It appears to be one of the most common Versys problems.
In short, it seems to happen eventually with almost all Versys models. Kawasaki put out a fix in June of 2007 which involved placing some foam dampers on the affected parts. Newer bikes appear to come with this foam, but the problem still seems to crop up again over time.
The quick fix is to install new foam (or 'damping' material) on the affected parts. Some dealers will do this for you under warranty, but it's a pretty easy DIY project.
Does there seem to be a time frame when this buzzing and vibration starts. I've got 450m on mine and haven't heard a thing yet. Of course I could just be hard of hearing (my wife definitely thinks so ).
I bought my bike last month (june) and it had the buzz from the start. After removing the side panels and reinstalling them it got better but is still there. My bikes date is Sept, 07.
I finally got a Buzz , no not that kind . Right at 750 miles buzzing just above the headlight. Following some of the suggestions listed on this forum I was able to silence it.
I changed my air filter the other day and took off the side panels on both sides of the gas tank. I also unsnapped the plastic that goes around the instrument panel and snaps onto the gas tank. While I had this undone I rode to the local bike shop to buy some oil for my air filter. After unhooking these pieces where they snap on the tank I had a buzzing noise. When I put my finger on it the buzzing stopped. You might one to check this out on your gas tank. You will have to take the side panels off though. Then when driving just put your finger on this plastic where in snaps onto the gas tank.
The buzzing on my V started at 1200 km. It was always around 3200 rpm. Today I fixed it. I narrowed it down to the black plastic cowling that surrounds the instrument cluster , it comes down and tucks into the plastic headlight bezel. I removed the fairing on either side of the tank and the windshield. This allowed me to pop loose the cowling in question and expose the tabs that buzz. I discovered the factory had already installed some foam(see photo). The foam was quite thin and had become compacted, allowing the space which created the buzz. I peeled off the factory foam and installed pieces I had cut to fit. The extra 2 mm thickness in the foam was the charm!
Some points to consider: I measured the allen key I used to remove the screws holding the fairing in place. My old tape measure showed 4 mm. The nuts on the back of the windshield require an 8 mm wrench to hold them in place while the same 4 mm allen key works for the screws in the front of the windshield. The black plastic cowling that buzzed is in held in place by plastic press-in "screws". they came out easily with help from a small flat-head screwdriver.
I hope this helps others. I really took my time with it and was done in 1 1/2 hours (including drinking coffee, staring fixedly, revving engine alot!) If anyone wants some foam, I could cut off a chunk and mail it to them. Its lightweight and you won't need much. I have about 7.5 meters left over!
Mine did it from day 1 also. I thought I had it fixed following the above posts, but it came back. When I was working on it this weekend I noticed that it came with some foam installed on the top of the headlight and some small rubber pads on the outer cowling where they contact the inner cowling. All but one had fallen off. I replaced these and the buzzing went away. You need some really thin pieces so that you can get the inner cowling to slip into the retaining tabs on the outer cowling. This time I also put foam around the headlight.
If you look at the V parts diagrams on the OEM parts sites you will see numerous "dampers". I noticed that they had fallen off of mine, so I guess that is why some get the buzz at different times. I had the biggest success adding foam to the tab above the headlight and foam pads to the upper inside edges of the side cowlings.
Dealer going to fix, under instruction from Kawasaki ( They've told me now that the noise was only coming from the ER-6n's ). A one time fix, mechanics said they got pads or something, from Kawasaki, that are for the ER to stop this noise, and can adjust them for the Versys.
I just don't see why we should have to go to trouble & expense, as doing any drilling or modifications that can void the warranty.
There's nothing irreparable done to fix this problem (no drilling or cutting). This shouldn't void anything. All you're doing is adding material between plastic pieces and perhaps where plastic meets metal.
We're just stuck with the situation until Kawi realizes there's a problem on Versys and produces a permanent fix.
At the moment, this is something that can easily happen if you take the cowlings off for any maintenance or just wait long enough. Things vibrate loose. It's a motorcycle - that will happen.
So - if your dealer does your maintenance, you'll find the problem on the ride home... Go back, fix, ride, repeat. While I like my dealer, I don't like wasting time explaining trivial things and then waiting around having to leave my bike (for a trivial fix!) And, a lot of dealers will just say "that's normal".
At least if you understand the problem, you can fix it yourself.
Many have reported the side cowlings can get noisy too. In those cases, they've had to re-apply foam that has gone missing where the side cowling touches the gauge shroud and tank. Also, the foam can get compressed so that it doesn't help.
And, I've noticed Kawi put foam in places where it doesn't even touch anything (the large patches on the left and right of the headlight).
In my case, I added some nylon washers between places where things bolt on.
After riding around for 1200 miles with an invisible 400 pound mosquito I decided to investigate the annoying buzzzzz coming from the front of the V.
First I removed the side cowlings, the plastic panel surrounding the instrument cluster, (which is the same piece with the tab that slides in above the headlight, that is supposedly one of the culprits).
I started the bike and revved it to 4000-4200 rpms and the buzz hadn't changed....
It was coming from the speedo/tach housing. It appears to be a 2 piece (top/bottom) set-up and if I squeezed the housing top to bottom the noise dissapeared.
I didn't want to disassemble the housing nor did I want to strip the screws on the back of it trying to see if tightening would help to reduce the racket but it seems a proper fix would entail Kawasaki internally installing a rubber seal/gasket between the top and bottom of the instrument cluster to permanently take care of the problem.
For now, I ended up putting 1/4 inch closed cell foam w/adhesive backing around the speedo/tach housing where it meets the plastic surround, as well as putting a small piece on the front tab above the headlight and although there is still a slight buzz around 4k it seems to be much better.
With any luck Kawi will address this soon and we can enjoy a buzzless ride.
Just a thought, does anyone know how to get in touch or e-mail kawi to drop them a line about some of the problems that come up with the v. Some thing besides the dealer who at times cares and at time does not. I have the same problems that most everyone else is having. The first which for me started at around 700 miles is the buzzing noise. Which for me is not that bad yet. It seems to be worse when it is cool out. Not as much when the plastic is hot. May have something to do with exspansion of the parts when they warm up in the sun. The other is the left hand mirror which keeps loosening up and turning in on me when I get up to 70 or 75 mph. Which is about the worst time for this to happen. I have tightenend this down and it held for about a week and then the other day it happened again.
And we all know about the seat. Just thought if everyone could talk with or e-mail kawi about these problems that pop up that maybe they could expedite a fix or possibly directions on a quick fix.
Just thought if everyone could talk with or e-mail kawi about these problems that pop up that maybe they could expedite a fix or possibly directions on a quick fix.
I'm hopeful they'll pay attention... Unfortunately, there are multiple sources of noise (headlight, gauge cluster, left/right side cowlings). It won't be just one fix. The headlight seems to be the worst source, but the others can become annoying too.
As for the seat - I think Kawasaki must botch them on purpose so there's a market for aftermarket parts.
I too have foamed every piece of plastic the would contact plastic...finally it appears to have fix it. I guess it's all part of the symphony that comes from a parallel twin.
I love this forum...With the pics and info supplied, I used some of the same weatherstripping foam and silenced the "buzz" completely! I can't belive how much of a difference it made! Now the bike is perfect
I had the buzzing at 3000 RPM. It came like others from the black cover over the instruments. My first fix was foam tape around the speedometer housing. It muffeld the sound but I still could feel the vibration when I put my hand on the black cover. I figured it might come back later. I looked for a permanent solution that did not require any drilling. Since the problem is vibration/accustic I looked for tape thats absorbs sound and vibration. I found the tape in the McMasters catalog. I got two types. They are both very dense and extremely sticky and formable. I got the two types because one was 1/16x3/4, the other 1/4x3/4. I put it on the black cover, the 1/16 first, then the 1/4 across over it. You probably will not need both, but since I was working on it, it figured it would not hurt. The idea is to give the thin plastic more mass to dampen the vibration. Spraying some kind of coating on it may be an other solution. The noise is completely gone.
McMaster Part# 7998A926 Light Duty Polyethylene Foam Tape.
75315A73 Conformable Neoprene EPDM/SBR Foam Tape
You can use the tape on any of the panels that are causing a problem.
I put foam everywhere as soon as I got the bike and thought I had the buzzing nicked. Riding this weekend, I hit 1800 miles and it came on like a thunderstorm! I thought I have broken a valve spring or something. I wear earplugs, so it wasn't the noise, it was the added vibrations in the grips and pegs that let me know something was up. I grew pretty concerned that something was going to let go. Then I remembered the buzzing. I pulled out my earplugs and it sounded like a cell phone in vibrate mode bouncing on a metal desk! I've got to pull it all apart again and track it down, but I am sure glad that it isn't mechanical.
B- I think I had the same thing happen today at 1100 miles. I was wearing plugs, too, and got off to check tire pressure and inspect for something loose. Please let me know what you find. I haven't yet put any foam around the panel, so that's next.
So I took it all apart again and foamed it more. I put foam on the two tabs that hold the instrument surround on, and it fixed that part. But riding to work today...it's back. I put my hands everywhere to no avail (sounds like high school all over again). Its right at 4500rpm, everytime. Has anyone actually gotten rid of the vibes?
As far as the front fairings go, the two mounting points around the windshield don't seem to be the cause. I know some of you have drilled out the lower holes, but that seems counter-intuitive to me. If the mounting post extends through the fairing, then the bolt is tightening to the post, not the fairing, leaving the fairing free to move up and down. If the bolt pinches the fairing in between itself and the post, then it can move less. Right? Why would we want to allow it to "float"?
Any help would be appreciated. This buzzing is ridiculous.
I have not picked up my V yet, so I may be blowing smoke here, but has anyone tried putting a dab of silicone sealant in place of the foam pads that everyone seems to favor? If you do not want to just lose the foamy goodness of the pads you could even glue them in place with the silicone sealant, let it cure overnight, and then reassemble. Then, even if the foam compacts you will still be left with some cushiness from the silicone itself.
Using the tips learned on this forum, and an hour of my time, I killed my buzz. It took a 1" X 3/16" thick piece of high-density weathersripping applied to the tab that goes under the headlight trim (right at top dead center), and two 1" long pieces of the same foam just outboard of the stock foam underneath the headlight trim (one on each side). For good measure I replaced the small, rectangular pieces of thin foam on the backside of the plastic cowlings (the things with the Kawasaki Versys stickers on 'em). I left the large, square pieces of thin foam (on the back of the cowlings) as they were.
I'd been getting mega-buzz between 3000 and 5000 rpms, and it was really detracting from my riding enjoyment. Now that it's fixed, all I hear is the sweet growl of the engine, and the wind whistling through my teeth...
Tracked down the buzz on my V to the body colored panels on either side of the seat. Buzzing at 4500-5000 rpm was nuts. Noticed the loose panel fit when I was washing my V. Tested to see if this was the source of the buzz I was hearing by going for a ride at 4500-5000 rpm and simply reaching back my left hand to steady the panel...buzzing stopped. Seems the plastic rivets fit loosely and let the panels vibrate alot, left side much worse than right on my bike. Easy fix with some closed cell weather strip and new plastic rivets. The fairing itself has been fine so far (3500km).
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