How noisy is your engine?
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,224
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RE: How noisy is your engine?
Use good synthetic oil and it will quiet down. And if it's running stock pipes, you'll hear more engine noise end of story. It's like that on all new bikes not just Harley's. Hell, you should hear the racket my '03 Bonneville T-100 made before I changed the exhaust!
Tourer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 458
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RE: How noisy is your engine?
Like everyone is saying... don't worry about it. It's normal. I stopped using any synth oil and just run Valvoline 20W-50 racing oil. I try out just about every new oil that comes out and the Valvoline is the one I keep going back to. When I use it, the engine's a lot quieter than when using the synthetics. If you change your oil at the recommended intervals (or sooner), there's really no great advantage to the synthetics, except that they empty your wallet faster. I've torn down several engines that have used it and I haven't seen any less wear than on engines that used fossil oil. I don't see the sense in paying more for oil that you still have to change regularly anyway. I change mine every 2500-3000 miles and always use a K&N filter (catches stuff down to 10 microns). Been doing it for a few decades and haven't never had an oil-related problem with any of the engines I've owned or built. If you really want synth for some reason, buy Mobil One (the regular type). It's inexpensive and works just as well as any other oil. My 2 cents.... 
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,916
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From: San Antonio, Texas
RE: How noisy is your engine?
ORIGINAL: KBFXDLI
My TC88 clattered a lot with the syn3 oil. So, I switched to Mobil1Vtwin 20w50 and it is much quieter. But still makes some noise.
However the annoying clatter is gone. Get some thunderheaders......you'll never hear the valetrain again...
My TC88 clattered a lot with the syn3 oil. So, I switched to Mobil1Vtwin 20w50 and it is much quieter. But still makes some noise.
However the annoying clatter is gone. Get some thunderheaders......you'll never hear the valetrain again...
Cruiser
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 193
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RE: How noisy is your engine?
'98 DWG, 55k miles, no clickong, tapping, clanking...nothing, one of the quietest HDs around. I have the EV27 cam with stock pushrods on the front, adjustables in the rear. 20w50 Castrol dino oil. If your bike sounds like a sewing machine, you might want to start tracking downthe clicks and clacks.
Banned
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,976
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RE: How noisy is your engine?
You'll know it right away if you develop an engine problem. I know my 06 tends to chatter more a lower RPMs, under a load.
When cruising, I just hear wind, and a sweet exhaust note.
DougJ
When cruising, I just hear wind, and a sweet exhaust note.
DougJ
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Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,530
Likes: 0
From: Diamond Bar, California
RE: How noisy is your engine?
I found my bike to be in the average noise group as far as HDs are concerend.
now that I have a modded engine, its a little louder. It clatters and whines, but its "good" engine noise.
being a auto tech by trade for almost 20 years may give me a tad more torlerance for the HP type noises the come with bigger cams, heavy valve springs and all the other things that make a engine clack and rattle while running.
now that I have a modded engine, its a little louder. It clatters and whines, but its "good" engine noise.
being a auto tech by trade for almost 20 years may give me a tad more torlerance for the HP type noises the come with bigger cams, heavy valve springs and all the other things that make a engine clack and rattle while running.
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