Strange noise in 6th gear

Was riding to work this morning on my 2004 bike when I noticed what appears to be a strange sound that only shows up in 6th gear. Difficult to describe, but maybe like almost a mechanical hiss/scrape, maybe a noise you would associate with an unlubricated set of gears operating at a high speed, or a bike chain scraping on something as it moves.

This only occurs in top gear and only when I give the bike some throttle, but it always occurs.

Don't know if its associated, but the bike tends to lurch forward when I let the clutch out after engaging a gear. This is more a mechanical lurch than a throttle surge. The whole gear engagement thing feels a little delicate and has to be done carefully when traveling at lower speeds.

I bought the bike last week and this is only the second time I have ridden it. The first time was riding it back from where I bought it, and that was done with earplugs, so it is possible that it was making the sound but I was not hearing it.

Your insight would be welcome.

 

Michael is your chain adjusted? not saying that this is the issue, I actually have no idea where to even start...

 

Checked the chain when I got home and there does not appear to be a significantly excess amount of play. Can't figure out why it only happens in 6th.

 

Dumb idea, but that is what I do best. Maybe it is helmet noise that is only loud enough to notice at that speed. Just an idea.

 

Not dumb at all because that went through my mind at first so I slowed down to make sure that that was not the problem. It is the type of noise that you could mistake for something like that.

 

Front fender/fairing whistle then?

 

may be is time to change the oil.

 

As simple that might sound that could be the solution. The clutch uses the motorcycle oil as lubricant and over time oil breaks down. Maybe the previous owner didn't change the oil often enough. I recommend AMSOIL AMSOIL - Synthetic Oil, Motor and Engine Oil, Lubricants, Air Filters, Oil Filters and Greases Pretty good stuff though a little pricey but I think it's worth it.

 

I like simple. Going to clean and re-lube the chain, maybe tighten it a bit and then change the oil. Will let you know if that had any effect.

 

I like that idea. Since in 6th the load is less that's where IMO you find the chain slack may show up in noise. If it is loose you may find that it eliminates any kicks during your shifts.

 

Thanks to everyone for their responses and suggestions.

I cleaned and lubed the chain this morning and re-checked the slack. Seemed somewhat loose so tightened it and took the bike out and still had the noise. Tightened the slack a little more than recommended (probably 3/4" -- maybe just a tad more) and took the bike out and still had the noise, though it did not appear to be as loud and take-up was much less abrupt.

For the past 25 years I have had 3 bikes and they have all bee shaft-drive. What I am staring to think is that I'm just not used to a little chain noise and the potential change in that noise that different loads can produce. Jason, your explanation helped a lot in understanding why the noise appears only in 6th.

 

Old thread, but did you find what caused this sound? I have exactly the same issue on my 5th gen, it only occurs in 6th gear and only when I give the bike some throttle. The sound is quite low, but noticeable. The chain is perfectly adjusted, the oil and filter changed about 2000 km ago (Motul 300V 10W-40).

 

sounds like bad chain, they don't have to have that many miles to be worn out-most over looked problem is the chain

 

time to get this

 

The chain is good, driven only 3000 km/2000 miles. An if it was the chain, then there would be the same sound in the other gears, at least 5th gear. As the TS, it only occurs in 6th gear and only when I give the bike some throttle. The sound is there regardless of the speed. I've read some threads and it seems like many others have the same issue on 5th and 6th gen VFR, but is it normal?

 

I also noticed the same sound in 6th, started last month. Sounds like a bearing noise to me.

 

My 6th gen makes a hissing sound during light throttle application in 6th, sometimes it sounds like a brake pad dragging the front rotor though...im not sure what that sound really is but i hear it as well. My bike still makes this horrid sound like it had knobby 4x4 tires roaring, you can only hear it when you pull in the clutch while coasting.

 

Both of my 5th gens had/have this noise. With experimentation, I could get it to happen in lower gears too. The only thing that I coul put it down to is combustion noise (it's there with a brand new, perfectly adjusted chain, so forget about that! People are clutching at straws!). I just ignore it.

 

I adjusted and oiled my very loose and dry chain and it seems like the sound has gone away....