Whistle Sound

[Paulo Galindro]

Hello to all Triumph lovers.

My name is Paulo Galindro, I'm from Lisbon, and I'm an illustrator of children's books. I love Art, I love Beauty, and as a graphic storyteller, I love anything that has a beautiful story behind it. That's why I didn't think twice when I got my license at age 50 (I'm 54), and decided to buy the most beautiful motorcycle in the world: A Triumph Bonneville.

The first was the beautiful 2017 T100 / New England White + Intense Orange. And this year, even though it was a very difficult decision, I decided to upgrade to the T120 (if I could, I would have kept both). Everyone thought it was a strange decision, as the bikes are visually very similar. But I don't care... I love the beauty of this machine, and maintaining the chrome is one of those tasks that allows me to vent all the fury of my midlife crisis on them.

These photos were taken on the beautiful Carcavelos Beach. I have to say that In Portugal, it's very rare to ride this bike without someone starting a conversation with me.

However, I need your help. As soon as I drove the first kilometer, with this brand new T120, in addition to all the other differences, I noticed that the engine makes a completely different sound than the T100 (which is expected). But there's something about the sound of this engine that seemed somehow to me:
I'm talking about a sound that seems like a continuous whistle, that comes somewhere under the seat, from both sides but more on the right side.
For you to understand better, I made a recording during a ride, and select the best part of it. You can listen to it at this link (don't be afraid... I'm not a dangerous Russian hacker... it's a simple mp3 file):

https://drive.google.com/.../1Ho_AsdufSeLGK.../view...

You will be able to hear the whistle sound with the normal sound of the engine, but also in neutral on a descent. What's stranger is that even with the engine off during a short descent (you can hear it too) the sound comes out, from 20 km/h onwards (From 90 km/h onwards, the sound is drowned out by the normal sound of air displacement).

Triumph service says the sound is perfectly normal, but I can't help feeling that this sound that competes with the normal engine sound is anything but normal. And it's very annoying.

I humbly accept your expert opinion. Obrigado.

 

[Rocky]

Hello and welcome to TT from the east coast of Canada
Nice intro and pictures but, I'm sorry, I can't help you with your issue.
Others may be able to help.

 

[Vector]

The sound only happens when the bike is moving? If so, I think it could be something to do with your air intake and the airbox.

 

[Paulo Galindro]

The sound only happens when the bike is moving? If so, I think it could be something to do with your air intake and the airbox.

Hello. Yes, only when moving, and even in neutral on a descent, or with the engine off during a short descent, which is strange. If it's the air intake and the airbox, would this happen with the engine off? I've tried several times to determine where, precisely, the sound is coming from, but I can't figure it out. It's as if the air is passing through a hole, somewhere, as the bike moves, even with the engine off. I've already placed the bike on the center stand, and it jumps, but I couldn't hear anything, which leads me to believe even more that it has something to do with air.

 

[atomsplitter]

I listened to your file (thanks for not being a hacker) and didn't hear any whistling, but then I'm hard of hearing at certain frequencies. I had a 99 Trophy 1200 many years ago that developed a "whistle" sound for a short time, turned out the drive chain was worn out. Try lubing your drive chain and see if the sound changes.

 

[Qship]

Welcome to TT as well from Eastern Canada.
Try reaching out in front of the headlight when you hear the noise and disrupt the air. It may be the headlight visor.

 

[sikatri]

Howdy and welcome from Houston! What speed does the sound start? Since it happens when the engine is off it’s likely air passing through some space between components or a whole in some component. Or as it passes near components at the airbox. Disrupting the air in front of the bike can help figure out where as mentioned earlier.

 

[Paulo Galindro]

I listened to your file (thanks for not being a hacker) and didn't hear any whistling, but then I'm hard of hearing at certain frequencies. I had a 99 Trophy 1200 many years ago that developed a "whistle" sound for a short time, turned out the drive chain was worn out. Try lubing your drive chain and see if the sound changes.

Thank you for your message. The motorcycle is new. I only drove it 3000 km. And I've heard this sound since the first kilometer I drove the bike, when I picked it up at the dealership.

 

[Paulo Galindro]

Welcome to TT as well from Eastern Canada.
Try reaching out in front of the headlight when you hear the noise and disrupt the air. It may be the headlight visor.

I already tried that. Even knowing that the sound comes from somewhere below the seat, more on the right side

 

[Paulo Galindro]

Welcome to TT as well from Eastern Canada.
Try reaching out in front of the headlight when you hear the noise and disrupt the air. It may be the headlight visor.

I already thought about that. But like I said, the bike is new. It was purchased with 0 kilometers. And I've heard this sound since the first kilometer. And I didn't make any changes to the bike, or add any components.

 

[atomsplitter]

If the noise is under the seat I wonder if your intakes to the airbox are causing it. Or possibly the AIS (Air Injection System). That's the stuff that's under your seat so you might start looking there.

 

[Vector]

Pull your snorkel and see if that changes the sound.

 

[aj7840]

You said you hear the sound when coasting with the engine off.
Again coasting with engine off.
Slowly apply the front brake, does sound quit. Yes - glazed brake pads or a caliper piston still holding slight pressure on brakes.
if no - apply the rear brake, does it quit. Yes - glazed brake pads or caliper piston still holding slight pressure on brakes.
if no - put bike on center stand rotate rear wheel - yes sound is there, either bad wheel bearings, bad chain, or something rubbing. if not
if no - raise front wheel off the ground and rotate - yes sound is there, wheel bearings or something else rubbing.
if no- call priest time for exorcism! Actually, I'm out of guesses! ;-)

 

[Paulo Galindro]

You said you hear the sound when coasting with the engine off.
Again coasting with engine off.
Slowly apply the front brake, does sound quit. Yes - glazed brake pads or a caliper piston still holding slight pressure on brakes.
if no - apply the rear brake, does it quit. Yes - glazed brake pads or caliper piston still holding slight pressure on brakes.
if no - put bike on center stand rotate rear wheel - yes sound is there, either bad wheel bearings, bad chain, or something rubbing. if not
if no - raise front wheel off the ground and rotate - yes sound is there, wheel bearings or something else rubbing.
if no- call priest time for exorcism! Actually, I'm out of guesses! ;-)

You said you hear the sound when coasting with the engine off.
Again coasting with engine off.
Slowly apply the front brake, does sound quit. Yes - glazed brake pads or a caliper piston still holding slight pressure on brakes.
if no - apply the rear brake, does it quit. Yes - glazed brake pads or caliper piston still holding slight pressure on brakes.
if no - put bike on center stand rotate rear wheel - yes sound is there, either bad wheel bearings, bad chain, or something rubbing. if not
if no - raise front wheel off the ground and rotate - yes sound is there, wheel bearings or something else rubbing.
if no- call priest time for exorcism! Actually, I'm out of guesses! ;-)

I'll try your suggestions. In the meantime, I've also tried putting the bike on the center stand, and I didn't hear anything.

Meanwhile, a few days ago, while I was lubricating the chain, I thought… What is different about my T120 from the T120, apart from the engine and the weight? The aluminium rims. My T120 had chromed steel rims. This one has aluminium rims, which must be much lighter. And the tyres are exactly the same. Could the sound I hear be a reverberation inside the rims, due to the difference in materials? I don’t know.

What makes it all the weirder is that if I lower my head towards the front or sides of the bike, and look for the source of the sound, I can no longer hear it. If someone rides my bike and passes me, all I hear is the sound of the engine. But if I put my mobile phone in my side case (the biggest one) and record, the sound can be heard.

Maybe my bike is possessed by the spirit of Steve McQueen or Marlon Brando. If so, I certainly won't hire the services of an exorcist.

 

[Vector]

Strange