Have a loud buzzing/humming in my ears at certain rpm's

[dannymax]

It kind of sounds like there's a bad vibration that is causing this sound....but the bike is smooth as butter.

Below 1800 or so and above 2500 approx. the sound isn't too bad, but in that range it's nearly unbearable.

Tried it with and without the shield, with and without earplugs.....there is a little change but still not enough to make much difference.

I have a 2017 FLRT with Harley shield (tall one I think).

I'm concerned this may be some sort of harmonics thing, unique to my ears...:Shrug:

Is anyone else dealing with, or ever run across such a thing?

 

[Jack Klarich]

How many miles?

Maybe primary chain has ratcheted up TOO tight?

Check the heat shields on all the exhaust also

 

[dannymax]

There was 550 miles when I bought it and there's only 300 or so more now.

 

[rhino 2]

It kind of sounds like there's a bad vibration that is causing this sound....but the bike is smooth as butter.

Below 1800 or so and above 2500 approx. the sound isn't too bad, but in that range it's nearly unbearable.

Tried it with and without the shield, with and without earplugs.....there is a little change but still not enough to make much difference.

I have a 2017 FLRT with Harley shield (tall one I think).

I'm concerned this may be some sort of harmonics thing, unique to my ears...:Shrug:

Is anyone else dealing with, or ever run across such a thing?

Could you have a case of tinnitus..I know i have and certain sounds/vibrations will being it on...:Shrug:

 

[dannymax]

Oh yeah, I have tinnitus....lots of high pressure air whistling, can't hear my wife most of the time (not necessarily a bad thing )....all the symptoms. I'm thinking about getting some electronic noise cancelling ear protection (if I can find something that's helmet friendly) and see what they do for the situation.

 

[Old Road Dog]

My hearing sucks. Barley passed D.O.T. physical.Your trikes under warranty.Bring it the dealer and let them figure it out.

 

[dannymax]

My hearing sucks. Barley passed D.O.T. physical.Your trikes under warranty.Bring it the dealer and let them figure it out.

My hearing sux also, and pretty sure that's where the problem lies and not with the machine. After giving it some more thought, I'm realizing the issue didn't begin until I ran 1/2 hr or so on I-87 at highway speeds. After getting off onto secondary roads that's when I noticed the hearing problem....I had ridden for an hour or more before that without issue. I'm thinking Rhino2 hit it when he mentioned the tinnitus thing, I worked in excessively noisy areas most of my life (before hearing protection was even thought of), as a result what little hearing is left is filled with whistling and hissing and all the sounds that accompany tinnitus.

I ordered some wind deflectors from JES this morning, have an old laminar lip to mount on the shield and getting the best push in type earplugs available and see if there's any difference....we'll see.

 

[rhino 2]

My hearing sux also, and pretty sure that's where the problem lies and not with the machine. After giving it some more thought, I'm realizing the issue didn't begin until I ran 1/2 hr or so on I-87 at highway speeds. After getting off onto secondary roads that's when I noticed the hearing problem....I had ridden for an hour or more before that without issue. I'm thinking Rhino2 hit it when he mentioned the tinnitus thing, I worked in excessively noisy areas most of my life (before hearing protection was even thought of), as a result what little hearing is left is filled with whistling and hissing and all the sounds that accompany tinnitus.

I ordered some wind deflectors from JES this morning, have an old laminar lip to mount on the shield and getting the best push in type earplugs available and see if there's any difference....we'll see.

Ear protection who ever heard of that we used cigarette butts in basic And in Nam flying around in Hueys nothing but steel pots not to mention doing perimeter around 105's

 

[dannymax]

Ear protection who ever heard of that we used cigarette butts in basic And in Nam flying around in Hueys nothing but steel pots not to mention doing perimeter around 105's

Exactly! And if someone would have come around with decent protectors we'd most likely told him to piss off....REAL men don't wear those things!! orag:

Huh....what'd you say.....eh?....speak up I can't hear ya!

 

[Sully]

Yep, wearing ear plugs when I ride also. Working around Jet Engines for 4 years in the Military gave me tinnitus and it's getting worse. The VA is giving me 10 % for it.

 

[dannymax]

Sully, do you or Bob ever experience anything like I'm trying to describe? It's very obvious when downshifting in the lower gears...as it's engine braking the rpm's will drop down thru a range where there's a loud buzzing in my ears (or between my ears is really a better description)....the bike itself isn't making any unusual noise tho.

 

[rhino 2]

Sully, do you or Bob ever experience anything like I'm trying to describe? It's very obvious when downshifting in the lower gears...as it's engine braking the rpm's will drop down thru a range where there's a loud buzzing in my ears (or between my ears is really a better description)....the bike itself isn't making any unusual noise tho.

I don't have that with the Trike... But certain power tools when i first turn them on like my angle grinder will start my left ear buzzing and clicking so bad at times i want stick a screwdriver in there to stop it, ... I have a farmers ear, When i work our tractor with implements on the back i tend to look over my right shoulder at the work so my left ear is facing the tractors diesel engine pounding away... My Sons are smarter than me they wear ear protection.....Too late for me....

 

[Old Road Dog]

Hahaha

Ear protection who ever heard of that we used cigarette butts in basic And in Nam flying around in Hueys nothing but steel pots not to mention doing perimeter around 105's

We were issued earplugs and headphones.But fire 155mm charge 8 green bag and the whole gun (28 ton) rocks back on its tracks and the engine grates fly off! But its concussion that also damages hearing.Add all the years driving trucks and now I'ze dont hear so good.

 

[Jack Klarich]

My hearing is pretty bad

I can hear low sounds but the highs are about all gone

Years of hammering in the shop with no hearing protection

I guess we should have known better

 

[rhino 2]

My hearing is pretty bad

I can hear low sounds but the highs are about all gone

Years of hammering in the shop with no hearing protection

I guess we should have known better

My Old Man God rest his soul, Had a saying that when ever i said ' I/They/We... should have known better.....And it went like this;

And if the Dog didn't stop to take a pee he would have caught the Cat...:Shrug:

 

[dannymax]

Yep, you guys know what I'm talking about....just my bad luck that my FLRT is the trigger! :gah:

 

[rhino 2]

Yep, you guys know what I'm talking about....just my bad luck that my FLRT is the trigger! :gah:

Don't use my Screwdriver method it doesn't help and It will only make it hurt worster.....

 

[paws]

I noticed that on a long ride my ears were roaring when we got to the destination (yes I have tinnitus). So a few years ago I switched to a full-face, modular helmet from an open face with full-face shield, then added foam ear plugs also. If you don’t put the ear plugs in too tight you can still hear the CB and music in the helmet just fine. Helped a lot.

 

[dannymax]

Don't use my Screwdriver method it doesn't help and It will only make it hurt worster.....

I'm gonna try to avoid that Bob! :xzqxz:

 

[rhino 2]

I'm gonna try to avoid that Bob! :xzqxz:

All kidding aside Dan, I hope you can find a solution to the buzzing....When/If you do let us know there are a lot people out here with a similar problem..ThumbUp

 

[dannymax]

All kidding aside Dan, I hope you can find a solution to the buzzing....When/If you do let us know there are a lot people out here with a similar problem..ThumbUp

I hope so too Bob....

 

[dannymax]

Well, I think I've made some headway! Ordered some JES wind deflectors and a set of No-Noise ear plugs https://www.amazon.com/Nonoise-Motor-Generation-Ceramic-Filter/dp/B00EDHWELY the wind deflectors are nice but probly don't do much for the ear noise. The No-Noise ear plugs are a different story tho, there is a lot more noise with them, I can hear all the noises from my bike but what I can't hear is that awful buzzing/humming/howling sound!! Ran it up to 70 mph for 5 miles or so to get a good bunch of wind going by and all was well when I slowed back down.

I am cautiously optimistic regarding these ear plugs, it....appears....they may actually do what they say they do! And I'm not in a sound vacuum with them, I can hear all sorts of things...horns, sirens, gunshots....stuff like that!

 

[dannymax]

For me the combination of JES wind deflectors, Memphis Shades Batwing fairing with 6" Spoiler windshield and the No-Noise ear plugs works very well. The ride is now very pleasant, no more howling/humming going on, no more wind noise or wind coming in over the tank....just what I was hoping for. The spoiler W/W deflects the wind up so it just hits the top 2" of my helmet....and I'm 6' 5". The ride at 70 mph is night & day difference from what it was before, it's quiet and no buffeting, I'm totally relaxed....thinking me and this Freewheeler are gonna have a nice relationship! :clapping:

 

[MDO]

For me the combination of JES wind deflectors, Memphis Shades Batwing fairing with 6" Spoiler windshield and the No-Noise ear plugs works very well. The ride is now very pleasant, no more howling/humming going on, no more wind noise or wind coming in over the tank....just what I was hoping for. The spoiler W/W deflects the wind up so it just hits the top 2" of my helmet....and I'm 6' 5". The ride at 70 mph is night & day difference from what it was before, it's quiet and no buffeting, I'm totally relaxed....thinking me and this Freewheeler are gonna have a nice relationship! :clapping:

Glad to hear it. On longer trips, I have always used earplugs. I found at the end of a 4-500 mile day, I was not near as tired.:clapping:

 

[dannymax]

Glad to hear it. On longer trips, I have always used earplugs. I found at the end of a 4-500 mile day, I was not near as tired.:clapping:

I've always use earplugs also, even on short ice cream runs....but they were the cheap hardware store kind and just didn't help the roaring buzz at all. The No Noise ones let a lot more sound in but the roaring buzz is gone....altho I can feel the rpm range where it would have occurred, if that makes any sense. :Shrug:

Incidentally, I never experienced this sound previously with my other bikes which were mainly Gen I & II VMax's and a couple 4 cyl BMW's so I have to conclude it's somehow related to the Harley engine. Anyhoo, it seems to be gone and if it stops snowing and warms up, like they say it's gonna, I'll put some meaningful miles on for verification. :clapping: