PCX125 buzzing sound, very annoying

[Cracksta]

no it wasnt resolved however i think i found whats causing it.

if you look where the bike side stand is, behind that is a thick plastic tube/cable that goes from your rear brakes to the front somewhere.

I think its that which is causing the sound as when i wiggle it, it almost makes that sound.

i've learnt to live with it now and its not that loud as it use to be

[jojo87]

Just read this, i'm getting the same problem now, noticed it more the past 2 days,
mine sounds like it's coming from the front though but not 100% sure,
I can hear it through my Helmet, wind and Exhaust so must be pretty loud,
but like you said, the faster you go, the rattling goes/drowns out,
when i'm going really slow it doesn't do it, it's just between a certain speed,
but again, mine sounds like it's from the front,
I did remove the Screen to clean it but pretty sure I screwed everything back up tightly,
I do use the side stand a lot, and just read your last post...
have you yet managed to sort it, or find out exactly what it is?
as mine REALLY annoys me!

[Potoroo]

Hi Cracksta,
My pcx125 has been making a rattling noise from when I first got it, mainly at around 20-25mph. I took it back to the dealers and they said that it was quite normal for a pcx and that they all did this. I have had the bike for 3 years now and done nearly 7,000 miles so the noise mustn't be anything serious or else something would have dropped off or seized by now.
I am wondering if it is just the weights or sliders or whatever you call them inside the variator rattling as there is not enough centrifugal force/speed to keep them to the outside edge of the variator, so they are rattling like false teeth?

[ScooterMan]

I have 3 pcx 150's, and only 1 has the rattle. I thought I'd traced it to where the rear brake cable routes through a metal ring near the kickstand. I insulated it where it passes though the hole, but no luck. Will have to throw it on the centerstand and rev it some more. I'l prob try to throw a piece of carpet under it when I do just to isolate the noise so I don't hear any of the vibration from the centerstand.

[Max11]

I have also encountered this rattling/buzzing issue on brand new PCX 125 (2015). It started somewhere around 100km and until now (650km total) it's getting worse. It's similar sound as I heard when my friend had damaged bearing somewhere in engine on a moped or when you shake a handful of plastic bottle caps (but much louder)

Sound is getting from right side where the radiator is located. The warmer the engine, the louder the noise. At first it was rattling only at constant cruising speed from 30 to 60 km/h. When I accelerated or decelerated, the noise temporarily stopped. But now it can be heard in wider range of revs, even on beginning of acceleration and beginning of deceleration. Also I cannot hear it when I put the bike on center stand. I can hear it only when the engine is under load.

So I simulated engine load at center stand, by pulling a throttle and simultaneously slightly pulling rear break lever. The noise was weaker than when I'm riding, but it was noticeable. This way I located the source of the noise somewhere around radiator.

I know this is very subjective, but the noise is absolutely unbearable for me, especially on long trips. I can hear it through wind noise, engine noise and helmet. Especially when it is reflecting from objects like parked cars and buildings on the right side of the road. Even the people riding near me yesterday noticed it.

And after reading all the topics on this and also other forums, I'm afraid that dealer will only tell me, that I have to live with it. But I will try to be persistent in my request of fixing this issue.
If anyone found a solution for this (other than using ear plugs), I will be very grateful. I believe it has to be something trivial like loose screw, because the rattling noise is not exactly in sync with engine vibrations. So it shouldn't be something mechanical with cyclic motion like valves for example.

PS: I hope that my English is comprehensible enough

[Max11]

This is what I hear in helmet when riding my PCX.

https://clyp.it/zejz1neh

It's an older recording from helmet headset. Now the rattle is even worse, but I can't record it since the scoot is still in service
In real it is much more noticeable than the sound of the engine. Really annoying.

[ScooteringAbout]

Woah, I have done 1,200miles just on my 2015 PCX and it does NOT have that sound, if I can sort an external mike for my GoPro I'll do the same and will give a DL link to anyone to show their dealership somethings wrong.

JoJo is this the same noise yours is having? I hope Max11 just got the thing on record.

[jojo87]

Similar, mine is only when the Throttle is pulled... when letting go completely the rattle sound will stop,
and I could be off the Bike for a week, and then start it and ride and it'll be there, so it isn't just when the Engines hot,
but if I am on it for 30-60 minutes then the sound will go from a rattle type to metal balls spinning in a tin type sound.

I was trying to remember when it first started,
because I remembered the sound from the rear which was horrible and that's why Thunder Road took it in to check,
but I wasn't hearing the whole Throttle rattle then... otherwise i'd of mentioned it,
so I think it only started when I got the Bike back,
and that's only after they took the side casing off and checked the Belt etc etc...
so thinking could they of done something at that time.

They still have the Bike now, supposed to have it back on Tuesday but will email them tomorrow to check,
the first Service is being done, and they're supposed to look for this rattle sound so i'm just hoping they do!

I've tried a lot to get the sound recorded but due to the wind etc, I never do,
well... it picked it up for a second when setting off from a Roundabout, but not much...
on this video at 7:22 (might need to turn the volume up, you should be able to hear it)

[Max11]

I think it is caused by crankshaft bearing. It has identical symptoms as I encountered on my 1984 Jawa B210. And as I tried to explain HERE in the last post, it looks like something inside the engine is really falling apart.

But now it is exactly like Jojo said. I can barely hear it even with cold engine and on the stand. But when the motor warms up it goes from subtle rattle to "all hell broke loose". But it is most noticeable when I pull the throttle just to maintain speed or very gently accelerating. I found out it is releated to current engine torque not speed or rpm.

Jojo try to put your cellphone into pocket of some windbreaker jacket and try to record it that way. It is bit muffled compared to helmet headset, but its OK too. Here is sample of how it sounds: https://clyp.it/mmqql0ek

[Max11]

Today I recieved a call from dealer. The PCX was sitting for 2 weeks at his service untouched. He said that they have done everything they could so far and they sent my recording to Honda central in Austria (he does that a month ago BTW). He said that the Honda central is waiting for someone else from within EU with similar issue to get his PCX logged in their system by the authorized Honda dealer with similar symptoms and only then they will start to investigate the issue.
Am I the only one who is feeling being fooled ?

[jojo87]

Well my Dealer got back to me and said they've heard a knock/rattle on light throttle between 25-35mph and will keep me updated! really annoying me, missing out on a lot of good weather!!!! just hoping they sort it, I had to tell them though the rattle is constant at any speed when the throttle is turned a little or full!

[ScooteringAbout]

Lets hope they make some progress with the pair of you!.

[Max11]

After a little drama at dealers office, he promised, that he will give me my money back. So I took my PCX from the service garage so I can strip it down from accessories at home. And after I sit on the scoot I was GLAD that I got rid of it. They said that they swapped the chain tensioner for a new one and obviously they have done it wrong. I could not start the scoot. After several attempts with half throttle, the engine finally started. But when I revved the engine I noticed absolutely different sound. It was like when somebody put a supercharger in it, but the revvs were falling too quickly. Almost like when you try to rev engine with rear break on. So I assume the chain tensioner is too tight.

I am very sad, that I am leaving the PCX community. After my experience with Honda services I really don't want to risk that it happens again in future. PCX is great scoot, but if Honda can't or don't want to take responsibility for it's possible flaws, I do not want their products. Another thing is, that Honda does not care who sells their products. At least in my country. IMHO any hobby mechanic would be more experienced than the dealer from which I have my PCX.

[WhiteNoise]

I thought of ya'll when I read about member fun2scoot's annoying noise. Did ya'll read his post, see his pic and his fix? Could it be possible it's the same noise as yours? I don't know. Just bringing it to your attention http://www.hondapcx.org/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4459

[Max11]

@white noise

I was fixing exactly the same washer even before fun2scoot's post here: http://hondapcx.org/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4246
You can find also the photos there. But my sound is definately comig from the engine. Everything else was examined or swapped with new part.
And I planned to use my PCX for trips over 500km long, so I can't risk that the engine falls apart somewhere abroad.

[WhiteNoise]

Yer right Max11! I just clicked link and you reminded me What a saga and what a p.i.t.a. (Noise)!

[Kamen666]

Hey there and greetings from Bulgaria
Is there any solution about this problem... ?
Me and two more guys from here,all with 150pcx 2015 have the same sound problem...and the dealers told us that is pretty normal...but i dont think so !
Sorry for my bad English
Cheers
Kamen

[jojo87]

Hey,

No fix for me, they had my Bike for 5 weeks, replaced the Crankshaft and did the first service and said they had 2 specialises on it and that it was running ok... I got it back and went straight out on it and the rattle I got was there still, still is, i've contacted the Dealers I got it from about a replacement altogether but still waiting for a reply!

It is really annoying! especially as now I know it's there, it's all I hear, through wind, engine/exhaust, helmet, really annoying!

[you you]

Does it affect the bikes functionality?

[you you]

Hey,

No fix for me, they had my Bike for 5 weeks, replaced the Crankshaft and did the first service and said they had 2 specialises on it and that it was running ok... I got it back and went straight out on it and the rattle I got was there still, still is, i've contacted the Dealers I got it from about a replacement altogether but still waiting for a reply!

It is really annoying! especially as now I know it's there, it's all I hear, through wind, engine/exhaust, helmet, really annoying!

Not sure you would change a bikes crankshaft on the basis of the rattle you describe. Seems a bit extreme as there are many many other components that could cause it. Most likely suspects would be the drive chain. Why not change a few components.

After all a lot of people around here do for no good reason or effect