I wish there was some current comments on this. I have the same issue, forward and reverse rolling down the drive with the engine off. Put in on the lift and couldn't isolate the location of the sound. Since I had recently replaced the transmission drive sprocket, I started thinking maybe I should have replaced the rear sprocket at the same time. After very close inspection I noticed if I placed my fingers on the belt at the rear of the sprocket and turned the wheel,every six inches or so it would "pop". I could feel it more than hear it. I'm thinking maybe a mismatch on the belt and sprocket teeth. Original belt and rear sprocket with 85K miles on them. Belt looks great. Sprocket "valleys" are loosing the polished finish. Comments please...

 

i noticed the sound in question from the op's description too,just last week
backing out of the driveway.bike has 51k ,sounds like an old skate board's ball bearings tapping(engine off,faint but there).I think ive hear it before now that i think of it.From my experence from bearings going bad its when they start howling and grumbleing,or whistling and then they still could look ok and run in that obnoxious way for miles so im just going to keep an eye on it and check again at my next tire change in 5 to 10k miles.

Interesting about the vent hose rubbing the belt post even though this is an old thread

 

i had that same sound on my five speed bike, it turned out to be the main drive gear bearing in the trans. took tension off the belt and it was quite, put alittle tension back on it and it made noise. trans felt smooth as could be without and tension on it. replaced main drive gear bearing and all has been fine for 16 thousand miles.

 

Thanks Hardheaded. I went through that end of it a couple thousand miles ago. New drive sprocket and all bearings and seals. I just ordered a new belt and rear sprocket so everything will be new. I do have some wear on the rear sprocket, and I'm hoping it's a slight misalignment of the belt and sprocket teeth. I have 85K on both items so I'm justifying this as preventive maintenance.

 

anti rattle spring?

 

You can seldom look at a bearing and diagnose that it is bad, unless it is something glaringly obvious like rust or debris in the race. If this continues to bother you replace the bearing and then you will know for sure if it was a bad bearing noise or something else. Lots of Harley wheel bearings have failed early. When you make a bike using the low cost bidder for everything you are going to have problems with everything sooner than if you used quality parts. That is the reality of today.

 

Mine resolved itself when I removed the wheel to inspect the bearings. Bearings were fine, and the noise went away after reinstallation. I suspect something associated with the brake pads and rotor. Anyway it's quiet again.

 

new tires and new bearings are installed at the time that is how i do it :-)

 

same here, when I replaced the ipb and race last week.

 

It was a playing card held against the spokes by a clothes pin.