Could not find a thread about this
So here I go

When riding off road, I get a rattle from the rear end/wheel somewhere
I thought it might be the chain rattling against the swingarm, upped the chain tension to minimize this, but it's still there
Quite a harsh rattle

Could it perhaps be the bearings? - all seems fine with visual inspection
Can it be the cush rubbers?
There is a bit of play but I did the tube conversion

A bit of a guessing situation - quite irritating but more concerned it might be something that's in the process of breaking

Thanks in advance

Just a thought,it maybe the side stand rattling up and down...

Might be a broken spoke in the wheel, or a loose tail light assembly. I think they have a history of working loose and breaking of into the back wheel with a lot of off road riding. Have a look to make sure all the tubes on the bottom of tha air box are attached where they should be. The clear drain off has come away before on mine.
The swing arm is hollow maybe a stone has found its way in there?
Just a few suggestions to keep you busy Dual. Good luck.

Inspected all above mentioned issues and not any better, worrying that it might be swingarm bearings

No tools on bike

Rear light in place, nothing loose

Might be rear end frame somewhere loose, I ride with a topbox loaded with parts, compressor on long trips

Will take it apart this coming weekend and inspect

Thanks for replying, still no solution

A lot of the inexplicable rattles mine has developed at the rear end have been down to small stones and gravel getting into the hollow swingarm through the big holes in each side after doing faster gravel forest trails and fire roads. I also live a mile down an unmade road, which also doesn't help. You'll probably be surprised how much crap you can pull out of there!

I periodically have to empty the undertray on the car for exactly the same reason (about once a year) when the rattling gets too annoying to live with.

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I presume you have to take off the swingarm to clear stones?

Have you got a main stand fitted? mine knocks against the passenger foot rest when the suspension compresses on my Xt660z.

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XTz 660 tenere, adventure spec bash plate, main stand, skid marks tall screen, Oxford tail pack 36 litre. Kobra hand guards, Bigger cast footpegs, Zen overland luggage plate, USB power point, iridium spark plug, TKC80 f k60 R tyres, o2 and fuel Kev mods, DNA stage 2 filter. bark buster bar wieghts, Touratec side stand base and GPS mount. Led spot lights

No centre stand, just side stand, kept my foot on it just to have play from rubber, not from there

You can do a better job when it is removed, but a combination of and air line, vacuum cleaner, old wire hangers and some bottle brushes is all you really need to fish/suck/blow out what may be lurking inside...

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What top box do you have? My Trax top box sometimes makes an ugly rattling noise which originates from the studs the box clips onto. The rubber around the studs on the mounting plate wear and become dry.

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2014 XT660Z - Barrett pipe, DNA stage1.5, Barkbuster hand guards and handlebars, Pivot pegs, Teknik suspension, Guard-it engine protector combo, B&B rear rack, Trax topbox.