Rattles Gone

I now have a rattle free Silver Wing. I've been chasing rattles since I got this scooter and today out on a rough road it was rattle free.

I've been snugging up screws, taping joints in the plastic to locate the sources of a bunch of rattles and today I seem to have gotten them quiet at last. Taping works on some rattles, just cover s few joints with masking tape and see if any thing changes rattle wise. I do a few at a time until I can find the cause. On a particular plastic piece I loosen all the fasteners and then snug them back down evenly to reduce any bulging between fasteners or uneven stress.

Today's test was the windshield. I found some screws loosely fastened and some tight. After evening up the tension on them a test ride showed I got 'em all. At least for now I can go over bumps without a rattle and any speed without a buzz.

Just means it's fell off :-)

Good for you, if it doesn't rattle or buzz how can you tell it's running

I didn't say the buzz was gone. I hear it whenever I turn that right hand grip.

But then as a long time Goldwing owner and rider I've had plenty of practice in "de-rattling". My first Goldwing a 1983 GL1500 was a pure cacophony of rattles, buzzes, rumbles. I've owned all models of Goldwing from the 1000 to the 1800 and they all liked to complain on rough roads and especially crossing railroad tracks.

I had gotten used to my rattle-trap and decided to investigate the other day. I repaired 5 broken/cracked attach points on the two side panels. Replaced two missing screws from below the taillight, removed the windshield and reworked the GIVI reinforcing plate and a cracked ear on the windshield, replace two "well-nuts" and added a couple of fender washers to the lower mounting screws, and repaired a locking tab on the windshield garnish. I think some of this happened when I dropped my scooter 3 times from a dead stop this summer. Bottom line is that the scooter sounds and feels "rock-solid". I never would have thought it could sound so solid and rattle-free.

It is nice isn't it. My scooter really hums along with only the engine sound now. Seems to make the bike feel a lot more solid on the road, not really of course, but gives that sensation.

For rattles, I used small stainless sheet metal screws---drilled small starter holes for them. My 2 SilverWing had no broken tabs....and I bought them new and knew their history.

My budget doesn't allow for buying bikes or scooters new so I get a lot of practice working on them as well as rattle hunting. Besides bikes I've had to spend on airplanes, sailboats, target rifles and pistols (competitive shooting), so many things to play with, so little time and funds.

Buying bikes and scooters new for me has been cheaper in the long run, as I use them for everything and expect 50,000 miles or so with no or little trouble---I am not constantly fixing other people's mistakes. I tend to buy cheaper stuff----Current Kymco XTown 300i ABS about $4200 and at near 9,000 miles=no trouble, extra expense. Warranty 2 years.

Nice if you can afford it.