abnormal noise getting on my nerves

hi, i have a sv650 k7, and i have recently noticed some noise when on the bike, im unsure whether its hissing or scraping, but i can describe as something like quiet radio static noise...i hear it most when doing 30-40mph in 3rd, and when i go faster, it gets kinda drowned out by the engine noise..i have a half inch of play on the chain and is lubed,. im thinking 'could it be the airbox or exhaust?' but im no mechanic..ALSO I pressure washed the bike before this started, which I regret! got any solutiuons, tips, HELP!

pressure washing is badddd, make sure that the chain is well greased up!, pressure washing is very bad for bearings and things because it blows away all the grease, im sure someone else will be along with more ideas soon

I would say it was chain noise , I used to get something very similar when passing cars and the noise would reflect back off them with a swooshing sound . This usually gets a bit louder when my chain was getting about halfway down the markers on the chain adjusters . How many miles has the chain done and how far can you pull the chain away from the back end of the Sprocket ?

PS welcome to the site , and don`t bother with jet washers and such like , good old bucket and brush will suffice .

[ophic]

brake pads rubbing the disc? piston could have seized.

Originally Posted by xXBADGERXx

I would say it was chain noise , I used to get something very similar when passing cars and the noise would reflect back off them with a swooshing sound . This usually gets a bit louder when my chain was getting about halfway down the markers on the chain adjusters . How many miles has the chain done and how far can you pull the chain away from the back end of the Sprocket ?

PS welcome to the site , and don`t bother with jet washers and such like , good old bucket and brush will suffice .

Nice one Badger, that sounds exactly whats im experiencing! im gonna take the bike to a dude tommorrow, i just like to know things before i take it in.. chain done 1500 miles since bought (2500 altogether)...and i cant really pull the chain away from the back of sprocket.. the sound, although not affecting performance, is starting to drive me nuts. cheers.

Ok well the chain sounds healthy , is it possibly a bit too slack , they recommend about 35-50mm play , I tend to head towards the 50mm area myself as I am 6ft 2 and heavy and often carry a pillion and luggage . How do you set the slack on your chain by the way ?

i dont do that, too lazy, get someone to do it for me! past my test last year beforer it got tougher and more expensive, but this is my 1st big bike and i call myself moto-noob for a reason!! i may well exceed the recommended play actually, however im guna take my machine to this guy tommorrow and let him have a spin on it let him hear for himself...and if he says its fine...!!!! dementia!
I'll let you know when its sorted, and I'll look back and laugh.

No shame in admitting that at all , we all started somewhere and learned as we went along ................. sometimes the hard way . Let me know what he says by the way .

Originally Posted by moto-noob

i dont do that, too lazy, get someone to do it for me! past my test last year beforer it got tougher and more expensive, but this is my 1st big bike and i call myself moto-noob for a reason!! i may well exceed the recommended play actually, however im guna take my machine to this guy tommorrow and let him have a spin on it let him hear for himself...and if he says its fine...!!!! dementia!
I'll let you know when its sorted, and I'll look back and laugh.

Any update on this? I have had a similar noise from the front sprocket area since the bike was new and no amount of checking the free play cleaning and lubing the chain has sorted it.

The SV does seem to have this annoying kind of buzzy noise between 4 and 5 thousand rpm. At first, I thought it was my cam chain tensioners, but listening to other bikes, and tlaking to other owners, it would appear it is a normal noise - a resonance effect.

It can be made quieter by cleaning and lubricating the chain, and also keeping the engine oil topped up towards the upper mark. Other than that...theres not much you can do. Wear some ear plugs

Incidentally, if it was a cam-chain problem, this would be evident as a loud ticking, from idle speed through the rev range, becoming a faster (maybe louder?) ticking noise as the revs increase. It is normally, but not exclusivly, limited to either the front or rear cylinder. My dad had a listen down a screwdriver when I mentioned the buzzy noise to check there was no foul play - he couldnt hear anything out of the ordinary, and a subsequent check of the tensioners while the valve clearances were being done revealed nothing either.