Is Your Motorcycle Begging for a Mechanic?

Just like you pay attention, or should be, to noises emanating from your car or truck, you should be listening for the things your motorcycle is trying to tell you. If your motorcycle is making just more than its normal rumbling noise, it would be in your benefit to have the problem diagnosed sooner rather than later.

When we ignore our vehicle’s noises, we are heading for disaster, either on the road or as a hit to your bank account. As with any machine, different noises mean different issues. A single noise could, in fact, be indicative of the possibility of one of several problems.

If you have a new motorcycle, a few noises here and there, especially if they don’t repeat themselves, may just mean that your engine needed to run for a moment before it was ready for operation (though this is not entirely normal). If you hear the same noise more than once, a visit to the mechanic is in order. It stands to reason that you don’t want to fork over a ton of cash for repairs, but imagine the amount of money you may be spending if you are involved in an accident due to a mechanical issue with your bike.

Here are a few of the noises you may hear and what they could mean.

Rhythmic Ticking

You are riding down the highway and all of a sudden you begin to hear a tick, tick, tick. It doesn’t happen all the time but occurs with regularity once you hit a certain speed. The problem could be something fairly simple like a loose mirror. It could also be a sticking valve or a loose chain. It can be tough to locate the sound of any rhythmic ticking. If you can’t figure it out yourself, a certified mechanic will be able to help you.

Grinding

Imagine cruising down the road and suddenly hearing a grinding noise. It can be quite anxiety provoking. If the grinding is occasional and accompanied by a vibration in the handlebars that wasn’t present before, it could indicate that a brake pad is loose or worn. In that case, replacing the pad should solve the problem.

If you believe that the grinding sound is coming from the engine, you may have a bigger problem on your hands. When a grinding or clunking sound comes from the engine or the transmission, you will probably need a mechanic to take a look. In any case, this is not a noise that should be ignored until “later.”

Metallic Clinking

This is a hard noise to describe, and you may describe it differently. You may hear it all the time, or it may only happen now and again. You may hear it when the bike first begins moving and notice that it stops after you get a few miles down the road. You may notice that it doesn’t stop at all. Check out your chain. The metallic clinking may mean that your chain is in need of lubrication or is completely corroded. You won’t know which until you look.

Hissing

No one wants to hear a hissing sound coming from their bike. If you hear a hiss, check your tire to make sure it isn’t leaking air. That’s your first step. If your tires seem like they are fine, you may be overcharging your battery somehow. The bottom line is this: If the hissing sound is not coming from a tire, you should stop riding the bike immediately. If the problem is in your battery, it could potentially blow.

Snapping and Popping

A snapping sound is normally a problem with a spark plug or wire. The snapping is a brief arc of electricity. This is, of course, the most typical reason, not the only reason. If you hear a snapping and popping every time you get on your bike and start the engine, you need to find the source of your problem. It will most likely take a certified mechanic.

It can be aggravating when you find out that you have to pay good money for repairs to your motorcycle, but ignoring those noises could put you and other people in danger. Think about it like this: The sooner you have the noise checked out, the less damage you have caused and the cheaper the repairs will be. Ignoring those noises until the last possible moment will undoubtedly result in higher repair bills.

If you are involved in a motorcycle accident in West Palm Beach that can be attributed to another driver’s error or negligence, you may have a case for compensation. The at-fault driver may be legally required to pay for your medical bills, lost wages, and more. Call our office today and schedule a consultation with an experienced West Palm Beach motorcycle accident attorney. We will review your case and advise you if you have the elements necessary to move forward successfully.