[Mase]

Hey guys. Whenever I have my bike running, in neutral, and release the clutch, I get a sort of noise from the transmission. This noise goes away as soon as I depress the clutch. I've had cars that have done this, and the culprit was always a failing input shaft bearing in the gearbox. I'm not sure if this sound is normal on my bike though. Does your bike make a different sound in neutral, clutch in vs out?

 

[mgfchapin]

Totally normal. My Triumphs did it and it freaked me out at first too. You want loud noises in neutral, try a dry clutch Ducati.

 

[AJ Nin]

Yes, I was just commenting on this under a different thread. It's like the bike does not want to be in N. I haven't really noticed it on other bikes. It may be the ECU feeds a different fuel/air mixture when the bike is in N...leaner to keep the plugs from fouling.

 

[barett]

Yes, I was just commenting on this under a different thread. It's like the bike does not want to be in N. I haven't really noticed it on other bikes. It may be the ECU feeds a different fuel/air mixture when the bike is in N...leaner to keep the plugs from fouling.

ah thats interesting.. I was thinking it was just clutch plates rattling (but thats usually the case with older bikes not ones fresh from the show floor)

 

[sportrider2]

I hear same noise.

 

[RED-YZF-R3]

I also was wondering why it made a louder noise when in Neutral without the clutch depressed.

 

[t-rav_12]

Sometimes clutch plates make a li'l "rattle" when they're not under a load (i.e. when not in gear or clutch lever not pulled in. Dry clutches (like Ducati incorporates on many models) make this noise more notably, as wet clutches are in a constant oil bath, whereby dampening the resonance.

 

[buddywasisname]

500 km on my machine and can't say I've noticed..

 

[dieselracer]

You guys were not kidding. My Suzuki does the same noise. but not very loud. When I heard the R3 today when I picked it up brand new. I was surprised how loud it was. I would say at least twice as loud as my Suzuki. I feel almost as if I can feel it a bit through the bike too. Sounds to me like like it coming from the right side of the bike. I don't like it, but I guess I have to live with it....

 

[Aufitt]

Totally normal as its not under load when in neutral.
Lightweight engine and internals,, wafer thin clutch cover and its amplified.

Relish the mechanical noises and symphony

 

[FangShui]

You guys were not kidding. My Suzuki does the same noise. but not very loud. When I heard the R3 today when I picked it up brand new. I was surprised how loud it was. I would say at least twice as loud as my Suzuki. I feel almost as if I can feel it a bit through the bike too. Sounds to me like like it coming from the right side of the bike. I don't like it, but I guess I have to live with it....

I think I've noticed that GoPros seem to pick up that noise a little bit on a few YouTube R3 ride videos.

 

[jthomas1310]

My R3 does the same thing, very loud clutch noise for a new bike. However now I get the loud rattle whilst riding. I did some filming and you can hear the rattle over, the engine and TBR exhaust. Its going in for a warranty repair next week for it. So will let you know how it goes.

 

[jthomas1310]

My R3 does the same thing, very loud clutch noise for a new bike. However now I get the loud rattle whilst riding. I did some filming and you can hear the rattle over, the engine and TBR exhaust. Its going in for a warranty repair next week for it. So will let you know how it goes.

Just got my bike back from the dealership after having its first service at 1000 km/s and they checked out the rattle. Dealership said they couldn't find anything, but the noise is gone. Can still hear clutch noise in neutral, but not loud to the point where the bike was almost shaking and no noise while under load. A nice silent ride home. The service may have fixed it by them tightening something, different oil, or perhaps when pulling the clutch cover off it may have sealed or tightened better. The bike even seemed more responsive at the throttle so perhaps the clutch may have not been sitting properly..who knows.

Has anyone else had their service done and found it sounding more quiet?

 

[t-rav_12]

Don't mean to be Donnie Downer, but I seriously doubt they pulled your clutch cover off to inspect the noise. They [may] have put a higher quality oil in it, which could quell the chattering or vibrating plates, but even that is a dubious query. If it truly sounz better now after the service, jus write it off to new engine break-in.

 

[dieselracer]

I agree about the oil. Because I do notice it's quiet when the oil is cold. As the engine warms up it gets louder and louder. I am considering going a little thicker in the oil on its first oil change.

 

[2k4_8]

I'm using 10-50 semi synth. Yamalube and its noticeably more quiet than when the initial fill was in it.

 

[YamahaR3]

That's way too thick. Why are you using 50 weight?

 

[2k4_8]

It's what they had at the dealership, manual lists it as fine...

 

[jthomas1310]

Don't mean to be Donnie Downer, but I seriously doubt they pulled your clutch cover off to inspect the noise. They [may] have put a higher quality oil in it, which could quell the chattering or vibrating plates, but even that is a dubious query. If it truly sounz better now after the service, jus write it off to new engine break-in.

They were doing a warranty inspection while I had it with them for service so when they tell you they did, then they usually do, they had it for an extra hour to find what could have been causing it, it was an exceptionally loud rattle, only going away when pulling the clutch, rode the demo R3's and they were silent compared to it. They said they didn't see anything out of the ordinary and said to leave it as is, until it got worse and something came noticeable as to what was causing it. So I was lucky that it had gone after them looking through the bike.

 

[stevenwashere12]

I know this is an old thread, but I just picked up a 2015 R3 and am worried about a similar issue.


I bought the bike with 530km on it (330 miles) and have rode it about 200km (120ish miles?). Yesterday while coasting it a light I put it in neutral and let the clutch out and could have sworn I felt a slight knock. Then while at the light in neutral I continue to feel it. Its not loud or even that intense, but it's definitely enough that I notice it. I think it's only when warmed up, though I'll have to check again.


The dealer I bought it from was super unco-operative about recall information, but I confirmed with another Yamaha dealer that my bike had the oil recall and that work had been done, but everyone I spoke to seemed to have no knowledge of any clutch bearing recall and nothing came up when the dealer searched by the VIN.


So I guess my question is, is this just the normal noise everyone else is hearing and calling normal? Or is this clunky noise feeling the clutch bearing failing and should I get ready to replace it? I could very well be overreacting, but I've never owned such a new vehicle, nor have I done a lot of bike maintenance (lots of car experience though) so should I be concerned? Thanks!