Hey guys before I bother my indy or dealership thought I’d ask here first. Bike is a ‘19 Standard RG with about 36K miles. Front wheel has about 10K miles. While riding yesterday I started to hear a chugging, rubbing sound from the front end. After turning the radio off to make sure that wasn’t it Islowed down to about 15 MPH but the sound continued even just rolling with no throttle. It doesn’t sound like lifters or brakes (as I was rolling slowly with no throttle). I guess it could be a bearing but there is no “clicking” sound.Again, best way to describe the sound like a slow, chugging locomotive. Bike has run flawless since I’ve had it and it has an all Harley parts Stage 1. I’m not a wrench and I don’t have a lift. Any ideas would be appreciated . Thanks in advance.

 

If the frequency of the noise varies with speed, it must be coming from something wheel, brake or drive line related. Because you have a fairing, the noise COULD be coming from the back and reflecting off the windshield or fairing. This will be extremely difficult to isolate if you can't get the wheels off the ground to rotate manually without engine noise to obscure the sound. Other than the previous, I have no suggestion as to what could be causing a noise as you describe it.

 

Without hearing the noise, it's not possible to know, or make an educated guess, as to what it is... but just a couple of the possibilities, being potentially serious, would make me check it out ASAP...

Of all the things it could be, which are several to many.... bad wheel bearings can get you killed.....

I would find a way to isolate and then rotate/check the play in both front & rear wheels... You can get a small scissor jack for like $100, and would be able to alternately raise the front & rear wheels to check the bearings and brakes/rotors...

If you are not able to do this, or don't have the desire, I would take it to a shop ASAP to have it diagnosed...

Good luck and report back what you find...

 

Thanks guys.

 

So it turned out to be front wheel bearing. All good now. Thanks.

 

Glad you found it and replaced the bearings. Same happened to me and took a while to find. Sounded to me like something loose and flopping around. I even removed the Grimlin bell in case it was hitting frame, LOL

 

Do a bit of a search about wheel bearings. There is an issue with wheel bearings on our bikes. I had one go out on my 2013 Street Glide in the 20k mile area. I would (and I do plan on) changing bearings on my '21 SG at first tire change. And then have a set ready for at least every other tire change. Glad you found your issue.