High Pitched whine

Hello there, I have noticed a high pitched whine while going down the road. It's the sound I normally equate with the clutch and the clutch is slipping and grabby too when in 1st gear. Bike has 72k on it. Do you think the whine is clutch slippage and I just need to replace it? Thanks, Marko

Marko, are you positive the sound is coming from the engine? Could it be from the front or rear brakes? Or maybe a wheel bearing?

These clutches run in oil. I can't understand how a bike's clutch could whine.

Hi, thanks for the quick replies. Let me try to do a better job describing. It is related to the chirp sound that most metric bikes make. This just seems to be louder and more consistent as the engine revs. I always hear it when the bikes pull away but then as the engines rev it recedes. Does this make sense?

Like the noise in this video?

Exactly. What is that noise from? Maybe it is ok. I wore a different helmet today without full face and it just seemed loud. Maybe I'm just freakin' out.

Jumped on it pretty good today for the first time. Damn thing hauls a@#.

I always equated that to gearbox noise-would only get concerned if it gets appreciably louder. Yes they can haul a**-mine always seemed far better at accelerating than stopping.

I have always attributed that as a normal KZ sound. To me it is more of a purr rather than a squeal. Not sure where the sound originates. Both Z's I have owned made that sound. To me, that means the bike is tuned, valves in spec and balanced. Thereby, you can hear the engine purr better as opposed to hearing cam chain and valve train noise. Now, how loud it should be I can't say. I remember watching CHIPS and hearing that sound on their bikes as well when I was a kid. Love that sound.

This forum is great! I feel much better now that I know. I have been taking it pretty easy on the few rides I have taken as I have been sorting it out, but today I actually twisted the throttle. Verrry impressed! Now if I can stay out of trouble.......

Always though that sound was made by the primary gears on those bikes. Stright cut gears turning at high speed whirr and whine, it sounds really cool if you ask me...

Kinda sounds like a Turbine engine. My first big Kawasaki, was a 1977 Kz1000, went for a ride with several friends just after I got it, and one rider said my bike at a steady cruising speed, sounded like a jet engine at idle.