Grinding/Clicking sound when downshifting?

2wzilla

2wzilla

Well-known member
Last week I noticed some sound coming from my bike while riding. It's coming somewhere from the middle so for me it was hard to pin-point what it was.

At first I though it may be some dirt, sand, dust and ect on the front brake caliper causing the pad to rub against this stuff and cause a grinding sound.
Upon examining the front brake I found nothing. So just to be double sure I have the front wheel a good power pressure wash. After the wash the sound was
still there, eliminating the possibility of dirt/dust on the brake caliper or the brake pads or the disk. However I did noticed that my front brake pad will require a
change soon.

The second conclusion that came to mind is the clutch. There were moments where my foot slipped and did not push the gears into their correct position, and there
been moments when I'm on highway and try to shift into 6th gear while I'm at it, simply forgetting that I was in the 6th gear and thinking that I was still in 5th. I can't
say it's my downshifting as I downshift on low speeds. I gradually downshift as I drop the speed, applying the brakes. And I downshift into 2nd at about 20-30/kmph
similar as to 1st gear at around 10-20/kmph (all this while applying brake and throttle in off position)

Today I did some riding and listened carefully where the sound may be coming from. What I noticed is the following:

1 - I hear the grinding/clicking at about 50-60/kmph when I have the throttle in off position and simply having the momentum keeping my bike rolling. (NO THROTTLE APPLIED)
2 - When I'm riding and my bike hits a bump/hole in the road I also hear the similar grinding/clicking noise. There is also a burned rubber smell which is odd, unless it's the chain
causing this as its loose/stretched/worn out.

Note: My chain was apparently replaced by dealer when I got my bike. I picked up the bike with 3,300km on dash, so far it's 12,500km with no chain replacement only lubing with
Motul chain lube.

At the moment I can only assume two things:

1 - I may have broken the gears in the clutch somehow.
2 - It may be the chain not the clutch.

What would you say?
 
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I read your post with great interest and still cannot discern what the complaint is beyond information given in thread title. I suspect you feel the grinding/clicking sound is unusual and cause for concern?
 
inreb said:
I read your post with great interest and still cannot discern what the complaint is beyond information given in thread title. I suspect you feel the grinding/clicking sound is unusual and cause for concern?
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I updated the post. I'm not sure, but is there a possibility it's not the clutch gears but the chain acting up? Would some problem with the chain cause me hear noise more from the centre/under rider? And yes as you have said that grinding/clicking is making me concerned and bit paranoid.
 
How's the chain tension? Too much slack and it can make a hell of a racket.
I personally wouldn't downshift to first until you're stopped, letting the clutch out in first to engine brake can put a lot of stress on the drivetrain. Ymmv
 
Iceman said:
How's the chain tension? Too much slack and it can make a hell of a racket.
I personally wouldn't downshift to first until you're stopped, letting the clutch out in first to engine brake can put a lot of stress on the drivetrain. Ymmv
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I'm not sure about the tension. I don't know how to check it. And thank you for your advise to downshift into 1st ones I stopped. Eh. I hope I did not mess up
the drivetrain... riding the way I did for about 6-7 months. Problem with 250's is that they also jerk like crazy in 1st gear and in general, I try to transition up and down
as smoothly as possible, but that does not always happens. At times my foot slips or I don't fully engage the clutch.

I also do alot of engine braking... So it may be the drivetrain in worst case, or in best case the chain.
 
I doubt if you've done any real damage to your actual transmission. Heavy engine braking or acceleration can stretch a chain pretty quick, especially if it's a cheaper chain.
Check YouTube, there's got to be videos on how to check/adjust your chain tension. It's actually quite easy and is one of the most basic maintenance tasks there is, dive in.
My money says you get the tension right, your noise is gone.
Other thoughts, check front and rear wheel bearings while you're at it, they can make grinding/clicking sounds too.
If you're too nervous too do this, or just want someone to look at it for you to make sure it's safe, PM "Frekeyguy" on this forum. His work is impeccable and his rates are very reasonable.
 
Iceman said:
I doubt if you've done any real damage to your actual transmission. Heavy engine braking or acceleration can stretch a chain pretty quick, especially if it's a cheaper chain.
Check YouTube, there's got to be videos on how to check/adjust your chain tension. It's actually quite easy and is one of the most basic maintenance tasks there is, dive in.
My money says you get the tension right, your noise is gone.
Other thoughts, check front and rear wheel bearings while you're at it, they can make grinding/clicking sounds too.
If you're too nervous too do this, or just want someone to look at it for you to make sure it's safe, PM "Frekeyguy" on this forum. His work is impeccable and his rates are very reasonable.
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Thank you. I don't really have any tools to work on my bike so I usually take it to the dealer (Brampton Powersports). But I will PM him. Where is he around at? Toronto?
 
2wzilla said:
Thank you. I don't really have any tools to work on my bike so I usually take it to the dealer (Brampton Powersports). But I will PM him. Where is he around at? Toronto?
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If you usually go to BPS then @frekeyguy should be close to you, iirc he's in Brampton

Sent from a Samsung Galaxy far, far away using Tapatalk
 
Contact Frekeyguy.
Don't pressure wash your brake calipers...don't pressure wash anything on a bike.
6-7 months riding without a chain adjustment? Tell me that's not the case? Have you at least been lubing the damn thing?
 
JoeyB said:
Contact Frekeyguy.
Don't pressure wash your brake calipers...don't pressure wash anything on a bike.
6-7 months riding without a chain adjustment? Tell me that's not the case? Have you at least been lubing the damn thing?
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I pressure washed the stuff only 2 times, I simply take a bucket with some warm water and soap and wash the bike with a sponge and a microfiber cloth. Eh... No I have not adjusted the chain since I gotten the bike from the dealer, sadly I'm a new rider and know very little about maintenance. The dealer, motorcycle course or BPS no one ever mentioned the chain or anything, no suggestions or stuff like that, and I had them do oil change and put on fender eliminator. But I lube the chain every 2nd week with Motul chain lube.
 
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Fair enough. Do you have the owners manual and does your bike have a tool kit under the seat? If you do it should have the information you need to do basic maintenance and what intervals you should do it at. If not there are plenty of online references and videos.

As for tools, if I lived closer to you I'd let you borrow some tools if you need em. When I started I made a lot of trips to hardware stores for tools.
 
JoeyB said:
Fair enough. Do you have the owners manual and does your bike have a tool kit under the seat? If you do it should have the information you need to do basic maintenance and what intervals you should do it at. If not there are plenty of online references and videos.

As for tools, if I lived closer to you I'd let you borrow some tools if you need em. When I started I made a lot of trips to hardware stores for tools.
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I have the owner's manual, pretty basic to be honest. Would like to find a printable chart or a chart that I can make into a printable format for the services needed after X amount of kilometers. You know kind of like you have on a car where every so much KM you get this replaced, that adjusted and so on. The bike did not come with parts, I picked it up from Ready Honda and this particular bike was used (3,300km on it only prior to me), kind of sucks that they not throw in a tool kit, but it's bit too late for that and I can pick up a decent amount of tools from Amazon or get local places to price match it from Amazon.

I know the feeling, I could try to do some work on the bike myself but I lack the needed tools and I lack the stands, one of the biggest bummers to be honest is missing the stands so I can work on the bike and learn to do oil changes and stuff by myself and leave the more complex stuff for skilled professionals. But I guess it all comes with time, it's like getting a car. You get a car and then slowly build your stash of cleaning chemicals, lubes, and tools needed to work on your car. So hopefully down the road I can have all the needed stuff, and should use the 250 as a learning experience before a 600.
 
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Issue should be fixed now. Chain needed adjusting & a quick cleaning, I've shown 2wzilla how to take care of it himself - so he will be self sufficient. Offered to show him the ropes of basic maintenance, so he can do it himself.


The chain has a few tight spots, but its not critical to replace it at this point but should be done eventually. Pointed out a few more minor thing that need attention, which will get sorted next season.


Enjoy the flushmounts - very nice clean bike!!
 
frekeyguy said:
Issue should be fixed now. Chain needed adjusting & a quick cleaning, I've shown 2wzilla how to take care of it himself - so he will be self sufficient. Offered to show him the ropes of basic maintenance, so he can do it himself.


The chain has a few tight spots, but its not critical to replace it at this point but should be done eventually. Pointed out a few more minor thing that need attention, which will get sorted next season.


Enjoy the flushmounts - very nice clean bike!!
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Big thanks Frekeguy. Extremely awesome and kick *** service and it was the most fun service I ever had, being able to see work being done on the bike and having a nice convo about different bikes and things. Will recommend you to other riders without hesitation since you do care and do your work honestly. It's a shame that BPS never mentioned the things that you pointed out :( but they're not there to help you.

Ones more big thanks for the help, now I can ride knowing I did not destroy something on my bike as I was originally speculating.
 
Told ya, call Frekeyguy! :)
 
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