Strange sound when moving in cold temps

Hello

I have a weird noise that sounds like a gear hum when I ride in cold weather. The sound is like the sound you can hear from the middle gear but is louder and a bit more higher pitched. This only has happend the last two times I was returning home after the sun went down and the temp dropped to around 45 50. The noise is only when the bike is moving and from 5 mph up and sounds like it is coming from the front of the engine. This is not related to the engine as I can pull the clutch and rev the engine and the noise dose not change. Same with the trans all gears same sound. Only speed changes the sound and just by loudness,
So I figure it has to be one of these things middle drive, shaft drive, wheel bearing, or something I don't know about. It will go away after ridding it about 10 miles at 50 mph.

Help is appreciated

Thanks 8O

 

It's your speedometer (or maybe the cable, but I'm betting the instrument itself.)

If it was RPM-relative, I'd say tach. But it's your speedo.

 

I will take a look and lube it up!

THANKS

 

Squirty light chain lube up through the drive cable hole or make up a grease nipple and gently press some grease in.

 

The drive cable hole itself is "blind." Lube forced into there only fills up the hole.

The key is to get lube between the inner, moving part and the outer "stub" that the cable attaches to.

Here's what's inside the instruments; they're easier to access on some model XJs than others: http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=15303.html

Look at the 10th picture in the article, it illustrates the exact lubrication point for the input bushing. That can be easily lubricated even on bikes with less-accessible "canned" instruments.

 

Thanks for the help

I just got out of the hospital and will need a few weeks to heal before I can fix it. I will let you know if it worked then.

No I did not crash my bike.