Hey guys,

So uhh, I'm hearing a strange engine noise from my 05 sporty 1200c.

It wasn't there last week, but I haven't really changed anything about the bike, and didn't beat on it or anything, just riding regularly.

This is my first Harley, but not my first motorcycle, and I know that these bikes are a little on the loud side, but I don't think i'm supposed to not hear a noise one week, and then hear one the next. (...duh)

My regular mechanic told me to stop being a ***** and just ride the thing. He said Harley's are noisy, and that this noise isn't something to be concerned about. Then again, he's also a very old school dude who's used to dealing with old irons and shovels and ****...

So I decided against my better judgment and took it to my local neighborhood stealer. The kids there wasn't certified, said he heard some noise coming from the primary case (even thought it's not) and said it could be a bunch of different things.

So at the end of the day, I decided to come home, take a video of it, and post it on the internets to let you all decide.

is this sound normal? listen closely.. it's like, a metallic ticking... it's there at idle, and then increases as throttle is applied.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SN3I9...ature=youtu.be

 

Kind of hard to tell from video, where does it sound like it's coming from to you?

 

Coming from the very top of the front cylinder.. sitting on the bike, it's coming from the the front top cylinder, in the top left corner (left side of bike)

it's a small, metallic ticking.

 

I think I hear it comes from my 05 also if its the same click I hear it sound like its coming from the lifters or in the case of my jap bikes it was a cam chain slapping

 

Coming from the honda nighthawk forums, this sounds very similar to one of our posters who had a piston coming up too far and tapping the bottom of the cylinder head. It was caused by a worn out connecting rod bearing, letting the piston come up too far and hit the cylinder head.

That MIGHT be what you hear. This sound is rolling with the throttle, so that's what i would guess.

Here's what that guy's piston looked like:
http://nighthawk-forums.com/index.ph...t,rebuild.html

 

I hear it, almost sounds like a weak hydraulic lifter is allowing a bit of play on the rocker.
Are you due for an oil change?

 

The oil change was something I just did seemed to quiet down for I few days then started again oil looked ok lil dark but no notable metal or anything.
Sorry guy didn't intend to steal your thread ....

 

i just did an oil change about 150-200 miles ago. went from standard to synthetic. but again, never noticed the ticking. and then out of nowhere, it started.

 

i don't believe it's a collapsed lifter because it's not THAT noticeable. i mean, don't get me wrong - it's there, you can hear it.. but from what i've gathered, a shot lifter would be a LOT louder.

should i be safe to ride? what are you guys thinkin?

 

I'd ride it & see if it gets louder or not, it just might go away.
A lifter can get weak, they don't always just go all at once.
For about 10 bucks you can get one of those mechanics stethascopes that really help to locate an internal engine noise.