gear whine

[rugeroid]

Has anyone noticed any appreciable gear whine/noise in their tenere's? Mine reminds me of the whine I had in my royal star tour deluxe. On that bike the noise originated in the clutch basket, and replacement of this part usually reduced the noise considerably. The problem was insufficient backlash, and was corrected with optional baskets available from Yamaha. Mine is most noticeable in the top two gears. This condition did no harm, but many were quite annoyed with this gear noise, and yamaha provided the fix.
I have not ridden another tenere to compare to mine, but hope to do so soon to see if it's just a normal noise that I will just have to get used to.
In reality, I wish this bike had a chain. Initial cost would be lower, and gearing changes would be possible. New modern chains go a long way, and don't really require that much maintance, I don't know if the source of this noise is from primary drive, or final drive, but it does annoy me.

 

[GrahamD]

I don't know if the source of this noise is from primary drive, or final drive, but it does annoy me.

Do not buy a Triumph.

I suppose it would be a good idea to get a comparison, but none of the bikes sold so far have had an issue, except when thye seals were eaten by months of sand and dust.

The drive survived OK though. Maybe one day someone will come up with different gears (and possibly casings) for the back. It has been done before.

http://www.maxbmwmotorsport.com/r1200-30-final-drive-upgrade/

Cheers
Graham

 

[Checkswrecks]

Mine sounds a lot like the FJR with the gear whine from the drive. I hear more brake whirring.

 

[Koinz]

I noticed some whine in the higher speeds. Pulled the clutch lever in at speed and the whine goes away, so I'm thinking it's in trasmission higher gears. I assume that since our bikes are a dry sump that oil is injected into the gear box? not a splash system like typical bikes that use engine oil for lubricating the transmission?
Someone posted a lubrication schematic somewhere and I believe that's what I saw.

 

[rem]

My Honda ST1300 has a very distinctive whine, as does the Tenere. I have to assume it is associated with the shaft drive. I don't even notice it anymore. My wife says it sounds like a giant sewing machine. I guess I'd get some looks from the Harley boys, except they can't hear it over their own bikes. R

 

[Bigbore4]

I am waiting to see pics or exploded views of the primary. I suspect a spur gear drive and they will whine a little. Had same on my FJR, cured it with a full Muzzy system.

 

[elizilla]

I've got about twice the miles on shaft drive bikes as on chain drive, and I don't notice this gear whine noise either. I'd say "anymore" except that I didn't notice it ever. My only awareness of it is from hearing other people complain about it. To me it sounds normal.

And I for one am glad the Super10 has a shaft drive; if it were a chain I wouldn't have bought it. After my V-Strom experience I have replaced enough chains and sprockets to last me the rest of my life. If someone else wants a chain drive, they can get one, since that's what's on just about every other bike under 600 lbs - you have a wealth of choices. Those of us who like shaft drive bikes get precious few choices outside of the extremely large end of the market.

 

[rem]

if it were a chain I wouldn't have bought it.

that's a substantial thumb's up on that one. Same here. I don't care for chains/belts and don't like to have to think about them. Unless I'm feeling really kinky and then ..... ok, too much information. You get my drift. R

 

[Koinz]

I've got about twice the miles on shaft drive bikes as on chain drive, and I don't notice this gear whine noise either. I'd say "anymore" except that I didn't notice it ever. My only awareness of it is from hearing other people complain about it. To me it sounds normal.

And I for one am glad the Super10 has a shaft drive; if it were a chain I wouldn't have bought it. After my V-Strom experience I have replaced enough chains and sprockets to last me the rest of my life. If someone else wants a chain drive, they can get one, since that's what's on just about every other bike under 600 lbs - you have a wealth of choices. Those of us who like shaft drive bikes get precious few choices outside of the extremely large end of the market.

Not complaining at all. Just noticing stuff on our new bikes that's all. I think shaft is the way to go. Luckily I didn't have any issues on BMW in 60k miles. Chains have gotten much better over the years too. Personally I just like to discuss how things work. Being a dry sump, the oil has to be pumped onto the tranny gears and bearings. My kids dirt bikes with dry dumps have sealed cases. One for transmission and one for the engine oil. This is different. ???

 

[rem]

One for transmission and one for the engine oil. This is different.

Quite different, apparently. I've read up on this and from what I can understand, it is a superior system over the conventional one. I guess all the race cars and super expensive automobiles use this system. Supposed to prevent any shortage of oil and sucking air ???? I figure it's a good thing to have. R

 

[colorider]

that's a substantial thumb's up on that one. Same here. I don't care for chains/belts and don't like to have to think about them.

I put them in the same category as carbs and tubes. BTDT and don't really care to go there again, Thank You Very Much!

Give me shaft drive, FI and tubeless tires!!!! (that would be the SuperT)

 

[~TABASCO~]

Quite different, apparently. I've read up on this and from what I can understand, it is a superior system over the conventional one. I guess all the race cars and super expensive automobiles use this system. Supposed to prevent any shortage of oil and sucking air ???? I figure it's a good thing to have. R

Yep, several of the Yamaha bikes have the dry sump, between the two much better to have the dry sump! Really glad the one has it!

By the way, with the people with gear wine, are you running synthetic oils in the engine and the rear drive? Just asking because I have never heard a peep from FJR with SYN in there.. Nothing from the ST either ?

 

[rem]

I run synthetic full time, and I still here a whine. But maybe it's just me .... my wife says I whine all the time. R

 

[~TABASCO~]

I run synthetic full time, and I still here a whine. But maybe it's just me .... my wife says I whine all the time. R

BBbwbwbbwahhahahhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa OK, im smiling... I gotta get to work... peace out !

 

[Koinz]

I run synthetic full time, and I still here a whine. But maybe it's just me .... my wife says I whine all the time. R

Would you like some cheese with that whine

 

[markjenn]

Regardless of dry sump vs. wet sump, the primary drive gears (and transmission) are almost certainly lubricated by splash lube. (Bearings may be pressure lubricated.) I doubt the semi-dry sump design of the S10 has much to do with the noise. By my inspection of the service manual, it appears Yamaha is using all straight-cut gears (rather than helical) for power transmission and for driving the balance shafts. That's a lot of straight-cut gears and while straight-cut gears are good from an efficiency standpoint, they are somewhat noisy. And you've got another set of gears to make the right angle turn out of the transmission to the shaft drive. Lots and lots of gears.

I doubt any of the noise people are hearing is from the shaft drive itself. The primary drive (crank to clutch basket) is the likely culprit, perhaps the dual balancer shaft drives. Nature of the beast.

- Mark

 

[Koinz]

Regardless of dry sump vs. wet sump, the primary drive gears (and transmission) are almost certainly lubricated by splash lube. (Bearings may be pressure lubricated.) I doubt the semi-dry sump design of the S10 has much to do with the noise. By my inspection of the service manual, it appears Yamaha is using all straight-cut gears (rather than helical) for power transmission and for driving the balance shafts. That's a lot of straight-cut gears and while straight-cut gears are good from an efficiency standpoint, they are somewhat noisy. And you've got another set of gears to make the right angle turn out of the transmission to the shaft drive. Lots and lots of gears.

I doubt any of the noise people are hearing is from the shaft drive itself. The primary drive (crank to clutch basket) is the likely culprit, perhaps the dual balancer shaft drives. Nature of the beast.

- Mark

not to mention, they're probably a constant mesh transmission.

 

[tomatocity]

I am running Yamalube 10w40 engine oil and Mobil1 Synthetic 75w90 (something I had on the shelf) and I hear a whine while normally on and off throttle. I had heard the OEM gear oil was ugly and they were right. Thinking about draining the Mobil1 and adding some GL5 80w90 (have on the shelf) to clean the final drive and to see if the noise changes or never existed.

Synthetic or not?

 

[rem]

The local Yamaha motorcycle mechanic, who also bought his own Tenere, says to use the Yamaha product designed for the FJR. Special stuff for high speed or whatever. I'd use that. R

 

[limey]

I went for a short ride on my 89 Softail on Saturday and today out on the S10 and realized there is no wind buffering on the S10, no Harmonic noises and vibrations, no Gear whine, no Ping and stall of idle with throttle blip and there was no H2O in the final drive when I took her for a swim. This bike is perfect well almost other than the seat.