Ever since I bought my 2007 K1200GT, it makes a kind of warbling sound on idle. There is a high pitch component to the sound, but it isn't a whine. I assume that it is normal, and the service people never mention it. I never owned a four-cylinder bike that didn't have a smooth purr when it idles - this is the first one that is different.

1. Does your K1200GT have a warble sound as it idles? Is it normal?

2. If so, what causes the "warble" sound? What is the high pitch component?

Classic vacuum leak sound. Goes away with throttle opening, right?

Get it fixed right away. Could be a loose vacuum hose.

Let us know.

Spafxer

It smoothes out as soon as I open the throttle (no warble), but the high pitch tone that is part of the warble is still there. The high pitch tone goes higher as the RPMs increase. The high pitch tone is kinda' like the high pitch whine on some 18-wheeler tractor/trailers as they rev their engines.

When the K1200GT engine idles, the high pitch tone goes up and down, to make the "warble" sound.

I have ridden with it over a year without noticing any serious issues. I have a service scheduled next week and will ask about it.

It would be helpful to know if everyone else with a 2006-2008 K1200GT has an idle sound that is like a warble (not a smooth purrrrr).

My 2006 does it at idle and increases as you throttle. When I pull the clutch in it goes away.....I'm going to have it checked next service.

The 18 wheeler sound you here is a turbocharger spinning up. Don't have one of those, yet!

There is a noticeable gear whine as we get going (RPM) I've never looked that up because I assumed there are straight cut gears between the crankshaft and transmission input shaft. Straight cut gears keep the horsepower up at the expense of some noise. (Sounds like a turbine engine)

I still think it sounds like a vacuum leak. Only hard to pinpoint because of all the stuff hiding that engine.

Wait for it....Wait for it....They all do that.

"Boy, haven't seen that one before"

It's been on the internet for a year, but you can't trust EVERYTHING you read on the internet!

The main gear whine we get is from the straight cut camshaft gears. There is a chain driving one camshaft and the other is driven by straight cut gears from the first. This is quite a loud whine but I wouldn't call it a warble.

Thanks, Bob, but this isn't a main gear whine. The whine that I'm trying to describe comes from the engine and gets higher in pitch when the engine RPMs increase, even when the clutch is pulled in or when the transmission is in neutral. It doesn't get louder, it just gets higher in pitch.

At idle, the whine varies like a warble. I will ask the service manager about it when I bring the bike in for service next week, but I wanted to know if other people on this forum have the same thing.

I'm half deaf, owing to a Marine Corps life filled with pistol competition back in the days when only girls wore ear protection, so most of the little sounds other people find annoying simply don't exist for me. My son recently rode my bike and commented that there was a turbine-like whine which his didn't have. I'm going to forget he said that, and just enjoy my bike in blissful ignorance of the sound, but I guess it could be troubling to other owners.