slight low clatter noise

[Solly]

Hi All. New to this site and was hoping someone could give a hint to this noise I hear when first taking off. At first I thought it was spark knock from the old fuel that was in it. But now am unsure if this is typical noise of dry clutch splines. Been a auto tech my whole life and not sure why Bmw finds it so critical to lube clutch splines so early? Usually not done until clutch life expired. And German steel being just about the best on the planet seems odd to wear out the input shaft so early with NORMAL usage. Just bought this k1100rs and when I just release the clutch sounds like a low lite clatter/ rattle for just a moment then gone. Maybe I'm use to my guzzi and not giving it enough rpms and just plain lugging the engine too much. Any thoughts?

[rbm]

Are you sure the noise is coming from the bell housing area, right side or could it be paralever drivetrain related?  Have you checked the play in the rear wheel?

It might also be worn alternator bushes (aka monkey nutz).  Remove the alternator and run the bike on battery to see if the noise disappears.

Lubing the clutch splines eases shifting.  Not lubing the clutch splines will cause gear shifts to hang up.  Its rare to see undue wear on the input shaft splines; more likely to have stripped clutch splines requiring a clutch replacement.

[F14CRAZY]

Timing chain perhaps? They all do that, even when new

[Scott_]

If he had a 94+ with ABS2, I'd suggest it's the ABS self test.
But I can't say as I've heard of the ABS1 making the same noise.

Could be most anything. Exhaust shielding, left side foot heat shield.

Anyway to get a audio recording of it?

[F14CRAZY]

I think the spline lubing issue is dumb too but unfortunately necessary. The good thing is that it isn't too difficult.

You could put 500k on an old Kia or Yugo or Lada or any other piece of garbage and never have to worry about wearing out the transmission input or clutch disc splines

[Solly]

Bike only has 40 thousand plus miles, never thought of the timing chain though. I bought it with the rear disassembled { previous owner started procedure of lubing rear shaft splines which I completed} went well. All is tight and correct back there. Noise sounds as though it could be generating from directly below driver.I'll look into the alternator possibility and see if everything is righteous there. Good running bike that I'll be putting the LT package on. This old back and wrists can't take that punishment any more. :musicboohoo:

[Laitch]

"Maybe I'm use to my guzzi and not giving it enough rpms and just plain lugging the engine too much."

I think that's it right there.

[F14CRAZY]

The timing chain rattle happens till 2600 rpm or something like that under load then suddenly stops

[The Mighty Gryphon]

I'm putting my money on the backlash gear spring on the output shaft.  I have that same noise on my K75RT and changing the timing chain, guides, tensioner and the monkey nutz have had no effect.  It's been doing it since I got it 20,000 miles ago.