Engine trouble... awaiting diagnosis

[furious_blue_imp]

Until someone posts a video or audio clip of what sound they are referring to, it's premature to think 'oh my god, my bike is making a noise too, it's falling apart !'. Same thing happened early on in the CBR250R forums.. Someone hears some fairing rattling and thinks their bike is ready to explode. Everyone else layers on top of that their pet sound and concludes that their bike is suffering 'the same thing'. All this while no actual sound clip as been posted so the tendency is to think that everyone is referring to the same sound (and imminent mechanical disaster)...

If it were a bearing going bad, based on the few that I've heard, the sound would be so loud that it would be as if someone were striking the engine cases with a hammer, *hard*, not just tapping gently.

I hope that's not what you're hearing !

[Bbref36_imp]

I've noticed a noise on my bike that I thought could be the valves. It can be heard as a clicking that occurs just as you begin to twist the throttle. After some research, I've come to attribute this to the fuel injection system. This is the first fuel injected bike that I've ridden and I have to admit to not being familiar with such things.

As far as the rattling goes, I'll be interested to hear what your dealer discovers. I noticed once when cleaning my bike that a small rock had become trapped down in the area where all four headers join. I wasn't expecting to find it there, but I could see how it might happen every now and then. Don't know if it's happened to anyone else here or not, but I could see where that could make some noise as well.

I heard the same noise and grabbed the service manager at the shop I work at immediately. He listened and said it was the injectors. I trust his judgement and it sounds like your research has confirmed his diagnosis.

[arefog_imp]

I also have what I believe to be injector noise. Having owned many injected bikes where the noise, if any, was less pronounced, I was a bit concerned at first. I think (hope) it is just the fact that the bike is so quiet that relatively soft sounds that would be masked on most bikes are hearable on the CB1100. Of course, I'm often humming with joy while astride my CB, which hides the clicking.

[Obliviontoad]

So... what I am hearing is the fix to this is, a louder exhaust?

Seriously tho. My last Honda was a Shadow RS that was fuel injected,and it had the same kinda wheedling noise at low acceleration that this bike has. Just a characteristic noise from the FI systems. I have been paying more attention to mine as I read these threads, and haven't noticed much change except my exhaust getting louder.

I certainly hope any actual issues with your rides will get the attention they deserve. As they have been on the market a few years now, one would think the bugs would be out. Or perhaps they did something to Americanize them that is causing this issue.

[SUPERCRUZ_imp]

These bikes run like swiss watches. Any kind or rattling or excessive valve noise is not normal. Good luck with your issue. I am sure Honda will put it right for you.

[Guth_imp]

So jodyz, have you heard any news regarding a diagnosis?

[old blue_imp]

Darn !!

The makings of a great mystery, and someone tore the last pages out of the magazine leaving to wonder what
happened....

mike

[FUZZY_imp]

Jodyz! What's goin on with your bike?

[oldyaler_imp]

Inquiring minds want to know.

[jodyz_imp]

I've avoided this forum the the past couple weeks because I didn't want to post anything until I knew something more. I got my bike back from the dealer a few days after dropping it off. They could not reproduce what I was hearing. Since I mostly heard it while riding at speed (40+mph), I was convinced by the dealer, and eventually myself, that what I was hearing were normal noises, license plate/bracket clatter, or paranoid delusions. Well... no more. After the bike sat for 8 hours in the +95 degree heat of east Texas, I insert the key, hit the starter... it fires up with a clatter/rattle plain as day. I quickly grabbed my iPhone from the tank bag and recorded the noise (held the phone about 1 foot away from the left side of the engine case). I rev'd it a bit, and the rattle increased/decreased along with the rpms. This was the first time I actually heard it clearly without my helmet on and the bike idling. I drove the bike to the dealer (30miles away) figuring that if the rattle is damaging anything, it's long ago done whatever it was going to do. Road normally, and I still heard the rattle/clanking noise at different speeds up until the wind noise overpowered any odd engine sounds. Of course, when I pull into the dealer, the service manager (good guy; very knowledgable as far as I can tell) listens to the bike but it just sounds normal (loud, mechanical sewing machine sounds). He listens to my recording on the iPhone speaker and agrees that something sounds wrong. So, he will start the bike in the morning and try to diagnose the problem IF he hears the same sound. At this point, I don't want to bring the bike home until they find the issue.

( I've tried to upload the .m4a file from my iPhone but it didn't work. Converted file to .wav and it still won't show in the post. Must only allow images)