Vibration/rattle on 08 GL 1800 Motor Trike

[Lowcountry Dave]

I just purchased an 08 GL 1800 with a 2015 Motor Trike conversion. It has 74000 miles and has been meticulously maintained by the former owner. It runs like a top but there is a vibration/rattle noise when accelerating. It sounds like it is coming from the front of the bike but I'm not 100% sure. It happens in all gears when accelerating but stops once it is at a stable speed. I'm not sure if it is something in the gearing (it doesn't do it when I rev the engine in neutral) or something in the fairing that's loose. Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[Lee H. Mann]

Check front tire for cupping ....

Sounds like it is possibly driveline related ..... u-joint ????

If it is straight axle it could also be some worn heim joints too.....

[Papa Zook]

Check front tire for cupping ....

Sounds like it is possibly driveline related ..... u-joint ????

If it is straight axle it could also be some worn heim joints too.....

The Razor models are all IRS so its not the infamous heim joint issue, but I was thinking the same thing before I looked it up Jim. Yeah, maybe a bad u-joint?..or drive shaft installed out of phase? MT did have issues with some of their drive shafts, but I thought they resolved that since 2015...

Any of those could contribute to a vibration...the resulting rattle could be any one or a number of things.

Trike Tech...you there??

[trike tech]

I'm here I think. Yesterday afternoon got a little nuts around here (plus, I don't catch this part of the forum as often as I should).

Things like this are almost never a "quick & simple" fix because there are so many things that can cause similar concerns. Sounds like you've gone through a few of the basic "checks" to help narrow it down. I know you said the bike has been meticulously maintained and I don't mean or intend to discredit that aspect, but does that mean the bike is spotless & oil changes were done every 3,000 miles; or does it mean you have service records that show coolant, brake, & clutch fluid flush along with valve adjustment checks etc? Do you know how many of the 74,000 miles are with the unit being a trike?

One thing my mind keeps going to (I know I haven't had enough coffee yet, so try to not to bash me too much) is detonation. Accelerating when riding adds load onto the motor (moving the weight of the bike), and with you describing it as a vibration/rattle from the front under those conditions makes me wonder (Maybe some of my personal experience with "wanna-be" hot rods in another life puts my mind there). Have you tried a different grade of fuel or perhaps sea foam in the fuel to see if it helps any?

Also, is the noise more noticeable within a specific RPM range, or at all rpm ranges regardless of gear position (since we've already established it's not speed related?

Once you're at a stable speed (if you wouldn't mind being specific as to what speed that is as a baseline), does the vibration come and go as you float the throttle to maintain that speed or roll slightly on throttle when going up hill?

Is this a vibration/rattle that you can physically feel, or do is it only audible or noticeable in the mirrors?

[GoldWingrGreg]

Because there is a noise and vibration involved, I'd get that drive shaft inspected immediately and go from there. CSC says it needs done every 24k.

I know you said the bike has been meticulously maintained and I don't mean or intend to discredit that aspect, but does that mean the bike is spotless & oil changes were done every 3,000 miles; or does it mean you have service records that show coolant, brake, & clutch fluid flush along with valve adjustment checks etc?

LOL ... by your screen name, I assume you really are a trike tech and have discovered the same as me. Basically, when a prior owner says "he took good care of his Wing," it pretty much means one thing to me. When the new owner bought it, it was clean and shinny, most likely it got frequent oil changes, and brakes and tires as needed .... PERIOD !!! The exception is rare, actually let me change that to this ... the exception is VERY rare.

[keepinon]

My '07 MT Adventure kit had a vibration/ buzz from underneath. I looked everywhere for that noise, finally just ignored it and continued to ride. Then one day, while servicing the drive shaft, I happened to lean on the right side muffler/pipe shield, that nice chrome part. It was loose, the nut having backed off but not come off. So I tightened it up.

Things come loose on bikes all the time, so I didn't think anything of it... but I've not had that vibration/buzz since. Just a heads up to look for "strange" things that might cause a vibration.

Good Luck