Engine Noise at Idle

refugio · 05-12-2008, 10:23 AM

How would you guys describe the noise your Nomad makes while it's idling.
My friend at work made a comment when I rode it to work for the first time.....said it's noisy and thought something was not right about it. He has never owned a Kawasaki just Hondas.
I kinda thought it was normal. My 900 made noise but this Nomad is definetly louder.
Kinda sounds like an old sewing machine.
How does your Nomad sound when idling?

Thanks,
Doug

blowndodge · 05-12-2008, 11:07 AM

Lots of clicks and clacks at idle like plastic sticks hitting each other. Pretty normal for the Nomad

refugio · 05-12-2008, 11:42 AM

Pretty sure it's normal.....Just want that reassurance....Thanks

**Top Cat** · 05-12-2008, 11:44 AM

It's the nature of the beast ;) Just one of the things that give it character

refugio · 05-12-2008, 04:30 PM

I know how to describe it now.......Kinda sounds like an old farm tractor ........
Clacka..Clacka..Clacka..Clacka...Clacka...Clacka.. .
But it runs good.

papat · 05-12-2008, 05:52 PM

I don't know how to describe it but there is alot of noise. Honda shadow was alot quieter and smoother.

**ringadingh** · 05-12-2008, 07:50 PM

Its normal, mine does it too.

dhelfritz · 05-13-2008, 07:55 AM

My top end is pretty noisy. Sounds like it needs some oil. I think its just normal, Even alter an oil change it is still noisy. I dont think the heat in So. Fl. helps either.

05-13-2008, 08:03 AM

Clicks and clacks.I think that is the perfect description BD. They are noisy for sure.

redeye · 05-13-2008, 10:24 AM

The first time I rode with my 1/2 helmet, I stopped after a 1/4 mile to see if the bike still had oil in it. What I thought was an engine knock was in fact the cold air solenoids clacking away. After a while you'll get used to the clicking, clacking & whistling. It reminds me of a wash board band. -Rich

**billmac** · 05-13-2008, 09:15 PM

My son has a new Vulcan 900 and it seems much quieter than my new Nomad with 1400 miles on it. I thought maybe 20-50w oil might help some next oil change. I am running 10-40w now. Mine clicks and clacks at idle like BlownDodge said. Kind of sounds like it is missing and has even stalled a couple of times. I think the idle speed is a little slow. That probably makes the idle solenoids work overtime.

VulcanE · 05-13-2008, 10:42 PM

When mine is sitting at idle, the description I use is " It sounds like a bucket of bolts rattling around", but, that's what it's supposed to sound like.

refugio · 05-14-2008, 12:23 AM

Thanks ..All you guys for the comments....I DO feel better now.

By the way...I did the resistor mod using a 1K ohm and Stepped down to a colder plug. Used DPR8EA-9 which is two steps.
I think I,ve eliminated almost all the pinging...Have to get on it really extra hard to get it to ping..and even then...it's not anything like it was.
Runs good so far.

dantama · 05-14-2008, 11:58 AM

Refugio, I noticed that on this video of my parking lot practice, at the begging it picks up the sound of my bike at idle pretty good. When I posted it, I didn't know how to edit it, so it has the idle when I'm turning the camera on and getting back on the bike.

refugio · 05-14-2008, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Lund

Refugio, I noticed that on this video of my parking lot practice, at the begging it picks up the sound of my bike at idle pretty good. When I posted it, I didn't know how to edit it, so it has the idle when I'm turning the camera on and getting back on the bike.

Hey....Thankyou....That's exactly the sound I was hearing....Perfectly normal at least for Nomad's and 1600.

I don't know why I didn't think before of listening to videos on YouTube.
Found several others as well.....Same sound......No I can really relax and enjoy my New Nomad

05-12-2008, 10:23 AM	#1
refugio Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Refugio , Texas Posts: 359	Engine Noise at Idle How would you guys describe the noise your Nomad makes while it's idling. My friend at work made a comment when I rode it to work for the first time.....said it's noisy and thought something was not right about it. He has never owned a Kawasaki just Hondas. I kinda thought it was normal. My 900 made noise but this Nomad is definetly louder. Kinda sounds like an old sewing machine. How does your Nomad sound when idling? Thanks, Doug __________________ 2008 Vulcan Nomad Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

05-12-2008, 11:07 AM	#2
blowndodge Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Washington City, Utah Posts: 16,474	Engine Noise at Idle Lots of clicks and clacks at idle like plastic sticks hitting each other. Pretty normal for the Nomad __________________ I love my Victory Cross Country Tour 106. Smells like Victory! Ultra's are Limited There are two types of Harley riders. Those that trailer them and those that push them. The most Interesting Man in the World "Find the things in life you don't do well and don't do those things" Member # 0005
	0

05-12-2008, 11:42 AM	#3
refugio Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Refugio , Texas Posts: 359	Engine Noise at Idle Pretty sure it's normal.....Just want that reassurance....Thanks __________________ 2008 Vulcan Nomad
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05-12-2008, 11:44 AM	#4
Top Cat Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Peoples Republic of New York State Posts: 15,154	Engine Noise at Idle It's the nature of the beast ;) Just one of the things that give it character __________________ Tim "TC" Conley VBA #9 2011 Victory Kingpin mine 2013 Victory Boardwalk -hers [LEFT][COLOR=#000000] [SIZE=4]
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05-12-2008, 04:30 PM	#5
refugio Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Refugio , Texas Posts: 359	Engine Noise at Idle I know how to describe it now.......Kinda sounds like an old farm tractor ........ Clacka..Clacka..Clacka..Clacka...Clacka...Clacka.. . But it runs good. __________________ 2008 Vulcan Nomad Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

05-12-2008, 05:52 PM	#6
papat Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Tucumcari NM Posts: 358	Engine Noise at Idle I don't know how to describe it but there is alot of noise. Honda shadow was alot quieter and smoother. __________________ SHEEPLE: Sheep like people, many of whom deny the existence of wolves, and vote to pull the teeth of the sheepdogs who protect the flock!
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05-12-2008, 07:50 PM	#7
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	Engine Noise at Idle Its normal, mine does it too. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
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05-13-2008, 07:55 AM	#8
dhelfritz Jr. Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 49	Engine Noise at Idle My top end is pretty noisy. Sounds like it needs some oil. I think its just normal, Even alter an oil change it is still noisy. I dont think the heat in So. Fl. helps either.
	0

05-13-2008, 08:03 AM	#9
Guest Posts: n/a	Engine Noise at Idle Clicks and clacks.I think that is the perfect description BD. They are noisy for sure.
	0

05-13-2008, 10:24 AM	#10
redeye Advanced Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Rocklin California Posts: 777	Engine Noise at Idle The first time I rode with my 1/2 helmet, I stopped after a 1/4 mile to see if the bike still had oil in it. What I thought was an engine knock was in fact the cold air solenoids clacking away. After a while you'll get used to the clicking, clacking & whistling. It reminds me of a wash board band. -Rich
	0

05-13-2008, 09:15 PM	#11
billmac Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 1,472	Engine Noise at Idle My son has a new Vulcan 900 and it seems much quieter than my new Nomad with 1400 miles on it. I thought maybe 20-50w oil might help some next oil change. I am running 10-40w now. Mine clicks and clacks at idle like BlownDodge said. Kind of sounds like it is missing and has even stalled a couple of times. I think the idle speed is a little slow. That probably makes the idle solenoids work overtime.
	0

05-13-2008, 10:42 PM	#12
VulcanE Sr. Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Cartersville, Georgia Posts: 4,838	Engine Noise at Idle When mine is sitting at idle, the description I use is " It sounds like a bucket of bolts rattling around", but, that's what it's supposed to sound like. __________________ Cliff "VulcanE" Evans 2005 Blue & Silver 1600 Nomad VBA # 320 VROC # 20381
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05-14-2008, 12:23 AM	#13
refugio Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Refugio , Texas Posts: 359	Engine Noise at Idle Thanks ..All you guys for the comments....I DO feel better now. By the way...I did the resistor mod using a 1K ohm and Stepped down to a colder plug. Used DPR8EA-9 which is two steps. I think I,ve eliminated almost all the pinging...Have to get on it really extra hard to get it to ping..and even then...it's not anything like it was. Runs good so far. __________________ 2008 Vulcan Nomad
	0

05-14-2008, 11:58 AM	#14
dantama Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 0	Engine Noise at Idle Refugio, I noticed that on this video of my parking lot practice, at the begging it picks up the sound of my bike at idle pretty good. When I posted it, I didn't know how to edit it, so it has the idle when I'm turning the camera on and getting back on the bike.
	0

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