I have noticed ever since I bought my bike that it sometimes will make this faint chirpping sound. At first I thought maybe it was just chain noise but I don't think that's it.

I only hear this sound when leaving from a complete stop and under load. Like pulling from a hill, leaned over turning or something more than just straight flat ground. It doesn't do it always or at least I can't hear it everytime. It's pretty faint but the best I can describe the sound is like a little metal bird chirping or cricket kind of noise. It seems to come from under the bike, not the motor or trans but like a valve, butterfly or something under the bike. I seem to notice it more if I'm turning to the left for whatever reason. I guess it could be chain noise and that would explain hearing it better when leaning to the left but I swear the sound is emitting from under the bike rather than behind and to the left side.

I will try and capture the sound using my GoPro suctioned down low on the fairing or something. Just wondering if anyone else has heard this faint sound on their bike as well. It doesn't sound like a harmful kind of sound but I'm just curious what it is. I usually ride with ear buds anyways but yesterday I did a quick ride to a friend without ear buds and it reminded me to post this thread as I heard the sound again.

An aftermarket exhaust or earplugs usually solves all the noise issues bikes have...

LOL for sure they do . I normally ride with my noise canceling Skullcandy ear buds

I was just wondering if anyone else has heard a similar sound on their bike.

Could it be the rubber cushdrive in the rear wheel?

This lump makes a lot of cam chain and CCT noise.

Not cam chain or CCT. I'm well versed in that noise from past bikes haha. It is not a metallic clitck or tap sound but more like a little bird chirp sound, if that makes any sense lol. Maybe the bike injested Tweety?

I've heard that as a precursor to the "chirpy" chain issue. When was the last time you lubed up?

Originally Posted by d L

I've heard that as a precursor to the "chirpy" chain issue. When was the last time you lubed up?

LOL this thread could get nasty

It did it when new which had that thick wax smothered all on it so I doubt it was the chain but hell, it could of been I suppose. However I'm pretty keen on what a dry chain sounds like as I ride dirt bikes and those things get dry pretty quick due to the conditions we ride in. But who knows lol

Mine was making a weird squeaking noise that turned out to be my chain. Even after lubing it up good... oh yeah, real good...
Uh, what was I saying? Oh yeah. lol
Seriously, someone else posted a thread about the same sort of squeaking I was hearing and I posted that a good proper lubrication of the chain took care of it. Several people agreed. I don't believe the OP of that thread ever verified one way or the other on his result.
I had recently lubed the chain before I had the issue. Clearly not well enough. Issue all gone now.
dL may be right in that you may be hearing the beginning of same.

OK, I will lube her till she's drippin' wet


..you know...to see if the sound goes away

You know you've gotten the job done when she finally shuts up -- we're still talking about chains here right?

Originally Posted by Black Sheep

An aftermarket exhaust or earplugs usually solves all the noise issues bikes have...

Or just riding faster.

Mine makes a god awful sound if you do a high RPM clutch sliding launch. I think it's clutch chatter.

As far as these other comments...

I think its the same sound I'm hearing. Under load first gear off idle till about 4.5 5k. Chirping rattle. I believe it's ping in the headers. Or spark knock (detonation ) I'm pretty good with engines and I'm almost certain its knock.

Can you try recording it? When normally accelerating from a stop or very low speed I sometimes hear a sound (through my ear plugs), which I considered normal, kind of a trebly fluttering which reminds me of my Mitsu Eclispse turbo spinning up.