Strange Motorcycle Noises & What They Could Mean

Motorcycles are noisy machines that emanate all kinds of sounds which are normal. However, sometimes strange noises will come out of our bikes that don’t sound anything like what we're used to hearing.

If your motorcycle makes noises that it usually doesn’t make, don’t ignore it, as those sounds are likely a warning of something gone wrong. While motorcycles make countless different sounds, here are some unusual noises you might hear coming out of your motorcycle and what they might mean.

Clicking

Clicking sounds from your bike can mean a variety of things. A dead battery, a failing starter or a seized engine can all cause ignition clicking when you try to start up a motorcycle.

Dead batteries are the most common reason for clicking noises upon startup. While a dead or dying battery may just need a simple recharge, a starter requires more in-depth troubleshooting and is more expensive to replace, so test it first to see if it still works before you order a new one.  

Popping

Motorcycles can backfire for several reasons, including carburetor issues and poorly done exhaust upgrades, resulting in popping noises from the exhaust pipe. 

If you had any aftermarket exhaust upgrades done on your motorcycle, it might just need to be jetted or tuned correctly. While popping noises aren’t that unusual, you should never ignore them, as it could be a sign of gas or exhaust leaks. You don’t need to be alarmed by a little popping or crackling here and there, but constant popping is not normal and could mean a blown exhaust. On fuel-injected motorcycles, the fuel injectors might just need a little cleaning if you’re hearing unusual popping noises.

Carburetor issues may also be causing strange popping sounds from your bike. A dirty carb can inhibit fuel from flowing properly through the fuel system. Sometimes a motorcycle just needs a good carb cleaning to get a better fuel flow, and that might eliminate the popping noise. 

Snapping

If you hear a short, unusual snapping sound coming from your motorcycle, it could mean there’s a crack or malfunction in the spark plug wire or spark plug cap.

Thankfully, testing spark plugs is very easy, and replacing plugs and their corresponding components is inexpensive. Inspect the spark plugs and their caps and wires for any damage or irregularities, and replace anything that’s worn or damaged.

Hissing

A hissing noise coming from any machine with tires is likely one of those tires in the process of deflating. If you’re riding a motorcycle and hear a hissing noise, pull over immediately to avoid a potential crash. 

While the hissing sound most commonly occurs from a deflating tire, other causes include poorly bedded brakes, exhaust and cooling system leaks, and blown gaskets.

An overcharged or overfilled wet cell battery can also make a hissing sound resulting from electrolyte gas being forced out of the overflow tube, a cell cap or a crack in the case.

Whining

If your motorcycle makes a whining noise when you put it in gear, it usually means there’s a problem in the gearbox, possibly with worn gears, or bearings and shafts being out of alignment.

A whining or squeaking noise can also come from the motorcycle’s wheels as a sign of worn out wheel bearings, and you’ll know that’s the problem if you only hear the sound as the wheels are in motion.

Knocking

A knocking noise coming from the engine is a sign there may be a problem with the crankshaft and connecting rods. If you hear metal knocking or rattling, hit the kill switch and stop riding the bike. 

Premature combustion can create a knocking noise if a piston is unable to complete its cycle, and the knocking could be the piston crashing into the side of the cylinder wall. Engine overheating can also warp the cylinder wall and disrupt the piston’s cycle, causing the knocking noises.

Any knocking coming from the engine is incredibly bad news and will probably require a costly repair, so if you hear knocking and you continue riding the motorcycle, you’re only going to make things a lot worse. 

Ticking

If you hear a ticking noise coming from your motorcycle akin to the sound of a stopwatch (that isn’t the one it makes after a long ride), it’s usually a sign that the bike needs a valve clearance adjustment.

Other causes of ticking noises can be something as simple as a low oil level or a loose cam chain, but you’ll want to check the valve clearances anyway if you hear ticking, and especially if they haven’t been adjusted in a while. 

Gurgling

If your motorcycle sounds like it’s gurgling, it’s usually a problem with the cooling system. Gurgling or bubbling coolant might be a sign of overheating, a blown head gasket or another cooling system issue.

If you hear a gurgling sound, check if there’s been a drop in the coolant level, as it likely means the pump simply isn’t circulating the fluid properly. Top off the coolant, then check it again to see if it drops. If it does, you might be dealing with a leaking seal or gasket.

Clattering

A clattering  noise coming from your motorcycle is often a sign of a cam chain tensioner needing replacement. When a tensioner reaches its wear limit, it can cause the chain to flap around and make noise. 

Inspect both the cam chain tensioner and the chain itself to see if they need an adjustment or replacement. Cam chains stretch and wear out just like a drive chain, which could also cause a clattering or slapping noise on your bike if it’s worn or loose and/or skipping a tooth on a sprocket.

Grinding

If grinding, scraping or rubbing noises are coming from your bike, stop riding it immediately and check the brake pads, as they could be so worn out you’re hearing metal grinding on metal.  

Brake pads sometimes aren’t the only thing that can make grinding noises. Sometimes the calipers are the problem, and the noise could be a bad caliper causing the brake pads to drag. Nevertheless, you should replace both the front and rear brake pads, and any other worn braking system parts immediately if they’re producing grinding noises.

Grinding can also come from the engine or transmission, which may indicate a bearing failure or gears grinding together from metal-on-metal contact. Whatever the cause, anything making grinding noises from your bike requires immediate attention.