Daft question about a funny noise...

[jazbug5]

I can hear a sort of whirring noise when riding my GSF400; sounds electrical.
Reminds me of the noise the ignition makes when it's firing but there's no juice in the battery.
Is this, er... like, supposed to happen..? *blush*

[Ixion]

Is your starter button stuck down? This happens to Ratty occasionally, a flick with a fingernail and the whirring is gone.

[jazbug5]

Thanks, Mr. Ixion.

I'll check it when I leave work, but then it's been fairly consistently 'whirring' recently, and it does need pushing (the starter button) to start the bike, so... unless it's just a wee bit stuck??!!

It did just get a load done to it at the local bike shop; I'd have thought they'd pick up something like this... though they did charge me for 2 hrs labour to do the fork seals, so maybe they're just a bit, well... slow?

[Flyingpony]

Could it be that the starter motor is not retracting properly?
Give it a good gentle wack with a hammer.

Is the sould related to engine rpm?
Does it happen when stationary?
It could be something rubbing.

Did this sound happen before the service?
Double check what the shop might have touched.

[Paul in NZ]

If they could replace the fork seals on the Moto Guzzi in 2 hours they can have the job! Some jobs like that can be 'difficult'... Though an hour of that time is removing / replacing the fairing...

[erik]

Has it made the sound the whole time you've had the bike?

My GSF400 makes a bit of a whirring/whiney noise which I think is the camchain on the camchain guide. Not 100% sure though and I don't know if it's the same noise you've described.

I reckon your best bet is to ask someone local, it's pretty hard to describe and diagnose a noise on the net.