Hornet 600 problem
 

Just throwing this on here for my flatmate, as he can't get to our mechanic for the next 4 days as he's on holiday (mechanic on holiday? Shouldn't they be here all year round?!).

He's noticed a vibration in the engine when above 70mph, which makes the bike uncomfortable over long-range rides. He thinks it's coming from the bottom of the bike.

Today he put the bike on the sidestand in the garage, started to walk away and it curiously toppled over and bent the gear-lever. This resulted in him dragging me out to help him get it straightened (bearing in mind that I've got a possibly-broken wrist!), as he needs it tomorrow for the first day of his new job. In the course of doing this, I noticed that when the bike's in neutral with the clutch in, the engine is the only noise. When you let the clutch out, there's a noise like something's catching in the engine...which you can also feel throughout the bike. I feel the two symptoms may be related.

He also states that the neutral vibration/noise only happens once the engine's up to temperature - when it's just been fired up it's fine.

Any ideas?

Re: Hornet 600 problem
 

when the clutch is engaged part of the gearbox is spinning too, hence the additional noise

i'd wager it fell off the stand because he didn't put it down fully

all engines vibrate differently at different rpm, the SV does it at ~5k, over 70mph = motorway cruising = bored = notice things you missed before

Re: Hornet 600 problem
 

I think the main problem is that its a hornet... ;-)

Re: Hornet 600 problem
 

It's not a noise that was there previously, though - I know, I rode the bike a bit when he first got it :)

Equally, the vibrations used to be fine (he used to do 300 round-mile trips no problems), but recently he can't do more than 90 miles without getting battered by the vibes

Re: Hornet 600 problem
 

sounds like it's falling apart, are you sure it's not a suzuki;)

Re: Hornet 600 problem
 

Does he say its a new vibration or has he not had it long. Another thing that it could be is that he has lost a bar end weight.

Re: Hornet 600 problem
 

It better not be falling apart - he's almost as broke as me as it is :) Unfortunately his new job means riding it every day, which I'm sure is going to put him in a bad mood as he's falling out of love with it. I TOLD him to get an SV ;)

The vibration's new - had it since early March and done approx. 4000 miles on it. Bar-ends are both present and accounted for, nothing on the bike's physically changed as far as he can tell.

Re: Hornet 600 problem
 

Balance the carbs/TB's, then see what it's doing. Check the oil, chain tension and health etc.