I started spinning the rear wheel... then I laid down on my back to see if it was the lower belt guard... and that's when I noticed that some of the nubs on my belt were missing (you can't tell just by looking at the bike). One of the most PITA jobs I ever did on my train... unbelievable what you have to take apart. Not sure I would want to do that on my RK.

 

I just had my bike at the dealer for its 75K service. They told me tension and alignment were correct and that my swing arm checked out. They said ride it unless the noise drives me nuts.

 

Jack it up, rotate the rear wheel backward (will cause belt to run to outboard side of rear pulley) and apply lube to inboard side of belt. Should solve problem temporarily.

Suspect finish on rear pulley wore through and only way to resolve is new rear pulley

 

I once put a swingarm back on a touring....then noticed the belt on the table. That was a moment. I was unhappy then I giggled.

 

Spray a little lubricant on the muffler hangers.