Hello,


Riding to work today. About 5 miles in to a 35 mile commute, there is a sound like a pebble being rattled around a metal biscuit tin (I know what this sounds like!). It gets louder and louder under it really is making a right racket. I can hear it clearly over the sound of the lovely Albert exhaust


Anyway, then it goes away/comes back and then goes away again-or rather the volume of the sound is a lot quieter. It only makes the sound when I am in motion.


1) Could this be the wheel bearing?
2) Am I safe to ride (35 miles) home?
3) How long do I have left to live?
4) Anyone know of anyone near the Slough area (where I work) who you'd recommend to swap the bearing (if that's what it is)


Many thanks,

Yours,


Anxious of Surrey

It doesn't sound like a wheel bearing noise to me (if a bearing was that bad you'd be able to see the faulty bearing if you inspect the seals on them, it would most likely have lost it's seal by the time it was that loud, + you would more than likely feel the knock from it).
Check things like broken exhaust straps / broken horn mount behind screen / belt idler pulley etc.

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2001 X1 2009 1125CR 2006 Uly X3 2010 Uly a fully Maz'd S1 and a 1991 RS1200 Westwind.

Not sure if it's very likely, or even possible, but have you got a pebble trapped inside your front wheel (through the holes around the axle area)

Probably a daft idea

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Wear the fox hat

Straps still all in place. No obvious stones. The sound is worse.

It's almost plastic-like in its noise and clicking/crunching. From the front. Could it be the steering bearing? (that needed replacing). I don't want to touch the bike but equally it might be something obvious. Getting a bit pissed off about it. My youngest (5 month old) was rushed to hospital tonight and I had to visit with overnight stuff on the bike all the while wondering that it's going to snap

Sounds like the horn to me rattling against the fly screen (as kevin50 suggested).

Whip the cover off, only six screws.

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08 Specialized Langster

I thought it was 4 on an XB S which is what he has got isn't it?

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FJR1300

Tis the Bomber, Uly stuff. I could be wrong on the number though...

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08 Specialized Langster

Did you fix this?

I know I'm a bit late in replying, but from your descriptions it could be...

- front wheel bearing
- loose front isolator bolt (had this before after having a new isolator fitted and it just needed tightening - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2VP_f-3MBo)
- Pinking - this is more under acceleration, but basically put high-octane petrol in (BP Ultimate, Shell V-Power etc) and this will sort it out

Let us know

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"Because it's awesome" is always a good enough excuse

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