Sounds like sand

[Monkeyman]

Took the Nomad for it's first real trip yesterday (over 50 miles) and most of the way (at highway speeds) it sounded like the tires were kicking up fine sand (hitting the underside of the fenders). There wasn't any sand on the roads so that wasn't the problem. It didn't sound like marbles. I had just filled up with mid grade gas, if that matters.

Any suggestions? Could it just be something a tiny bit loose? Pre ignition? Or do I need to tear down the engine, replace the turn signal fluid and change the air in the headlight?

[ringadingh]

It may br pinging that you heard. Did it make the sound constantly, or only under accelleration and load? You could try a tank of premium fuel and see if that helps.

[bobhamlin]

Every bike has its own set of peculiar noises that you will learn.

I would look for a pattern. High speed, low speed? High/low rpm? Acceleration/deceleration. Clutch in/out?

I'm trying to imagine your sound. Air turbulance--which would increase with higher speed? Tire noise would also decrease at slower speed?

If you are wearing a full-face helmet, try a half-helmet for more acute directional capability. (but don't let some of our members know)

[Monkeyman]

I didn't notice the sound on acceleration/deceleration. Only at constant speeds (probably between 50-70 indicated). Clutch out, whatever rpms are at those indicated speeds. I wear a shorty helmet so I can probably hear as well as without a helmet. I'll try a tank of premium next to see if that matters although I'm not sure how many more tanks I'll get out of the bike this year. Perhaps it's just a "normal" sound from my bike. I'd just rather do preventative maintenance than something on the side of the road. At night. In the rain. On my way to work. :)

[Top Cat]

Get rid of the damn shorty helmet and get a real full-face helmet that will serve two purposes.
It will give you some protection and it will cut down on the road noise you are hearing.http://www.vulcanbagger.com/forums/images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif

[Monkeyman]

TC -- It's a damn nice shorty helmet. It's a Scorpion EXO-100. A bit deeper than the normal skid lid and it has a built in visor, sun shield and zip out neck/ear cover. I wear glasses and I don't want to have to lift the lid, snap on my sunglasses, etc when I'm in the middle of riding. With this, the sun shield just retracts back into the helmet. Both the sunshield and visor are removable/replacable. It's sort of the best of both worlds.

EDIT: Yea, me! 100th post!

[Top Cat]

I wear glasses and have a Gmax flip up helmet with the sunshield that drops down. I don't have to take off the glasses tom put it on as the front lifts and the sun shield is an awesome feature.
Fullface helmet protection with none of the drawbacks.:tup:

[bobhamlin]

I didn't notice the sound on acceleration/deceleration. Only at constant speeds (probably between 50-70 indicated). Clutch out, whatever rpms are at those indicated speeds. I wear a shorty helmet so I can probably hear as well as without a helmet. I'll try a tank of premium next to see if that matters although I'm not sure how many more tanks I'll get out of the bike this year. Perhaps it's just a "normal" sound from my bike. I'd just rather do preventative maintenance than something on the side of the road. At night. In the rain. On my way to work. :)

Again, trying very hard to imagine the "sand" sound, I would start suspecting air flow noise or a vibration from some cosmetic edge.

I remember when I first got my Nomad on the road (moved up from a carb'd Vulcan Classic), it took me a while to settle in to the new noises.

What was your previous bike?

[cactusjack]

Get rid of the damn shorty helmet and get a real full-face helmet that will serve two purposes.
It will give you some protection and it will cut down on the road noise you are hearing.http://www.vulcanbagger.com/forums/images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif

Sheez, here we go again... :shrug:

[blowndodge]

sounds like sand.......... tastes like chicken!! :tup:

[Monkeyman]

TC -- I was thinking more about hot days. The hotter I am (with a helmet on) the less apt I am to wear the damn thing. If I can stay cool (temperature wise...I'm cool the other way naturally), I'll wear the helmet.

bobhamlin -- If it's airflow, it'll change drastically by spring as I plan an open intake and V&H/Cobras this winter. My first inclination was some sort of vibration/accessory/etc.

bRowndodge -- Same thing they said in that Chinese restaurant about the Cat Fu Yung.

[Kawhead]

Get rid of the damn shorty helmet and get a real full-face helmet that will serve two purposes.
It will give you some protection and it will cut down on the road noise you are hearing.http://www.vulcanbagger.com/forums/images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gifAnd if he lines the inside with aluminum foil it'll cut down on the high frequency radio signals, which is what he may be hearing, that the government emits to control our minds. :wtf:

[landman]

your new pipes will take care of those little road noises.

[Top Cat]

Sheez, here we go again... :shrug:

Hey, I'm just trying to keep the guys safe who can't or don't know enough to do it for them selves.
You know, like the government does.:D

[Monkeyman]

You should be careful what you say about the gov't. They're listening. Kawhead knows.

[Loafer]

Did some one say aluminium foil?

[traveler]

The sand sound seems like maybe something buzzing in the wind. maybe key fob or something around windshield loose. Seafoam and no less than 93 oct. will serve you well

[ringadingh]

I had a real nice full face, a Simpson helmet, until I fell off and ground the helmet all to hell this spring. Thats the best $300.00 I ever destroyed.

[sharps45100]

If you don't have a fuel module on your bike, you need to get one!. since you are wanting to open up the air intake and exhaust over winter. If your pinging you are destroying your engine a little bit at a time.

[Monkeyman]

A fuel processor is on my list along with the exhaust and intake.

[Kawhead]

You should be careful what you say about the gov't. They're listening. Kawhead knows.I appreciate somebody who appreciates intelligent reasoning. Watch out for the black helicopter to. They tried to fool us with the "Leaked" news that the gov attaches GPS devices to our vehicles so we would look down instead of up in the air. Out smarted you again big brother. :D

[Monkeyman]

I had a couple young men (IN BLACK SUITS) knock on my door a while back. They said they were Jehovah's Witnesses. Sure they were. I took care of the "problem".