Please help front wheel noise

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Jul 31, 2014 | 09:46 AM

c50plus

Thread Starter

Tourer

Joined: Aug 2008

Posts: 493

Likes: 17

From: Ft LAuderdale

Please help front wheel noise

Yesterday I noticed a humming noise coming form what seems to be my front wheel. I got a 12 Limited with 12K miles. I turned the radio off and put the bike on neutral and I can still hear this noise.

I checked everything in the front wheel and do not see any obvious problems. Disks are not loose, brakes are not stuck, no grease signs of Chinese bearing that are about to fail. Could it be tire cupping? I get this noise after 35 mph all the way up to any higher speed. What do you experts think? Thanks in advance

Jul 31, 2014 | 09:49 AM

Deckman

Road Captain

Joined: Jul 2012

Posts: 506

Likes: 7

From: Charlotte, NC

Mine does the same thing and many others on the forum have posted the same issue. Tire noise seems to be the typical reason for this. I had my Indy check it and he said the bearings were OK.

Jul 31, 2014 | 10:16 AM

dirtdobber

Elite HDF Member

Joined: Jul 2007

Posts: 4,749

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From: sand mountain Alabama

When does it do it?
When going through curves? While riding straight?

Most new tires will hum due to the thread design. Much more so in the curves. When mine does it when riding straight my tires are a little low on air. The less air the more the humming occurs.
hope this helps

Jul 31, 2014 | 10:23 AM

c50plus

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Joined: Aug 2008

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From: Ft LAuderdale

Deckman, thanks for your reply. But how do you explain that the noise was not there until now that I have 12K miles. It did not do it before.

This happens when going straitght

Jul 31, 2014 | 10:26 AM

Joe12RK

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Jun 2012

Posts: 6,157

Likes: 2,564

From: CT/FL

tire wear/cupping will do that - mine made noise that I felt in the handlebars but the rear tire was badly cupped (with about 16k on them). new tires cured it

Jul 31, 2014 | 10:29 AM

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Jan 2006

Posts: 11,475

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From: Charleston, SC

Cupping as the tire wears. Normal In the case of Dunlop D408Fs unfortunately.

Keep running it and just keep an eye on the wear.
Sometimes pumping the tire up to 40 pounds helps.

lp

Jul 31, 2014 | 01:18 PM

disco

Intermediate

Joined: Jun 2010

Posts: 45

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From: 3 rd rock

Pull the front calipers and spin the wheel. That's how I found my front wheel bearings were about to fail. Back wheel was also noisy when turning a corner. Wheel bearings were OK , it was tire wear on the rear. 2011 Ultra EG