86 vf500 bike makes weird noise

I took the girl out for a ride started easy engine souds good when idling and revving. When i get into third at 7-8 thousand it makes a loud squelling noise from the front of the bike radiator area, it doesnt stop until i come to almost a complete stop. Anyone have any clue as to what this is?

 

:welcome:


Any noises are a concern, loud sounds most especially.


As a first post from a disappointed and confused VF500 rider, this one closely resembles so very many similar posts we've seen in a long catalog of frustrations (too many youthful) over the years when a VF500 makes noises or refuses to make any noises at all. Great bike when running, few left now in good nick. Most in parts in boxes under benches or left out behind garden sheds for the new millenium to rescue.

The noise you hear may be normal for a soon-t0-expire engine or nothing serious if you're a very good boy with fortune on your side. May be a bad radiator bearing or a thousand other items.


Shall we place our bets, lads, which this is, a running project or a parts bike ???

Pity the poor sod who buys a cheap VF500 before he's been to this site !!!!!

And thanks, bikerman, for both joining our association (now git yer feet under the table !) and for a peaceful northern border.

 

I am new to the sport bike world but ive been riding motorcross for most of my life, i bought this bike about in august. I got way to excited when i saw it and i didnt notice most of the issues while test riding ( amateur). Luckly there werent any MAJOR problems, the carbs were missing springs(who knows how that happens) which caused it to back fire when low gear engine breaking. The rear shock was also blown and i beleive the brake lines need to be replaced the head sterring bearrings are gone aswell and obviously the fork seals were gone which was pretty much the only thing i noticed upon inspection. I brought it to a private mechanic to get the carbs cleaned, she said the engine sounded great and i was also the only she knew whos has a vf500 (which i thought was cool cause she goes to all sorts of bike shows). She rode nice after i got the carbs cleaned and tuned until the noise started. Thanks for the reply bikerman23

 

Sounds like a speedo cable to me. Take it off at the wheel and pull the inner snake for a test.

 

I hope it is something that simple I red up in my manual and it described the sound pretty good and said it could be a compression leak from the head gasket or spark plugs, But I don't think that's the problem cause if this were to happen there wouldn't be much go in her which there is plenty of. It so happens that I replaced the head bearings yesterday, and when I took it for ride it didn't make the noise which just realized now ill have to wait until I get home to make sure. Thanks for the help, Bikerman23

 

Fixing the carbs may have over-stressed the engine. Mechanical knocking, if any, usually spells disaster. Speedometer cable makes a whirrrrring nose when needing lube, and that could be your noise.

Compression leaks make a puffing sound.

Knackered head-set bearings will make a clicking sound when you're using the front brake just before you stop.

Carefully remove all spark plugs and see if one is different from the others in colour.


Motocross riders usually have all the skills to ride a VFR well, though the weight is vastly different.

 

I checked my spark plugs and one of them was a lot cleaner and newer looking then the others, the rest of them were in good condition considering they were replaced about 600-700 km ago.

Motocross taught me the basics riding sport bikes but i'm still working on my counter steering and cornering lots left too learn! and i'm glad i get to do it on an Intercepor.