Just bought a '98 F3. Very clean condition... but, I've noticed that it makes a noise (steady friction- or vibration-type noise) when I put it in 6th gear. The noise doesn't seem to go away past a certain speed, or if I accelerate or decelerate. The bike does smoothly shifts through the gears, and I can't hear the noise in any other gear. It's just when I get into 6th.

Any of you know what the heck this might be??

Thanks.

 

Any idea as to location-direction of sound? Could be the chain, (tight spots). also on the F3 you can get a vibration buzz thing happening with the two inlays (left & right) on the inside of the screen, not positioned correctly. transmits the sound up the screen.

 

Thanks for the response!

I think the sound I'm hearing is coming from the left side, engine area. I was riding a bit today and I actually heard the same type of sound in a few of the lower gears also, but it is very, very faint. When I go into 6th gear, though, the sound is noticably louder. It's not like it's a blaring friction/vibration-type of sound, but to me it's pretty obvious once I get into 6th. When in the other gears, my guess is that most folks probably wouldn't hear a thing. I'm kind of a perfectionist when it comes to my bikes, so any sound that seems off bothers me.

Does that help??

 

How many miles are on the bike? Do you know what it was used for before you bought it? I had an F4 that made a similar noise in the upper gears. Seems that if you use a certain range of gears more than others, the less used ones seem to make a bit of a whine...the dont "mesh up" quite as well. Doesnt usually seem to hurt anything...just a thought

 

The bike has about 23K on it. It was used mostly for occasional joy ride and around town. The previous owner said that he rarely ever went into 6th gear -- which is somewhat hard to believe, but that's what he said. I don't know how the owner before him used the bike. At least from external appearance, it appears to have been ridden pretty easily.