Help me find the source of a rattle...

Colly · Aug 2, 2018

Just got a 2013 Hyperstrada, and in the last few days I've noticed a very annoying rattle. When between 3.5k and about 5k revs, I hear a rattle. Sort of sounds like change jingling in your pocket, or a set of keys or something - basically metal lightly vibrating against metal.

I'm 90% sure I never heard this when I first got the bike - and when I did it had to go back to Ducati for some work so I'm wondering would it be because of that.

Or is this just how it sounds? I find it very annoying. Must be loud enough if I can hear it over the wing and exhaust noise.

Any idea where it may be coming from?

ferdi · Aug 2, 2018

in which situation does it rattle ?
lower revs and full throttle ?
high revs ?
slowing down ?

as we do not hear the noise and do not have a crystal ball it's quite hard to do a remote diagnosis.

can you record the noise and put it on youtube ?
does it occur in idle also ?

RSL · Aug 2, 2018

My rattle was one of these loose heat shield bolts.

2017090210473437-B893088A-998B-4EE2-B24B-B7A265D8C531-XL.jpg

gatdammit · Aug 2, 2018

The heat shield pictured above is notorious for rattles. The bolts use a semi-rigid washer that wears out fast. I ordered a dozen of them when I first found it. Honestly, that heat shield also fades to a purplish color so worth replacing it with the carbon fiber version.

It's a rattle prone bike. It doesn't purr, it's growls.

bayotte · Aug 2, 2018

Yup, mine had a loose heat shield too. While you're at it, check the rear lower splash guard, those bolts are frequently loose as well.

kuksul08 · Aug 2, 2018

A good way to find rattles, as silly as it may sound, is to hit parts of the bike with a rubber or plastic mallet. The impulse excites all natural frequencies and will make things rattle if they're going to rattle (even if for a fraction of a second). I found a very sneaky rattle in my car this way which turned out to be a metal clip floating around in the air vents.

WhiteHyper · Aug 2, 2018

Similar type rattle, chased it for months.....was the heat shield. Fitted an extra washer, all good.

Happened when the bike warmed up, cold was ok.

Colly · Aug 3, 2018

Thanks all. I just checked the heat shield and it seems rock solid. I'll give the rubber hammer a go - not sure what else I can check really...

Ferdi these are good questions I'll try to figure them out and get back to you

monocog007 · Aug 3, 2018

Check the heat shield that covers the rear header under the fuel tank. And also check the little plastic cover over the license plate light, might be surprising but it can make a pretty loud rattle.

Demetrio · Aug 3, 2018

Yesterday I was washing my bike and I found some sources of your rattle :

1 Rear foot pegs
2 licence plate cover
3 Rear tire cover

Those threee make some rattle if you move them

I do not hear any while riding but with the bike stand still if you move them they rattle.

cloetep · Feb 2, 2019

Hi Colly. Did you find the source of your rattle. I have exactly the same sound you described. Almost sounds like a piston or rings rattling if that makes sense.

Relax · May 5, 2019

Just had a washer disintegrate during a ride today and the rattling was driving me nuts! Is there a more permanent solution to this than constantly replacing those plastic/fiber washers?

Tyjamo · May 5, 2019

You need 4 each time you replace them. Maybe once a year or so isnt a big deal. A few dollars and a few minutes and voila. Ducatis are built by genius-passion-fairies in Neverland. You must accept their intricacies and idiosyncronicities and adopt them into your heart, faults and niggles along with their sexy pizzaz. This philosophy is the same as taming a dragon.

Relax · May 10, 2019

Tyjamo said:
You need 4 each time you replace them. Maybe once a year or so isnt a big deal. A few dollars and a few minutes and voila. Ducatis are built by genius-passion-fairies in Neverland. You must accept their intricacies and idiosyncronicities and adopt them into your heart, faults and niggles along with their sexy pizzaz. This philosophy is the same as taming a dragon.

Well, the washers on my 998's heat shield have lasted 17 years without failing. They are part number 85210721A (green) instead of 85210721B (black). Of course, they're 3x more expensive, which could be an indication of their durability. There's a reason why modern Ducati's are so cheap these days compared to what they used to sell for. I'll see if they fit without the green being visible.

appliance821 · May 10, 2019

Relax said:
Well, the washers on my 998's heat shield have lasted 17 years without failing. They are part number 85210721A (green) instead of 85210721B (black). Of course, they're 3x more expensive, which could be an indication of their durability. There's a reason why modern Ducati's are so cheap these days compared to what they used to sell for. I'll see if they fit without the green being visible.

LOL - because Ducati is famous for its heritage of reliability and build quality.

Relax · May 10, 2019

appliance821 said:
LOL - because Ducati is famous for its heritage of reliability and build quality.

No, but most manufacturers IMPROVE their reliability and build quality over the years.

appliance821 · May 11, 2019

Relax said:
No, but most manufacturers IMPROVE their reliability and build quality over the years.

Ducati is now on par with the Euro bikes - a massive improvement as they have all stepped up their game. Maybe not up to the Asian makers, but good. Very happy with my strada, and Ducati has been good with goodwill repairs where there is a known issue. Anyhow - onwards and forwards... And I had a rattle and replaced the washer with a spare oil change crush washer. LOL

gatdammit · May 13, 2019

Biggest gamble for me was the motor. It was brand new and I knew Duc's were finicky, historically. Rattles and switch gear issues can happen to any make/ model.

The motor has exceeded my expectations. I flog it daily and it just keeps delivering. 17K miles and I still love winding it out and hearing it thunder.

Relax · May 20, 2019

And now my rear reflector under the license plate has partially fallen out. Those clips seem to leave too much free play and the reflectors are all rattling. Never noticed until I went back to the stock exhaust. Is there a way to remove the clips to space out the tangs a bit further for a more snug fit? The post of the rear reflector broke, so it's garbage, and I just used side cutters to snap off the other post.

appliance821 · May 25, 2019

gatdammit said:
Biggest gamble for me was the motor. It was brand new and I knew Duc's were finicky, historically. Rattles and switch gear issues can happen to any make/ model.

The motor has exceeded my expectations. I flog it daily and it just keeps delivering. 17K miles and I still love winding it out and hearing it thunder.

yup 32k miles here - rolling like a train.

Help me find the source of a rattle...

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