I am just wondering how other 09 R1 owners would describe the mechanical sound and vibrations of their bikes.
I did two test rides on stock R1's and am under the impression that those had less vibration at higher rpm and less mechanical noise than mine.

I have never driven mine on stock can's, they were replaced by Akra slip-ons.
My impression is that this added to the vibrations maybe.
It is rough below 3000, but it never really get's smooth as an 05 R1 for example at higher rpm.
Occasionally my hands go numb from the vibrations.
I recall the test bikes to have been smoother at high rpm, but may be wrong. (trying to get a test ride for comparison again)

I also hear a slight "tick" ( :D ) at constant speed between 3000-4000, what may be a valve clearance deviation (beeing ckecked)

Between 5000 and 6000 some hard to describe metallic buzzing sound. Not very loud, it sounds like some membrane vibrating.

On top of that there is this "turbine" sound of the gears driving the balancer (I actually like this)

Last but not least there is this the sound of something running "back and forth". I assume that all the individual unbalanced parts running in a rather thin-walled case are creating this "clonk...clonk....clonk" kind of sound (the sound is hard to describe "clonk" is a bit too drastic maybe. It's nothing worrying, not very loud, but clearly noticeable ;) )

Over all, this by far is the noisiest engine I have ever had, as far as mechanical noise is concerned.

Comments?

[QUOTE=Juerg;3997525]I am just wondering how other 09 R1 owners would describe the mechanical sound and vibrations of their bikes.
I did two test rides on stock R1's and am under the impression that those had less vibration at higher rpm and less mechanical noise than mine.

mine is stock


Occasionally my hands go numb from the vibrations.
I recall the test bikes to have been smoother at high rpm, but may be wrong. (trying to get a test ride for comparison again)

There is some vibrations but not that bad...my 03 r1 was worse

I also hear a slight "tick" ( :D ) at constant speed between 3000-4000, what may be a valve clearance deviation (beeing ckecked)

Defintiely have this tick and is most noticeable when cruising around town...I'm not too worried about it...my 03 made a similar noise

Between 5000 and 6000 some hard to describe metallic buzzing sound. Not very loud, it sounds like some membrane vibrating.
Same here...no clue what it is...something perhaps is vibrating back and forth


On top of that there is this "turbine" sound of the gears driving the balancer (I actually like this)

Last but not least there is this the sound of something running "back and forth". I assume that all the individual unbalanced parts running in a rather thin-walled case are creating this "clonk...clonk....clonk" kind of sound (the sound is hard to describe "clonk" is a bit too drastic maybe. It's nothing worrying, not very loud, but clearly noticeable ;) )

Not sure if i have heard this, and yes, this is a noisy mechanical engine.
QUOTE]

donno

YammyDuc, do you go to RaceCity at all...? I'm in Cow-town also...

:fork

got 850 or so miles on mine,, and honestly the vibes seemed to mellow out a bit especially on acceleration, (not unless it gave me brain damage) when i first started riding this bike i thought it would vibrate itself apart, freaked me when i jumped on the highway on the way home after picking her up..
hands used to get numb alot at first, not as much lately
yes this motor is anoyingly noisy,
but it's plush cruising around 60-80 mph / 6-7K rpm

I have 250 miles on mine now and I think, after all I have read on here and in the various magazines, these are just characteristics of the cross plane crank. Don't forget, this is a first on the Yamaha production bike.

One interesting article I read in one of the bike magazines was one where the tester had ridden 5 or 6 new R1 and said that there were lots of inconsistencies between them - they all had their idiosynchronies, but the common ones were a tall 1st gear (making it difficult to ride at low speeds <10mph), heavy vibration and strange noises - tapping/clunks etc etc

YammyDuc, do you go to RaceCity at all...? I'm in Cow-town also...

:fork

Sorry to thread jack...yes.
I've been doing some track nights over the last 5-6 years and raced in the cmra last year.

pm me if you ever want to get together...there's another guy around calgary as well. maybe more.

donno

Mine has 1300 km on it and is actually getting smoother. It has always been a little rough off idle and up to about 3-4K. Takes a bit of clutch work to launch smoothly but I'm getting used to this and there is less vibration now. I have the start up shaking paint can noise for one second. I have a Yamaha click from the valves but it is no worse than any of the other R1's I've owned. I don't know what this clonking noise is. In general I think this engine is one of the smoothest I have ridden above 6000 rpm. I'm putting on Akro's tomorrow and will let you know how this affects the vibrations.

Why do some many people get so freaked out over sounds. If it's a bad sound you are gonna know pretty quick in most cases. I hate to see you guys own a Ducati if you think our 09's make weird noises. My buddies I ride track with that own Ducs, it sounds like there's loose bolts in the cylinders. Apparently it's the clutch that makes all the rattling.

Ride the Bish! Don't listen to it!

Why do some many people get so freaked out over sounds. If it's a bad sound you are gonna know pretty quick in most cases. I hate to see you guys own a Ducati if you think our 09's make weird noises. My buddies I ride track with that own Ducs, it sounds like there's loose bolts in the cylinders. Apparently it's the clutch that makes all the rattling.

Ride the Bish! Don't listen to it!



still got the blade?

Why do some many people get so freaked out over sounds. If it's a bad sound you are gonna know pretty quick in most cases. I hate to see you guys own a Ducati if you think our 09's make weird noises. My buddies I ride track with that own Ducs, it sounds like there's loose bolts in the cylinders. Apparently it's the clutch that makes all the rattling.

Ride the Bish! Don't listen to it!
Sorry, but that statement is a bit retarded i.m.h.o....
(Everyone who isn't living under a stone knows about Duc dry clutches btw.)

First of all nobody is freaked out here, this is just an attempt to have a "common base line" and hopefully less guessing than there is/was on the "Yamaha tick" (that often is damaged valve guides by the way, depending on what kind of "Tick" people are talking about).

You know, there are some people who just like to understand what is going on in the engine. For the fun of it...

Secondly listening to the engine and catching unusual noises may prevent expensive damages (potentially outside of the warranty period).

Third: I don't know how / where you ride, maybe it won't be dangerous if your engine blows up. I for myself don't need that potentially very dangerous experience when riding fast in twisties, so I rather have one half ear for the engine (although currently nothing makes me fear the engine has a problem).

Fourth: I heared statements that there is huge variations in how well the balancing was done on 09 motors. Rumors (out of the british superbike scene I believe) talk uf op to 30g that had to be trimmed, to balance it.
So, this is the one point I am watching out for, not knowing if it is real currently.

S
Fourth: I heared statements that there is huge variations in how well the balancing was done on 09 motors. Rumors (out of the british superbike scene I believe) talk uf op to 30g that had to be trimmed, to balance it.


IF you have a look at the massive winter projects thread (somewhere in the last 10 or so pages of it), i think you'll find an answer to that "rumour" from a highly respected engine builder..... from memory... :)

apparently Yamaha does a pretty good job of it....

Just done another 60 miles and my left hand is still numb - WTF?

Is all that popping normal? Sounds great though!

Gotta do 280miles tomorrow to get over the 600miles for Friday's 1st service. Gonna be a long day :)

Oh, and another thing I noticed - I'm going f***ing deaf! Earplugs in tomorrow!!

still got the blade?

:)

http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/8238/bom08bladewq2.jpg

After the CrossPlaneRough from idle to 3-4K, my girl is a mechanical symphony!
...Is all that popping normal?...
She has never popped. However, I have a US version which is suppose to have a leaner fuel/air mix and a more restrictive exhaust system than the Euro bikes.

Listen to a BMW K1200S motor or a Triumph I-3 motor.

Our motors are whisper quiet vs those engines. There is a reason they're called "Sewing machines" :lol

My 02' R1 was buzzier than my 06' R1. The 06' is rather smooth imo. Beyond that...I can't help with the 09' R1.

:)

http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/8238/bom08bladewq2.jpg


Nice , I'll take that as a yes..

IF you have a look at the massive winter projects thread (somewhere in the last 10 or so pages of it), i think you'll find an answer to that "rumour" from a highly respected engine builder..... from memory... :)
I'll ask Tim then ;)
I thought I stumbled over it elsewhere, but can't really remember.

Is all that popping normal? Sounds great though!
Aftermarket exhaust, I guess?
Mine is popping as well at decelleration, but very decently.

After the CrossPlaneRough from idle to 3-4K, my girl is a mechanical symphony!
You say "all the vibrations go away" after 4k? (ALL?)

The 06' is rather smooth imo. Beyond that...I can't help with the 09' R1.
The 04-06 R1 was very smooth, no comparison with the 09.
A mechanicaly silent engine is different, that's what I noticed when riding back home on a replacement bike (GPX 600): No mechanical noise what so ever... (no power either :crash )
But those engine cases were much heavier, what absorbs a lot of noise.

You say "all the vibrations go away" after 4k? (ALL?)
Yes; once she begins to tach, she gets very smooth. She feels and sounds very synchronized.

Let me whore. Please send me work. I am desperate. Got to pay for this plastic surgery. Feels weird finally being a man. PLEASE, i need money. I'm a poor cracker engine tuner struggling to make money .....

Anyway, back to reality. There are a lot of rumours flying around the paddock. Only problem i've had is an oil leak. Found out today what the cause is and how to solve it. Rumour has it Yamaha may issue a recall but i don't always believe the rumour mill. The balancer shaft bearings on the ones i've stripped are not looking good and the highest mileage one i've pulled apart so far had done 50 miles. Have friends who've seen the same. I don't think there is a problem, just maybe a miscalculation on optimum clearances. It vibrates on dyno but nobody on track has complained yet. I don't hardly ever see the public so road riding feedback i can rarely help on, sorry.

My view:-

Awesome bike.


Looks shit on dyno.
Looks shit in flesh to a lot of people.
Well you try and string 25 laps together at that pace on a soft tyre and make it last.

BINGO, we have a winner. I told you all last year when Akrapovic released the dyno charts it would be awesome. Its won 5/6 bsb races this year despite being 15bhp down on some of my other customers. But it puts the power down and makes the rubber last. The latter part is most important.

Now at 540 miles, having done 200 miles today. Can't feel my left hand after 3 hours of being off the bike. That said, I enjoyed evry second of riding it today - so good at getting that power down. It was hard work at low speeds though, when stuck behind traffic in the town.

I noticed that there was a dull vibration at the bar ends - I wonder if heavier bar ends would help?

Yes; once she begins to tach, she gets very smooth. She feels and sounds very synchronized.
Mine for sure does not!
But I have to get more specific, it is not vibrations caused by unbalance.
Above 4000 and at constant speed (no load), the vibrations are within what I am used from other i4's.
But once I open the throttle, rather rough vibrations are setting in that obviously are in line with the exhaust noise ("power pulses").
That's probably the vibrations Tim is describing (on the dyno). (?)
So it seems to be the characteristic of the crossplane crankshaft and therefore I cannot believe that any 09 R1 is out there that is smooth under accelleration, regardless what rpm range...
It gets smoother above 3-4000, but it stays rough...

Tim, were the clearances on the balancer bearings on the large side? That could explain the noise that I described as "clonk ...clonk"... (sounds like an unbalanced shaft with some play in the bearings)

No they were too tight. Shells had run quite bad.
I can feel the vibration too but the ones i've built in house so far are all superstock spec which means i cannot balance the bottom end at all so no idea if that would improve it. Sorry.

i cannot balance the bottom end at all so no idea if that would improve it. Sorry.
I don't think so.
If the vibrations were caused by mechanical inballance, then the vibrations would have to be linked with rpm and would rather not depend from the throttle position.
But as high-rpm vibrations exist only when I am opening the throttle, those vibrations most likely just are caused by the "uneven" power delivery (pulses) and therefore just be a Crossplane i4 "feature" ;)

@ KLW
I wouldn't give to much about this tests, as long as you're not impressed by unqualified talking from gixxrs and so on (happened to me even bevore buying) ;-)
For a lot of people it seems difficult to rate the power correct because of it's linear output without a second boost. Also the delivery of the power to the street seems to be more efficient then in the other bikes.
In german and swiss mags you can see, that the R-1 hast often the best numbers in sprint and pull through gears with the smallest HP output! This becomes even more evident if you plan to ride your bike with more horsepower. You will not loose the same amount of gained power through slip at the tire (or other things?) as a CBR or GSXR does.
In a US comparison i read last night, they didn't setup the suspension, fork was bottening out at breaking and was to low therfore in midcorner. That's very bad, but they messured the biggest leanangels driven of all the bikes, without a good feeling for the frontend! It was the only bike, too, where they didn't feel near a highsider at powering out of corners.
If you ride the bike on street, i'm sure you're as fast as the others with a good setup when not faster because of the secure feeling you have out of the corners wich makes you faster.
With more power all goes for the yam because of that 'reserve'.
On track, a bit harder springs would help a lot.
In my opinion, Yamaha built the bike for street use (bit soft) and easy use (long gearing).
Changing minor factors let's you convert the bike to what you ever like to.
Only my opinion...

I'm a few days bevore buying one and i recocnized there are no bikes coming from japan. Dealers are mostly out of stock and waiting. One dealer said he heard from a recall, but he couldn't say more. Any more infos about a recall?
Cheers!

I also have mine stock for now and also have the vibration under 3k rpm cbut its all gone at higher rpm around 4k.

...But I have to get more specific...it seems to be the characteristic of the crossplane crankshaft and therefore I cannot believe that any 09 R1 is out there that is smooth under accelleration, regardless what rpm range...
I do feel the distinct grunty-churn of the cross plane design resonate through the bike. I have always just considered this part of her character. I have owned conventional I4 as well as V4 bikes. The V4 had a different resonance than the I4. The cross plane resonance I feel has never caused me any discomfort or numbness...it's the "mechanical symphony" I was referring to.

Mine's at 1500 miles, and it's noticeably smoother. Still a busy top end, but they all sound like pretty happy motor noises, so...

I don't think so.
If the vibrations were caused by mechanical inballance, then the vibrations would have to be linked with rpm and would rather not depend from the throttle position.
But as high-rpm vibrations exist only when I am opening the throttle, those vibrations most likely just are caused by the "uneven" power delivery (pulses) and therefore just be a Crossplane i4 "feature" ;)

same issue here, bike vibrates so bad when I open her up that it take the fun right out and feel garbage. When driving normal i dont really feel any vibrations.

I am also hearing all the noise all of you are talking about, I still have warranty till next year wonder if I should take it in?

(aftermarket dual Yoshi pipes)
(about 2700 KM - about 1700 miles)

would really like to figure this out....

just to add to that my 08 was super smooth and had a much better take of response then this.

Hi Guys
I came to this forum this morning looking for this exact problem I have with mine. Every launch RPM 2500-3000 through to 4000, there is a horrible vibration. Feels as is there is a balance shaft that is struggling or the is a bearing wear problem there. It makes the bike feel as rough as my Ducati 1098S can be. Anyway I have been adjusting my PCV and A/T. If you are familiar with the trims that you can set. There is problem in the same RPM around 20% throttle opening. Each time I go into the page it is at FULL Rich that you set. I feel this RPM vibrating problem is upsetting the fueling OR may be a fueling problem. Not sure It would be great if any engine builders on the site could advise us as to what that low RPM vibration is.

Cheers