A strange knock (click?? fairly loud)

andy.st.louis said:

My 2006 DL650 has developed a strange knock (click?? fairly loud) when accelerating from a stop. Feels like and sounds like rear wheel only while under load. I only notice it in first and second gear as wind and road noise may drown it out or it only occurs in early acceleration. I have re-torqued the rear wheel with no change. Hoping someone has an idea. Thanks!

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It might be part #6 on 2006 Suzuki DL650 Rear Wheel | Ron Ayers
When these begin to wear, they loosen and allow the sprocket to slip slightly under acceleration. You can replace them or shim them with innertube pieces cut to fit. There are threads on this forum about shimming them. When mine went bad and caused a noise like you describe I was told that the test is to remove the rear wheel and lay it flat on the ground, Then pick it up by the sprocket. If the rear drum and sprocket easily separate from the wheel, then they need shimmed or replaced.

Thank you for the info. Should this be an immediate fix (safety issue) or do I have a little time?

Check your chain, this noise is the chain like 95% of the time. Super common. Could be simply the chain is worn out, or the cush rubbers as mentioned by @Yarz1

vanislejay said:

Check your chain, this noise is the chain like 95% of the time. Super common. Could be simply the chain is worn out, or the cush rubbers as mentioned by @Yarz1

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Or as on my 2006 DL 650m the front sprocket (which is down 1 tooth to a 14) was worn and making a clicking noise as it was catching the chain. Something to look at.

I agree, chain/sprocket wear is first on the list. Is it a single click, or a brief series as you get going?

Bentwee said:

I agree, chain/sprocket wear is first on the list. Is it a single click, or a brief series as you get going?

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A single click with a pause then another. By then there is too much other noise to tell if it continues.

MontanaGuy said:

Or as on my 2006 DL 650m the front sprocket (which is down 1 tooth to a 14) was worn and making a clicking noise as it was catching the chain. Something to look at.

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I will check that. Thanks.

Sounds like you may have a "frozen" link or two in your chain. Click, pause, click then no noise easily heard over the increasing loudness of the bike at speed.

If you have center-stand, you can place bike in neutral and spin rear wheel slowly by hand to confirm this..."frozen" links will sometimes show themselves as "not inline" with the rest of the links or they will start around sprocket and "click" when they reach the point where the force of the sprocket(s) overcomes the "frozen" link(s)

If you find this to be the case, you may get some short-term relief by lubricating those links with a heavy gear oil, but it will be only short term and you should plan for a new chain & sprockets set.

I had that. Frozen link on chain. Chain and sprocket replacement was the fix. Sprockets were in good shape, but replaced them anyway as it is best to do them all at the same time. My final drive sounds sooo nice now (the sound of silence).