Creaking/squeaking "bed spring" noise under hard acceleration - CRF300L (2000m-3,200 km)
I’m having a weird issue with my CRF 300L (it only has 3,200 km / ~2,000 miles on it) and could use some advice.
The Problem:
Whenever I accelerate hard in 1st and 2nd gears, I hear a loud creaking/squeaking noise. It sounds exactly like an old rusty bed spring. I also hear the exact same noise when riding over very rocky terrain.
When it started:
This issue started right after I took the bike for a ride on a sandy beach.
What I've ruled out so far:
Not the suspension linkage: If the bike is stationary and I push down hard on the rear end to compress the shock, there is absolutely no squeak. It only happens under load/torque or lateral stress.
Not the chain sliders: The bike is practically new (3,200 km), so the sliders aren't worn out. By the way, I completely cleaned and relubed my front sprocket and chain.
Has anyone experienced this issue before? Where should I check? Thanks in advance.