Bad sound around 60mph

This is for general posts and questions concerning only the Voyager XII (1200cc, Four-cylinder) Years 1986 thru 2003.

Moderators: the2knights, Highway Rider

Post Reply
CHUCKLES
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 5
Joined: Wed Jun 25, 2014 11:54 am
10
Current bike(s): 95 voyager,96 vmax
Location: Oak Ridge, TN
Has liked: 0
Been liked: 0

Bad sound around 60mph

Post by CHUCKLES »

Hey can anyone help me with this problem, around 60 mph I get a terrible whine from what I thought was the rear wheel so I replaced the rear wheel bearings and while I had the wheel off I went ahead and replaced rear tire also and it was about time anyways. After doing these things the whining is still there, it almost sounds like a four wheel drive truck with mudders on it, it's weird that it only starts around 60, I don't want to just start throwing parts at it. Any ideas will help. Oops sorry it's a 1993 VOYAGER with 25,000 miles on it. Thanks and have a great day
cushman eagle
King of the Road
King of the Road
Posts: 1982
Joined: Sat Jan 22, 2011 10:08 pm
13
Current bike(s): '99 Kawasaki Voyager 1200
1958 Cushman Eagle restoration has been finished,and have put 3030 miles on her!
Location: Orrville,Ohio
Has liked: 854 times
Been liked: 290 times

Re: Bad sound around 60mph

Post by cushman eagle »

Have you checked,or ,maybe replaced the rear end gear oil? I am running synthetic 75W-90 in mine.It is possible the rear end is not set up perfectly,which could cause the whine, or the axle bolt my be too tight.I feel synthetic tends to quiet gear noise down somewhat from experience in our truck fleet.
'99 Voyager VXII,'58 Cushman Eagle
User avatar
Lumpy Rider
Cruiser
Cruiser
Posts: 90
Joined: Wed Jun 11, 2014 4:37 am
10
Current bike(s): 2001 Voyager
2003 Suzuki Intruder
Location: Northglenn, Colorado
Has liked: 0
Been liked: 0

Re: Bad sound around 60mph

Post by Lumpy Rider »

Since the noise is the same with the new tire as it was with the old, I would suspect the final drive unit and would start by checking and/or changing the gear oil. Yours may be dry. I had it happen on other bikes where the fill plug had been damaged/cracked by over tightening, or had a defective or missing o-ring, either which could cause the oil to leak out over time. A dry final drive could certainly emit a whine noise.
2001 Voyager XII
CHUCKLES
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 5
Joined: Wed Jun 25, 2014 11:54 am
10
Current bike(s): 95 voyager,96 vmax
Location: Oak Ridge, TN
Has liked: 0
Been liked: 0

Re: Bad sound around 60mph

Post by CHUCKLES »

I did check the gear oil it is full, but I didn't change it, I'll give that a shot. Someone said it could be the driveshaft, man I really dont want to tackle that one, thanks for the help guys maybe change of fluid will work (cross my fingers) thanks again
User avatar
Lumpy Rider
Cruiser
Cruiser
Posts: 90
Joined: Wed Jun 11, 2014 4:37 am
10
Current bike(s): 2001 Voyager
2003 Suzuki Intruder
Location: Northglenn, Colorado
Has liked: 0
Been liked: 0

Re: Bad sound around 60mph

Post by Lumpy Rider »

The transmissions do whine and loudness I think is subjective. Another possibility is to adjust the balancer gear backlash, explained in the AVA tech center. No out of pocket to do this.
2001 Voyager XII
CHUCKLES
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 5
Joined: Wed Jun 25, 2014 11:54 am
10
Current bike(s): 95 voyager,96 vmax
Location: Oak Ridge, TN
Has liked: 0
Been liked: 0

Re: Bad sound around 60mph

Post by CHUCKLES »

I did the balancer adjustment already it was still there but thanks giving me some help with this. Does anyone else have this whine between 60-65 mph ?
User avatar
Lumpy Rider
Cruiser
Cruiser
Posts: 90
Joined: Wed Jun 11, 2014 4:37 am
10
Current bike(s): 2001 Voyager
2003 Suzuki Intruder
Location: Northglenn, Colorado
Has liked: 0
Been liked: 0

Re: Bad sound around 60mph

Post by Lumpy Rider »

Rode my Kawi today and did notice a pronounced, high pitched whine at around 60 mph. Less pronounced under and over this speed. Possibly inherent to the VXII. My Suzuki LC 1500 howled at around 65 when it was new and did this for the 10k miles I rode it sans any mechanical problems.
2001 Voyager XII
CHUCKLES
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 5
Joined: Wed Jun 25, 2014 11:54 am
10
Current bike(s): 95 voyager,96 vmax
Location: Oak Ridge, TN
Has liked: 0
Been liked: 0

Re: Bad sound around 60mph

Post by CHUCKLES »

Well maybe this is a normal sound, but I don't think it's supposed to sound this was especially with only 25,000 on it. It's a great running and smooth motorcycle , I would really like to find out what is causing this, if a certain speed make the problem show up it seems to me it's a drivetrain problem right?
User avatar
96desertXII
Traveler
Traveler
Posts: 131
Joined: Tue May 21, 2013 4:14 am
11
Current bike(s): 1996 Kawasaki Voyager XII
Location: Sun City, CA
Has liked: 0
Been liked: 0

Re: Bad sound around 60mph

Post by 96desertXII »

Mine has a pronounced whine most of the time with 90K on the clock
Chuck & Ruthie
1996 Voyager XII (89K and climbing)
1989 FLHS (sold)
2009 FLHTCI (sold)
2005 FLHRI (sold)
2003 FLHTCU (sold)
1978 GL1000 (sold)
1978 CB750K (sold)
1958 FLH (stolen)
User avatar
Tom(North Alabama)
Cruiser
Cruiser
Posts: 66
Joined: Mon Feb 18, 2008 4:30 pm
16
Current bike(s): 2002 Voyager II
2002 BMW k1200LTE - sold
Location: Madison, Alabama
Has liked: 0
Been liked: 0

Re: Bad sound around 60mph

Post by Tom(North Alabama) »

Check out this thread....

http://www.amervoyassoc.org/forum/viewt ... ilit=whine

Some Voyagers are alot louder than others, some don't whine at all


Hope this helps...
'02 Voyager XII
'08 Concours 14 - sold
'02 BMW K1200LTE
CHUCKLES
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 5
Joined: Wed Jun 25, 2014 11:54 am
10
Current bike(s): 95 voyager,96 vmax
Location: Oak Ridge, TN
Has liked: 0
Been liked: 0

Re: Bad sound around 60mph

Post by CHUCKLES »

Well the last post pretty much tells me that it's just natural for some of the voyager trannys to whine, if that's the case I'll try the synthetic 75w90 and if it helps than great if it doesn't I'll do like the other gent said and turn up the radio and ride on with a smile . I've just join this site and I have to say all of you have helped a new voyager rider a lot and I thank you all for your help maybe someday I might be able to help you. Thanks again and ride safe.
drdoolittle77630
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 7
Joined: Tue Apr 08, 2014 3:33 am
10
Current bike(s): 93 voyager 1200
2002 voyager 1200
2000 klr 650
Location: Orange, Texas
Has liked: 0
Been liked: 0

Re: Bad sound around 60mph

Post by drdoolittle77630 »

ive owned 3 voyagers 1 1984 1300 a 1993 1200 and a 2002 ...the 2002 is the quietest but it still makes a whine at about 60 and again at about 85 ...both of the 1200s do that the thing that helps the most is to synchronize the carbs .....but evenafter that some whine is still there
User avatar
Mr Jensee
King of the Road
King of the Road
Posts: 1987
Joined: Fri Dec 26, 2008 5:55 pm
15
Current bike(s): Phone 337-781-8158
Home Phone disconnected.
Previous bikes. Yamaha 180, Honda CM200T, Suzuki 1000LNKawasaki ZRX1100.
Location: Lafayette, La
Has liked: 0
Been liked: 9 times

Re: Bad sound around 60mph

Post by Mr Jensee »

I think this overwhelming whine you are experiencing is normal. The bike doesn't have a loud engine or exhaust. My bike on a recent trip to Texas and back had a noticeable loud whine between 60-70 mph as well. I have found nothing wrong with my 2001. The faring manages to knock off a lot of wind and engine, transmission and rear end sounds are easier to be noticed and amplified behind that shielding, especially if you are not listening to the radio. If the bike isn't doing anything else abnormally but the whine, I would just get used to it if I were you or buy a new Voyager with a belt drive.
For Voyager XII Manuals click the link below.
https://1drv.ms/f/s!Ao3K0Ai2gvglgS3l7J4pBJrjfBhc
User avatar
gery
Cruiser
Cruiser
Posts: 66
Joined: Sat Nov 30, 2013 11:59 am
10
Current bike(s): voyager zg 1200 2003
Location: Poland
Has liked: 0
Been liked: 0

Re: Bad sound around 60mph

Post by gery »

In my it was loud (to yesterday). What to do?
1 Change to synthetic oil 75W,
2 drill a vent hole

Now that is a different ride. It's quiet and there are no leaks.

gery
it is a wise talker who knows when he has nothing to say

LS 650 Savage, Yamaha XVS 650 V-star, Voyager XII 2003
Post Reply

Return to “General - Voyager XII (1200 Four)”