The gear noise you hear is normal. The traditional straight cut gears (lower set in photo) create that signature quick-change whine. Helical cut gears (top of photo) make less noise. The Vulcan uses straight cut gears. I have read for racing a straight cut gear gives much less friction and power loss and a quicker shift. Second picture is photo of Vulcan gearbox. I am not a Motorcycle mechanic so this is the best explanation I can give you.

 

Nice......... less friction = less wear, no? I'll take the noise anyday.

 

Thank you for the quick response. I am glad the noise is normal well would rather it wasnt there .

 

As someone who has just went from a Honda to a Vulcan this was great to know! Was wondering the same thing myself.

 

I'd be interested in your thoughts comparing the Honda to the Vulcan....after you own the beast for a while.

 

Two years into owning my nine....I have come to realize that Kawi made/makes the noisiest, clunkiest, whirring, popping, clicking, TICKING, scuffing, rubbing, rattling machines on the road. To say it has "character" is an understatement. I love the bike, and ergonomically speaking, it fits me like the proverbial glove, but, have no doubt....it has got to be the most "unrefined" cruiser out there.

 

+ f'n 1. My wife's new Shadow has smoother shifts, no engine noise, has great-sounding exhaust, and will run 3 blocks with the fuel petcock in the "off" pos (not pertinent, just interesting). But despite all that, I'll take my noisy, clicky, ticky, whirring, whining Vulcan any day of the week.

Plus that Shadow ain't got no damn fuel gauge. Whose idea was that?!

 

With that said somebody told me once you break the 1000 CC barrier you will have a hard time going back and i can see why.

is that wife size or motor size HAHAHA

 

Well as they say more cushion for pushin! LOL!

 

I've had both a 1100 cc Shadow and a new 1800 cc Goldwing. I love the light weight, better fuel mileage, and the floor boards on the 900 LT. My biggest gripe is the transmission noise. But if it don't break I can live with it!

 

I agree its a noisy beast, but a motorcycle shouldn't sound like or drive like a car. I love my 09 Classic with all of its noises, feels and sounds like I'm driving a motorcycle which is exactly what I wanted when I bought it.

 

I must say the noise relay hadn't bothered me. I just wanted to be sure it was a norma Vulcan noise.

 

I know that sound DW, my 07-900 classic developed the same just lately, the bike has only 18000ks so I doubt it is something wrong, actually it sounds a bit like "moaning" and yes I realize by saying that some of you guys will start joking about it as there is a lot of humour on this forum, but I will just put it down as the bike enjoying me riding her...It will go for the 18000ks service on monday anyway.

 

Let us know what mechanic says the noise is all about?

 

Definitely let us know if they have anything to say about the noise during your checkup.

 

Actually they had nothing to say about it.
Well, what do you expect from a big Harley bike place?
The service was a set price including parts.
I told them to look at some specific issues i.e.:
I asked them to look at the clutch setting, they did not.
I asked them about the belt being too tight, they did not.
I asked them about the strange " whu whu moaning " noise, they did not.
So I have nothing to say expect that I will not worry about it, it must be
one of those vulcan things, I will keep a check on it.

 

If the drive belt is too tight, which seem to be typical for Kawasaki's assembly plant, the bike will have a deep whirring sound on deceleration. It can get quite loud depending on the speed of the rear wheel. This is not to be confused with the sound of the gearbox and it's straight cut gears.

 

Sojourner, you seem to have a wide experience with bike engineering and always give pertinent educated advice, you say that they always are too tight, is there any simple way to tell if the belt is too tight?
Like feeling it with a couple of fingers...
I have checked the belt on a colleague new HD Sporster 800 it seems to give a bit more than mine.

 

Glad to hear it's a normal noise. My 2009 Lt. didn't start whu whuing till a month ago. 5000 mi on it. At least I didn't notice it. I would shut the bike off and coast it, thought a front wheel bearing was going.

 

And I thought I was the only one with the WHU WHUING noise!!!
I also thought it was something bad from the front wheel.
Now I tend to think it is belt related but will not worry about it
as before.

 

I was thinking a little fish scale might work for this. Maybe Wally World might have one you could make work? I wouldn't think pushing or pulling would make any difference in the reading of deflection of the belt at that point.

 

Thanks for the advice Sojourner, I think I can manage that, will get one of those "belt pusher".

 

I have a terrible mistrust of all motorcycle dealers. Since they are fewer and farther between I feel like they have you over a barrel more so than car repair shops. Anyways since I was at the 600 mile mark on my Nomad and the dealer I bought it from was 80 miles away I called up a tiny little local Kawa dealer where the owner is the mechanic and he has only two other employees. I have dealt with him before and he seems pretty good but I am always suspicious anyway.
He did the 600 mile service and unlike most dealers who ignore the noises you report he is certain something is abnormal because the tranny shifts with such a clunk in all the gears. Doesnt shift hard or anything just a pronounced clunk, and the one other 1700 he has ridden (Vaquero) did not clunk like that. Says he is going to call Kawasaki about it becasue he does not think it is right. I am not convinced anything is wrong and not sure even if Kawasaki tells him to fix it I want him too....(the mistrust thing again)
On a plus note if he calls Kawasaki and they may just "tag" the vin number that he has reported what he thinks is an abnormal noise at 600 miles so if the trans grendades down the road there is record of his concerns.
I would be curious what you folks think? Part of me really wonders if he figures he can just do some warranty work maybe or maybe not needed at Kawasaki's expense, or act like he is doing me such a favor and have me paranoid at the same time that I will make sure I go see him for more checkups since I ususally do my own routine stuff.

 

If in doubt get a second opinion from another motorcycle mechanic. Does this person you talked to seem experienced or is he, or she and write up person? This sounds like it could be a major repair, and you would not want to deal with other problems caused by this repair.

 

Its a very small dealership that sells more ATV's and dirtbikes than anything else but they have been around along time. The Owner is the mechanic at this particular place. I agree with the second opinion idea as I would not want him tearing into it unless it is really needed. He did call Kawasaki and report his concerns and they have it logged in for the bike and he gave me the log number.

 

I experienced the same thing when I hit about 60Km as I am slowing down. To be exact, it comes on between 40 - 60 Km. A friend who owns a HD suggested I have my oil changed to synthetic. I did and there is definitely a significant reduction in that "whining" sound!

 

I actually moved from an Honda ST1300 (2007) to the Vulcan Nomad (2009). My Honda runned as if a bunch of squirrells were spinning the motor (joke) and there was a gear whine that was very specific to that motorcycle. Yet it felt great and powerful except for my hacking back, so I moved on!
The Nomad is a great bike. Noisy, clunky, but so much more confortable. Again , one noise I can't stand is the whinning belt noise I hear at 45 Km/h and then from 80 to 90 Km/h. The dealer tried cleaning the belt (no good) then got Kawasaki to change the belt (70% better) but still much noisier than the ST1300 (taking into account the motorcycle types) I tried another identical Nomad and it was even worst (the former owner didn't seem to even hear it). So, kawasaki told the dealer to brush me off! I can live with it but it has become a permanent (if not obsessive) objective of finding a solution to make my ride better. I had tried silicone lubricant and wax on the first belt and it made even newer noises!!! I will try the poly-oil on the siodes of the belt and tweak the belt adjustment which seems to tight (I can actually feel the teeth on the belt as I back up from the garage!!!)
It could also be that I am very sensitive to high pitch sounds, which I am.
My wife told me to ride more often with a half face helmet with our scala rider headphones on the FM radio station.! She's the most reasonable of the two.

 

wakawaka, get some loud pipes. wear shorty helmet. no ear plugs. play loud music. sing along cuz you dont really kare. drink lotsa kold frosty:beer:, get old.. soon nuff you wont hear a dam thing and the world will be better place. ponchout

 

I know you're right! and the frosty helps....

 

Well my belt nosie subsided or I got used to it on my 2010 Nomad. Still a clunky shifter I just read in a motorcycle buyers guide magazine that the 2011 1700s got a revised tranny for quieter shifts.

 

I can live with it but it has become a permanent (if not obsessive) objective of finding a solution to make my ride better. I had tried silicone lubricant and wax on the first belt and it made even newer noises!!! I will try the poly-oil on the siodes of the belt and tweak the belt adjustment which seems to tight (I can actually feel the teeth on the belt as I back up from the garage!!!)
It could also be that I am very sensitive to high pitch sounds, which I am.
My wife told me to ride more often with a half face helmet with our scala rider headphones on the FM radio station.! She's the most reasonable of the two.[/QUOTE]

I could not agree more with you, I realize that i am really getting obsessed at getting rid of this little noise!!! Everything on the bike should be perfect! Hence the obsession.
And even if I succeed with getting rid this one, another thing will start...
Taking on the good advices from this forum, I started with stage 2 of debaffling my stock pipes...that will drown the stupid sound...

 

OK.. To put an end to the whining belt syndrome... Kawasaki agreed to change the whole belt drive system on my 09-Nomad. The end result is very faint whining at around 43kph ! I can live with that! Love the Bike , Love the ride, and now winter's around the corner!!! But I can still dream of next Spring!