Weird grinding noise

I just bought a really nice '98 VFR800 the other day and I notice a weird grinding noise coming from in front of the tank. It only does it with the clutch in . I notice the noise as I'm coming to a stop and while I'm stopped with the clutch in. The noise is intermittent. I can make the noise occur if I engage the clutch and disengage quick back and forth. Almost sounds like plastic gears grinding. The clutch works great and the engine sounds good. Like I say the noise sounds to be coming from down in the opening in front of the tank not where the clutch is. I talked to a guy that had a '99 yesterday and he said his has done it from new. Doesn't sound good to me. Any ideas. The bike has 24k on it and it is bone stock.

By the way, great site. I'm looking forward to spending some time on it.

Mike

 

the 98 came with a Gear Cam instead of chain, i think you are hearing that.

 

Hey there Mike,
Haven't been on the site in a while and happened upon your posting. I have a 2000 model VFR, so same Gen as yours and it too makes the "crunching plastic noise" that you speak of when the clutch is in.
Unfortunately I cant tell you why it does that or if its good or bad, but I would love to know if you get any concrete info about it.

Good luck and enjoy your VFR!
James.

 

Could be head bearings failing. How does the bike steer. I would just get on the bike and steer the bike from a stationary positing and see if it still makes the noise. If it does then head bearings are shot. Got to All Balls and order tapered ones.

 

No it's not bearings because it does it when the bars are stationary. Also not the cams I'm aware of that noise. Thats a cool sounding noise, this is not. I'm going to have a mechanic look at it. When I find out what it is I will post. I have talked to two people that have heard the same noise so at least I know I'm not crazy.

 

Whining noise is the cam gears. Sounds just like a toy with plastic gears & motor and you spin them faster than the motor is suppose to. If you hear a ticking noise that quit isn't metallic than its probably the flapper in the air box opening/closing.



Or it could be the clutch relay switch.

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/uff_eLF8ji1wEIIfNBiYig?feat=directlink