Metallic pinging sound developed after long ride

osup44 said:

Recently I rode approximately 1800 miles and my 1050XT began to develop a metallic pinging sound. It seems to be coming from the right side, front of the engine. You can clearly hear it in the video. The bike runs and rides flawlessly. Has anyone experienced this before?

Metallic ping coming from vstrom 1050

youtube.com

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I don't know, but I bet the first questions you'll get from someone who might know are:

• What was the last work you did on the motorcyle?
• What does it sound like when you pull in the clutch?
• What does it sound like when the engine speed varies?
• Does it occur only when hot or only when cold?

Also, just realized that was your first post. Welcome aboard! I ride a 650 myself, so don't know much about your engine, but there's a wealth of knowledge in the forum.

Improperly Torqued said:

I don't know, but I bet the first questions you'll get from someone who might know are:

• What was the last work you did on the motorcyle?
• What does it sound like when you pull in the clutch?
• What does it sound like when the engine speed varies?
• Does it occur only when hot or only when cold?

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Great questions. The last work was adjusting the chain slack. It seems to be more prevalent when cold and pulling the clutch doesn't make a difference. One thing I just noticed is the noise stops when the slightest bit of throttle is applied.

Are you sure it's coming from the inside of the engine, and not from the exhaust itself (baffles, broken mounting bolt or loose heatshielding) or a loose mounting point somewhere else vibrating sympathetically?

Fox said:

Are you sure it's coming from the inside of the engine, and not from the exhaust itself (baffles, broken mounting bolt or loose heatshielding) or a loose mounting point somewhere else vibrating sympathetically?

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I'm pretty sure it's nothing loose on the bike. I've checked every nut/bolt I can reach without tearing the bike apart. I thought what you described was the culprit at first.

If it is in the engine one of my DL650's was diagnosed with a cam chain problem @~80,000k's. Not urgent, got that fixed @~100,000k's. That was a definite "Ting Ting Ting" when hot. Cam chain tensioner had failed and that eventually led to the replacement of all the bits that side. The other side was also done because the parts were far less than the cost of going in again but that side was like new according to the mechanic.

It's NOT that sound. That sounds like a loose bolt. The gaskets aren't cheap, but not stupid expensive, pulling the side cases off and checking for something like a backed out clutch bolt would be my go to. Or if it's under warantee, dealer.

What octane fuel is currently in the tank?

Sounds normal to me?

D.T. said:

What octane fuel is currently in the tank?

Sounds normal to me?

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I use 92 octane. Does your strom have the same ping as mine?

It is hard to know where sound comes from. I thought that I heard a terrible noise coming from the engine. I pulled over because I was scared that I screwed something up after doing the valve clearance check. Maybe I didn't attach the radiator hose or some other terrible mistake. I couldn't find anything wrong. The noise would come and go. It turned out to be that the rear bolt on the chain guard fell off. There wouldn't be a noise when the guard was in the correct spot, but it would hop over from time to time and ride along the rear hub. That's not what is sounded like, but that was the problem.

Andrewlhartzell said:

It turned out to be that the rear bolt on the chain guard fell off.

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Nice to know I'm not the only one ...!

Is the bike under warranty? If so the question should be asked to the nearest Suzuki dealership.

PerazziMx14 said:

Is the bike under warranty? If so the question should be asked to the nearest Suzuki dealership.

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Unfortunately it's out of warranty.

I doubt that is from inside the engine, it's too crisp and clear to be coming through the case. It sounds like two metal parts just barely kissing as the engine vibrates the bike.

If you've checked the important stuff then I'd just ride it and not think any more about it.

MeefZah said:

I doubt that is from inside the engine, it's too crisp and clear to be coming through the case. It sounds like two metal parts just barely kissing as the engine vibrates the bike.

If you've checked the important stuff then I'd just ride it and not think any more about it.

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It really does sound external. I'll dig deeper and tear the plastics off and will post if I find anything. Thanks!

osup44 said:

It really does sound external. I'll dig deeper and tear the plastics off and will post if I find anything. Thanks!

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Sound is hard to pin down. I actually had a sound very much like that once that after months of trying to figure out, I diagnosed. The RAM GPS mount had a little roller on the top and the roller was loose on its pin and would vibrate at certain speeds. It sounded like it was coming from behind the radiator.

Since that experience I no longer care about any sounds that aren't accompanied by smoke, fire, engine parts coming out of the engine. That mindset has been pleasantly freeing.

Ever drop a fastener down behind the nether regions?

You’re probably low on blinker or halogen fluid and need new muffler bearings. Also might want to check the amount of runout in your turbo encabulator. (Kidding, of course, lol)

Welcome to the forum, and I hope you can track down the source of the noise.

Yeah, that thing can magnify noise for sure.