Just looking for some advice before I have to drive my new Road King 50 miles to have my Dealer look at it.
My new RK has a loud whine noise coming from the transmission or the primary, at least it's louder then the other Harleys I've had. Only at low speeds or when down shifting, it's been loud from day 1. The whine noise comes at what I would call normal times, it just seems louder them normal, if that makes any sense.
When I did the 1000 mile service I put Amsoil in and I thought that might help but it's still the same. I'm at 4200 miles now...Thanks.

 

I've got an 2011 RK and I hear some primary chain noise but not too bad. I tried ATF fluid once but that really made the primary loud. 1st gear is whinny but it tells me I'm in 1st so I'm ok withit. How bad is the noise, moderate, loud?

 

I'm happy you said your 1st gear is whinny because mine is to. As for loudness that's all in the eyes of the beholder. To me it's a normal whine but just louder than all my other Harleys I had. I would not call it real loud it's not like every time I drive in town every one looks to see what's making that noise. I will call it moderately louder then what I expected.

 

I have an '09 Ultra and it has whined in 1st gear since right after new, like said above it tells me I am in first. A parts guy at the dealer turned me onto Lucas Oil Supplement, I put some in all three holes and top end noise primary noise almost gone and trans only has the 1st gear noise and the shifts are quieter plus I can find neutral easier.

 

It's kind of hard what anybody's definition of what loud is. The bike is new, the warranty is in effect, why not take leisurely ride to see if it is"normal" or not.

 

That's about right.
I think it's a normal sound, just louder then any other Harley I have driven. I was surprised that the Amsoil didn't make it quieter then the Harley oil that was in it.
My work is slowing down so I should have some time to take a ride to my Dealer and have them drive it. I have a rear wheel weight coming off and they said they will fix that for free so I might just as well go there...Thanks.