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  1. #1
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    Default Loud gear noise between 45 and 50 mph

    I have a 2019 F3 Spyder and at speeds between 45 and 50 MPH, regardless of what gear I am in, the bike resonates a loud gear noise. I am sure it is not the drive belt but I believe it is the transmission. Is this a typical noise for the can am spyder?

  2. #2
    Very Active Member Ex-Rocket's Avatar
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    Any loud noise coming from a fairly new Spyder would be cause to return to dealership as soon as possible. Its still under warranty so you have nothing to lose.



    2017 F3 Limited in Intense Red Pearl

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    Very Active Member Navydad's Avatar
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    The straight cut gears used in the 1330 engines are prone to being noisy. What puzzles me is why some seam to be louder than others. My RT has a gear whine at those same speeds, but having bikes with straight cut gears before I don't really pay any attention to it. 35,000 miles and it's still going strong. Take it in if worried about it, but I bet you get the standard answers "they all do that" and "Can Am says that's normal."
    2015 RT , Black

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    i have a 2017 rt and also have the annoying gear whines, mine starts in second gear and is obvious in all the rest, i think the fairing amplflies this also, but my neighbor has commented on the gear noise as i pass by. probably something we will have to accept i guess

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    My 2015 had a whine at 50-53mph for a long time, regardless of which gear I was in, but it went away quite some time ago. (It has 83xxx miles now.) I first thought it was alternator whine, but I reasoned it couldn't be, because that would be at a constant RPM, not a constant wheel-speed. So maybe it's that straight-cut gear noise? It would have to be at the final drive (front sprocket speed) to be at a constant mph instead of rpm. Right?

    Anyway, it quit entirely on its own a long time ago, I can't remember when, but probably before 50K miles or so. Perhaps the whine condition just "wore itself away?"
    NEW - 2015 RT Limited SE6 Intense Red Pearl - 07/21/15
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    2015 Limited , Intense Red Pearl

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    Thank you for the input. I really like the trike other than that blasted noise between 45 and 50. I am a little embarassed to let friends who consider transitioning from a motorcycle to a trike ride it.

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    Very Active Member Freddy's Avatar
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    How much did you pay for that classy machine? Doesn't matter, you didn't get what you paid for, sadly, like lots of folks
    The best substitute for brains & knowledge is....................silence.

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    Quote Originally Posted by murphy View Post
    Thank you for the input. I really like the trike other than that blasted noise between 45 and 50. I am a little embarassed to let friends who consider transitioning from a motorcycle to a trike ride it.
    If it's only / mostly between 45-50 mph I think you should consider - drive belt harmonics - All spyders seem to have this... some worse than others .... IMHO ( and others ) the OEM specs for drive belt tension is higher than it needs to be .... I lowered mine and the harmonics went AWAY ..... do a search for " drive belt " and see what has been discovered.......good luck .... Mike

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    I had a similar noise on my 2018 F3 Limited. It was definitely gear noise that became apparent approximately 3000 rpm. Could here the same noise in neutral at same rpms. It was so loud I couldn't enjoy the ride. Traded it for a 2020 RT Limited.

  11. #11
    Active Member Bruiser37's Avatar
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    If it's coming from lower left side better check the front drive sprocket it may be ready to fail.
    2018 RT Limited Spyder , Garmin Zumo GPS, Battery tender wire harness Show Chrome brake pedal extender Oxford Blue

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    i have same problem on my 2020 RT-L. Mentioned it dealer service manager thinking it was the front tires. He said it is the drive belt and Can-Am knows about it. Can-Am has received many complaints and is looking into it.

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    45-50mph gear whine is normal. Some hear it more than others. It's amplified on the 2020+ RTs due to the new fairing, though. There IS a fix for it. the 2021 lates have a different front sprocket. About $100 for the part and another $200 or so for labor to swap it out. This has been discussed previously.

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    This has been an issue on mine 2020 RT-L since day one. LBS tells me they have not heard of the issue before, but I don’t believe them.
    2021 S2S , Green

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    SpyderLovers Sponsor BajaRon's Avatar
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    I do not have one of the newer Spyders. But I wonder if this gear noise is lesser right after an oil change, getting more noticeable as the oil shears. Or, if it is the same all the time. The Castrol oil (XPS) shears down to a 20 weight at about 4,500 miles. Thinner oil would definitely cause gear whine to increase.
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    I did not notice any change after recent oil change.
    2021 S2S , Green

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    SpyderLovers Sponsor BajaRon's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by rsnider1961 View Post
    I did not notice any change after recent oil change.
    I would say you could add something like the Lucas Oil additive. But it would make your clutch slip. Not a good idea.

    Contact me for your next oil change. I may want to run an option by you.
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  18. #18
    Very Active Member K80Shooter's Avatar
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    In the owners manual they show the belt on the front pully needing to run in the center of the pully, has anyone checked this? Where does the belt run on the rear pully? Nothing is mentioned about it?

    I picked mine up on Sat 1-2-21 and yes it has the noise also. I have to take it back for another issue so when I do I'll have the service manager drive it and tell me what he thinks.
    2020 RT Limited Chrome , Petrol Blue

  19. #19
    Very Active Member RICZ's Avatar
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    There should be a gap between the belt and the rear pulley flange the thickness of a credit card.
    Ours is a red, black and chrome 2017 F3 Limited. Bought new in 2/2019. The avatar is my first bike back in 1952, a Simplex Servi-Cycle. Photo taken at the Barber Museum.
    2017 F3 Limited , Red, Black & Chrome

  20. #20
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    same on mine 2020 F3S from the beginning, a noise like a subway. Belt-tension definitly too tight by factory and NO space between belt and rear-pulley inside. Pressure on the gearbox-pulley too high. I lowered the tension and lined the belt on both pulleys. Result: quiet now and it goes more softly by stop-and-go
    2020 F3-S , pedalbox black

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    Very Active Member K80Shooter's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by RICZ View Post
    There should be a gap between the belt and the rear pulley flange the thickness of a credit card.
    Quote Originally Posted by ShockwaveSpyder View Post
    same on mine 2020 F3S from the beginning, a noise like a subway. Belt-tension definitly too tight by factory and NO space between belt and rear-pulley inside. Pressure on the gearbox-pulley too high. I lowered the tension and lined the belt on both pulleys. Result: quiet now and it goes more softly by stop-and-go
    That's what I was thinking. Mine is against the flange, I have not looked at the front pully yet but will now. I have to carry mine back to get another piece replaced when it comes in so I'll also have them to check that. Another thing that I noticed is that the passenger seat is not locked into place, never was and will not lock so that's another item to be looked into.
    2020 RT Limited Chrome , Petrol Blue

  22. #22
    Very Active Member RICZ's Avatar
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    As far as I know, if you have the belt tracking correctly on the rear pulley, it centers on the front pulley OK. It's worked for me.
    Ours is a red, black and chrome 2017 F3 Limited. Bought new in 2/2019. The avatar is my first bike back in 1952, a Simplex Servi-Cycle. Photo taken at the Barber Museum.
    2017 F3 Limited , Red, Black & Chrome

  23. #23
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    Quote Originally Posted by Thad View Post
    i have same problem on my 2020 RT-L. Mentioned it dealer service manager thinking it was the front tires. He said it is the drive belt and Can-Am knows about it. Can-Am has received many complaints and is looking into it.
    If you go to the RT forum you'll find a long discussion about "the noise between 45-50 mph". Supposedly it's coming from the forward belt pully. There's actually a part number posted in the discussion. #219 800 509.

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