no its not, im sure. i rode for 50 miles like this and inspected everything while on bike. it happens when im only out of the saddle cranking it and pulling/pushing up on handlebars. when im just sitting and pedaling theres no more noise...if i were to describe it with an animal noise..it sounds like a goose and a low tone and i can feel it vibrating when theres noise. not a dangerous rattle noise either. like wet rubber rubbing on metal...