Hey guys, a couple days ago I road the 954 to a buddys house. Ended up washing it and I was pushing it back out so I could leave and I started hearing a clunk/pop noise coming from around the front sprocket area. I rode it home uneventful and put it in the garage. I started to move it and it started knocking real bad, sounded similar to a rod knock in a car. So yesterday I put it on the stand and ran it and it is still making the noise just not as loud. Chain is lubed and tight, and the wheel is tracking straight. Trans does shift a little hard on the 1-2, I am running mobil 1 synthetic and there is about 4300 miles on the bike. Should I be concerned or just ride it till it gets worse?

how is your oil level?
and did you hose it down when it was real hot?
also have you ever washed this bike the same way you just did?
was it running like shit besides the loud clunking noise?
is it shifting harder than normal from 1st to second? than it used to?
and is that noise only coming forth when you have it in gear and move it or does it happen at stand still?
do I have enough questions for you?















LOL

Oil is good, was just changed last month.
It was around 120 or so when I washed it.
I have washed it the same way ever since I bought it and never had a problem.
Seemed to be running just fine minus the noise.
It does seem to be shifting a little harder than what it has been. Its hard to tell as I havent been able to ride it much in the past month, but I have tried to at least take it out twice a week.
And you can hear the noise with it in gear with the clutch in and rolling, in neutral rolling, with the kickstand up or down. When I had it on the stand I put it in 2nd 3rd and 4th and I couldnt really hear it in 3rd or 4th. I tried to keep the speed and rpms about the same in all the gears.
Please I need more questions!!! :)

lol. ok then...besides don't ride it anymore until this gets narrowed down...

have you checked the oil level in the window?
does the bike Run the same or ride the same despite the clunking?
with only having less than 5k on it I am assuming your sprockets are in decent shape?
are you sure the chain doesn't have any binding links in it?
have you flossed today or in the past year?!
jfwy?
yes.
when shifting it while on the stand do you feel any clicking in the shifter between gears?
can I think of any more questions for you?... uhhh nope not right now... :P
ahh! Yes!
have you proposed this dilema to a bunch of other honda forums yet?
(because maybe someone else has had this problem)
HSBN is a good start (http://pub127.ezboard.com/bhondasportbikenetwork)

lol. ok then...besides don't ride it anymore until this gets narrowed down...

have you checked the oil level in the window?
Yes it is full, and fine.

does the bike Run the same or ride the same despite the clunking?
As far as I can tell, I just tried to limp it home cause I didnt want to take any chances.

with only having less than 5k on it I am assuming your sprockets are in decent shape?
I havent looked closely at them but at first glance I didnt see anything wrong. It looks as if the chain is almost rubbing the swingarm near the front sprocket? I have a new 15t for the front I need to put on.


are you sure the chain doesn't have any binding links in it?
I will double check.

have you flossed today or in the past year?!
Whats Floss???
jfwy?
yes.
when shifting it while on the stand do you feel any clicking in the shifter between gears?
Cant remember but I will try again.

can I think of any more questions for you?... uhhh nope not right now... :P
ahh! Yes!
have you proposed this dilema to a bunch of other honda forums yet?
(because maybe someone else has had this problem)
HSBN is a good start (http://pub127.ezboard.com/bhondasportbikenetwork)
No I havent but I will. I am leaving for Texas tomorrow, so this will have to wait till I get back but keep the ideas and suggestions coming. I would like to ride when I get back so I can finish wearing out the original tires. :eek:

lol...

nice one bro!. 8)
I'll be gone for a while so someone else needs to jump in on this.

Have fun in TX!

sounds to me like the chain is too tight. chains don't wear evenly like you would think and even though you have the correct amount of slack when you check it in one spot, roll the tire a little and i bet you will see it get tighter and even looser in spots. try loosening it up a bit, if that doesn't help, as crazy as it sounds, it might be time for a new chain and sprockets. :?

Do you have enough clutch fluid?

doesn't the 954 have a cable clutch????????????

It does, but it hydrolic and takes fluid to run properly. Same as a manual car. If fluid runs out then the car/bike won't work properly. Just making a suggestion.

I'm with cbrjimmy on this. I've tightened my chain in the past correctly in one spot, but once rolled the chain got seriously tight and would make a popping noise. Kinda freaky.
Probably time for a new chain.

Totally agree that it is the chain that is too tight. I do it every time as i like the chain a little tighter than most. I do find that the 954 needs the chain looser than most bikes. Maybe its due to the pivot point for the swingarm differing from the pivot point for the chain, hence when you get on the bike and compress the suspension the chain tightens more.