ST1300 Engine noise
- Thread starter Hondatechnut12
- Start date
Can't say I did. I will pay attention on my way home this evening.
My bike with 114,000km sounds and feels very sweet when rolling but does have a decent clutch rattle at idle. The clutch sound reduces substantially with the clutch pulled in. I replaced a bushing and needle bearing on my VTR1000F clutch and that was quite an improvement for noise reduction, are there any easily/normally replaced parts in the 1300 clutch that might reduce the noise? Other than the noise the clutch works perfectly well with a decent engagement band and no slip.
No vibration in the hands or tank. Just the feet.
This is a really interesting thread for me. I had a much-loved 2002 ST1100 -- but it was lost to a silly driver making a fast u-turn without looking or signaling. I also have a '93 VFR750, and the old ST and the VFR were (are) smooth as could be.
To replace the ST1100, I just bought a 2017 ST1300 police bike with 1200 miles on it. It is a gorgeous bike! However, I quickly noticed that above 4000 rpm, the foot pegs buzz and the mirrors vibrate. A couple mechanics have said, yes it seems a little buzzy, but it's within acceptable limits. Still...
I've been wondering if this counter-balance adjustment might help. Some articles say it's more of a solution for noise and rattle at idle. Mine seems to idle fine. It's just going over 4000 rpm sets things buzzing. The 4k buzz occurs whether I'm on the road in any gear or stopped in neutral.
I should note that the new bike had come with oversized after-market foot pegs; I was given the originals when I picked up the bike. When I put the originals back on recently, the problem was greatly reduced, at least in the feet. Something about the weight made them resonate, I think. But there's still room for improvement. As I mentioned, over that 4k threshold, the mirrors make traffic behind me look blurred, and my experience with other Hondas tells me something's not quite right.
Has anyone gotten improvement from this adjustment on higher rev buzz/vibration? I may as well go ahead and do the adjustment. Can't hurt.... (famous last words). I'll post results.
To replace the ST1100, I just bought a 2017 ST1300 police bike with 1200 miles on it. It is a gorgeous bike! However, I quickly noticed that above 4000 rpm, the foot pegs buzz and the mirrors vibrate. A couple mechanics have said, yes it seems a little buzzy, but it's within acceptable limits. Still...
I've been wondering if this counter-balance adjustment might help. Some articles say it's more of a solution for noise and rattle at idle. Mine seems to idle fine. It's just going over 4000 rpm sets things buzzing. The 4k buzz occurs whether I'm on the road in any gear or stopped in neutral.
I should note that the new bike had come with oversized after-market foot pegs; I was given the originals when I picked up the bike. When I put the originals back on recently, the problem was greatly reduced, at least in the feet. Something about the weight made them resonate, I think. But there's still room for improvement. As I mentioned, over that 4k threshold, the mirrors make traffic behind me look blurred, and my experience with other Hondas tells me something's not quite right.
Has anyone gotten improvement from this adjustment on higher rev buzz/vibration? I may as well go ahead and do the adjustment. Can't hurt.... (famous last words). I'll post results.
- Joined
- May 27, 2021
- Messages
- 1,163
- Age
- 64
- Location
- Coquitlam British Columbia Canada
- Bike
- 2009 ST1300
My 09 has been smooth as silk; I think it's actually a bit of a complaint with some people how boringly singer sewing machine smooth these things are; the first [brand new one] I ever drove out of Carter Honda in I think 02 in the rain, Spanish banks, provided so little feedback via pegs or grips or sound I could only tell the rear was slipping a bit when it got away sideways a wee bit; there is no vibration that I can detect.
aniwack
Site Supporter
No that’s an ECU failure.
Ok guys... I need to revisit this thread and looking for suggestions if anyone's seen this before. I recently picked up an older rally bike. An '03 with 208K miles. I'm starting to go through the bike and freshening it up.
The gear howl from the counterbalancers is very loud. I've loosened the pinch bolt's, pried open the arm's and let them soak for several hours with penetrant. The upper adjustment shaft took some work, but broke free and is totally loose in the holder. However, the lower adjusting shaft won't budge. It's free in the holder arm, but seized in the engine. I've removed the shaft holder, soaked the shaft, cracked it pretty good with a hammer, had a wrench on my giant flathead, and it still won't move/budge either way. There appears to be a sealing washer/o-ring in the front cover for the balancer shaft? Anyone see this, before I really start heaving on the lower shaft and bring in the heavy artillery?
The gear howl from the counterbalancers is very loud. I've loosened the pinch bolt's, pried open the arm's and let them soak for several hours with penetrant. The upper adjustment shaft took some work, but broke free and is totally loose in the holder. However, the lower adjusting shaft won't budge. It's free in the holder arm, but seized in the engine. I've removed the shaft holder, soaked the shaft, cracked it pretty good with a hammer, had a wrench on my giant flathead, and it still won't move/budge either way. There appears to be a sealing washer/o-ring in the front cover for the balancer shaft? Anyone see this, before I really start heaving on the lower shaft and bring in the heavy artillery?
Never mind... I got it. My giant 1/2" drive ratchet, extension and a 1/2" flat drive socket. That thing was stuck! Took a lot of effort, but I was able to break it free. I worked it back and forth gingerly until it was totally freed up. Both adjustments are done. The top one was tighter than a banjo string and the lower was just slightly out by one graduation.
Looking for a thread in which to share my recent experience. This one seems as good as any.
When I bought my 2007 ST13 in the spring of 2007, I did the balance shaft adjustment right away. I was coming from an ultra smooth K75S and hoped I could make the ST's engine a little smoother. I really don't remember what the perceived results were. I remember riding it home from the dealer thinking "this thing's like a tractor".
Fast forward 15 years and 165k miles and ... a few days ago I did my normal pre-ride routine of starting the bike, and then going back in the house to suit up (returning a few minutes later). When I returned the engine was really whiny sounding. At first it sounded like it was coming from the back of the engine so I thought it could be the fuel pump (that I replaced at around 112k). But it varied with engine speed and the pump sounded normal when running before thumbing the starter button. So I searched this site and was reminded of the balance shaft adjustment. I did the adjustment the next day and the problem is now gone.
What's strange is that the whining appeared rather suddenly (or seemed to) after such a long period. I did a 6k mile trip in September (with no excessive whining), then the bike sat for around 3 weeks. Then I did a 250-ish mile day last weekend and didn't notice anything, but after the cold start, the earplugs went in - so it could have been whining when I returned from that ride. I always start the bike cold with no helmet or earplugs. So the takeaway should be - don't discount the balance shafts as the source of engine noise (whining or rattle). It's such a quick and easy procedure.
When I bought my 2007 ST13 in the spring of 2007, I did the balance shaft adjustment right away. I was coming from an ultra smooth K75S and hoped I could make the ST's engine a little smoother. I really don't remember what the perceived results were. I remember riding it home from the dealer thinking "this thing's like a tractor".
Fast forward 15 years and 165k miles and ... a few days ago I did my normal pre-ride routine of starting the bike, and then going back in the house to suit up (returning a few minutes later). When I returned the engine was really whiny sounding. At first it sounded like it was coming from the back of the engine so I thought it could be the fuel pump (that I replaced at around 112k). But it varied with engine speed and the pump sounded normal when running before thumbing the starter button. So I searched this site and was reminded of the balance shaft adjustment. I did the adjustment the next day and the problem is now gone.
What's strange is that the whining appeared rather suddenly (or seemed to) after such a long period. I did a 6k mile trip in September (with no excessive whining), then the bike sat for around 3 weeks. Then I did a 250-ish mile day last weekend and didn't notice anything, but after the cold start, the earplugs went in - so it could have been whining when I returned from that ride. I always start the bike cold with no helmet or earplugs. So the takeaway should be - don't discount the balance shafts as the source of engine noise (whining or rattle). It's such a quick and easy procedure.
Well I just did this adjustment on my new to me 2005 ST with 19500 miles on it. Before and aft pics posted.
What drove me to this was chasing this faint growl beneath the marvelous Gorge Jetson ship purr. AND yes best way to describe the growl was it sounded like ships engines below the deck with a cyclical humm.
Previously the engine ran butter smooth through about 5k rpm and after there was a harshness to the engine that made you shift at that point. No way was the experience the same butter smooth after 4800-5000.
Upon startup and warmup the ships engines humm is completely gone. Smoothness while revving stationary extends all the way through the RPM range - night and day different. Pouring rain now can't wait to run through the revs on the road.
key message I it does effect the smoothness not just the sound ( no placebo perceptions going on on this)
What drove me to this was chasing this faint growl beneath the marvelous Gorge Jetson ship purr. AND yes best way to describe the growl was it sounded like ships engines below the deck with a cyclical humm.
Previously the engine ran butter smooth through about 5k rpm and after there was a harshness to the engine that made you shift at that point. No way was the experience the same butter smooth after 4800-5000.
Upon startup and warmup the ships engines humm is completely gone. Smoothness while revving stationary extends all the way through the RPM range - night and day different. Pouring rain now can't wait to run through the revs on the road.
key message I it does effect the smoothness not just the sound ( no placebo perceptions going on on this)
