[Arn Butt Bill]

Got home yesterday and thought my fuel economy was a bit low so I checked the rear for brake drag, etc.
It was fully warm down there and I heard a little bit of a clicking sound, like a handful of river rocks slowly tumbling in a heavy felt bag. Nothing harsh or loud.
I asked Paul to come by today and listened to his bike's rear; no such noise. Just a little brake scrape.
And today my bike didn't make any noise with the pieces cold.
The rear wheel isn't stock on my bike; the original was gouged by a shop owner and he replaced it with a polished one that he had gouged on another occasion.
Any ideas?

 

[arkie]

My final drive failed last week on my 03 with 51k miles. The left bearing cage failed.

Buck in NE Arkansas

 

[Brian Hand]

final drive

Bill that sounds like the noise I first heard when my final drive bearing went out . Started like that and got worse over about 5000 miles then it sounded louder and kind of like when we were kids and cut a piece out of the plastic milk jug and closepinned it so the spokes would flick it.

 

[Bulldog]

Hate to say this, but my final drive is on it's way out the door as well. Got the clicking and the rubbing sound as some of you have indicated.

I am trying to baby it through this season and then get it worked on, hopefully on warranty.

I wonder if the final drive is going to be the weak link as far as bikes with a few miles on them?

I would not consider getting more than 100 miles away from home, till it gets fixed or blows apart.

Bulldog