WR250R + flat lander skid plate = engine noise!

[Truckernick]

So with 200km on the bike I started freaking out a bit from the engine noise that has started, until I realized it's the noise being trapped in by the skid plate. So what have you guys done to deaden the sound? I was thinking about some car audio insulation but I'm wondering what is the best option for the location ie under the engine that will be exposed to high heat, mud, water etc.. ?

 

[TW_rider]

You can add some weather-stripping along the frame, where the plate makes contact...that will isolate "some" of the induced noise.
I added some "skid-plate foam" to my DR and I didn't realize how much of a difference it made until I removed it about a month ago...

I'll be putting some back on, even though it holds mud, water and oil...it makes a big difference to the reflected noise. Also keeps rocks from getting trapped between the plate and the engine; those suckers rattle like castanets!

 

[LordEndo]

On my WR I wrapped the frame tubes in an old inner tube, then installed the skid plate. On my KTM there's a foam block between the engine and the skid plate.

 

[DirtClunker]

On my KTM 450, wow it was noisy - and it was happy to reflect all that noise back up to the pilot. A chunk of Dynamat on the skid plate helped quite a bit. Add a bit of weatherstripping between the frame and plate will help too.

 

[Rydr]

I coated my WR250 skid-plate with spray on truck bed liner... 3 coats... Seemed to help with the engine noise.

 

[hooter]

My Husky sounded like it was coming apart until I realized that it was the skid plate vibrating against the frame rails. I used double-sided foam automotive tape between the frame rails and skid plate and it completely killed the noise.

 

[bitingdog]

wr250r + flat lander skid plate = engine noise!

wr250r + flat lander skid plate = engine noise!

I have the same bike with same skidplate. The LordEndo inner tube method is best at stopping sympathetic vibes, but bear in mind that the skidplate will reflect the engine noise back up to the rider. I find that my (otherwise stock) bike is very quiet on the trails, yet exhaustingly loud
while cruising on the street and/or highway at high rpm. It's a rather high pitched and unpleasant shriek, makes my ears ring after a while. This is no doubt aggravated by my 13t x 52t gearing. Need that tractor gearing in order to ride at Timmerman (Tamihi) Creek with this bike. I tried with stock gearing at first, and it was a miserable experience. I was composing my Craigslist advert while riding, that's how bad it was.

 

[kenf]

I never minded the growl of my husky on the trails, but definitely wear earplugs for any extended rides on slab.

The Scorpion plate I run came with some open-cell foam (just seemed like cheap pink packing foam) that fit between the rails and was pressed tight up against the bottom of the motor, never showed any signs of melting. I eventually tossed it just because if how much dirt it held. Self-adhesive weather stripping on the frame rails seems to do a decent job of minimizing rattles for me.

 

[Rubiclone]

I just used some sound absorbing material from Lordco, it has a sliver heat backing and seems to hold up fine. I might add a bit more because i am still getting some noise since i didnt coat the wings of the skid plate. I covered the entire plate so that it isolates it from the frame rails. I hear 3M makes much better material but the Lordco stuff is cheap and works ok. I think it got louder again since i just spent the weekend bouncing off the rev limiter in the sand dunes, might pull it off and see whats up.