2006 Yamaha XVS1100: whining or grinding noise

Filed Jun 15, 2022 · Engine, Transmission · 24,000 miles · FL

The contact owns a 2006 Yamaha XVS1100 Motorcycle. The contact stated that while riding approximately 60 MPH, there was a loud whining sound coming from the rear of the motorcycle. The contact stated that moments later the rear wheel locked up and the motorcycle became inoperable. The motorcycle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the mid driveshaft within the transmission had fractured and the engine needed to be replaced. The motorcycle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 24,000.

Filed May 29, 2017 · Transmission · 15,750 miles · KY

2006 vstar with 15,750 miles. While slowing down at appx 45 MPH, metallic whining from transmission started. Had never heard this noise before. After initial incident, any time I decelerated or downshifted, same noise was made. As long as I was on the accelerator, seemed run fine. As soon as I let off the gas, grinding/whining started. Spoke with a dealer, had no clue what I was describing. Showed them a page from this website, suddenly "had heard of" but were unfamiliar with the problem. Decided they would need to tear down trans to see what was going on. Wanted $1,100 just to diagnose. Said it may be a $100 fix or $3k. Seems to be related to middle gear shaft nut that has loosened, but not broken off yet.

Filed Feb 26, 2014 · Electrical, Transmission · 22,000 miles · OR

While traveling at approximately 45 MPH through curves and hills, with various levels of load on the engine and drive train, a loud buzzing/whining noise was being produced from the engine area accompanied with speedometer failure when engine and transmission were put under load. When engine and drive train were under no load (coasting), the speedometer would operate normally. Inspection of engine/transmission and final drive fluids revealed everything to be within specifications. When the motorcycle was restarted and operated again, there was no noise produced and appeared to operate normally. Three months later the same issue presented itself with the same symptoms, but went away after inspecting the motorcycle. Two months later, the issue happened again and the motorcycle was taken to a mechanic. The mechanic discovered that the nut holding the yoke to the middle drive shaft/pinion gear had loosened approximately three threads.

Filed Nov 7, 2012 · Transmission · 12,000 miles · TX

While riding, I began to hear a whining or siren like noise while decelerating. When I got home I explored where the noise seemed to come from and found when looking through the passage where the speed sensor is mounted that the nut had come off of the middle gear because it had not been staked properly and was not properly secured. Furthermore it has no safety, key, retainer, cotter pin, or any other device designed to retain it should something go wrong, as it did in my case, and so seems to be improperly engineered or at the very least incompetently installed from the manufacturer.

Filed Sep 7, 2012 · Transmission · 14,902 miles · IA

Vehicle began to whine, then there was a loud clunk noise and rear wheel locked up. Inspection revealed the gear shaft from the transmission to the universal joint had sheared.