It made the noise before I ever did anything to the bike.. It all started around 500 miles... I have check everything.. It is coming from the right side of the bike (while sitting on it) from the clutch cover area. I have eliminated all other possibilities . I know the difference from engine "ping" and metal slapping together... It gets worse as the oil gets warmer or thinner, what have you..

 

You could have a real bad problem but chances are it's something simple. You said you were new to harleys...have you gone to the dealership and test drove another model just like yours? How many miles you have on the bike now? So at 500 miles it started making the noise so you did a stage one on it before finding out what the problem was? Who test drove it at the dealership? The service writer or the mechanic?

We're trying to help you out but there is a lot of vague information and with you being new to harleys, you already seem to know an aweful lot.

If it were me I would drop it off at the dealership and if they can't find the problem make them give you a new bike. It's a 2012, you shouldn't have to deal with it.

Did they move the clutch to the right side on the 2012 models? my 2011 is on the left

 

I went ahead with the stage one because after taking it to the dealer from which I purchased three times and each time them telling me there is nothing wrong, I just felt I had to believe them, being new to Harleys I didn't think they would steer me wrong ya know. The problem I have with them telling me its "normal" is that if it was normal, then why didn't it do it the whole time??? I have taken other bikes for a ride.. but they were all cold and I would have to drive 20 30 miles to get it fully warmed up .(that seems to be when my starts making the noise) (also, I live in maine, so it may take longer to get things all warmed up here than in other warmer areas, just a thought)

I have tried all the oils out there including mobil one, spectra, royal purple, harley oil, and now redline. Nothing really seems to cure it. I now have 2300 miles on it and I feel like it may be getting worse. It just doesn't make sense to me that a transmission will be that chattery going down the road... I get the whole being clunky while shifting and all, that I can deal with, but while in cruising mode?? by the way, I can now hear this noise over my vance and hines big radius if that tells you anything..

I even pulled the primary cover off to check the comp bold, rock solid.. everything else looked good in there as well... when I talk to other local guys they all tell me theirs don't make that noise.. I had a guy take it for me, and he even said its not right... I am going to try and get a second opinion and see where things go from there.... I am really bummed because I absolutely love everything else about the bike....

oh and the service writer took the bike for a ride.. all three times.. he got pissy the second and third time..

Clutch is still on the left, but your cable and actuator are on the right side of the bike..

anyways, in the mean time, if you guys think of anything, let me know.

Thanks,

 

which redline are you using? did you try the shockproof to see if it helped?

 

yea, sure did. Thats all the had at the dealership... honestly, it seemed that royal purple made it less noticeable than all the others..

 

Sounds like lugging going on to be honest.
These bikes run lean and that doesn't help.
Interested to see what the other stealer says.

 

It's a Harley .....

 

I wouldn't consider 2000 rpms lugging by any means... running lean or not.. I honestly don't believe a transmission should sound this way. Also, installed a vh fuel pak to help with the lean condition.. no change in sound what so ever.. Just because its my first Harley.. doesn't mean its my first motorcycle.. sorry, not trying to be a dink..

 

"its a harley" excuse doesn't work for me... I supposedly paid for the best "AMERICAN " motorcycle, then I best getting the best..

 

How would you feel about saying "its a harley" if something truly is wrong, and while going down the road the tranny ***** its load, causing a severe accident killing me, or god forbid somebody else.... would you stand there, and say... "its a harley".... I hope not.. extreme I know.. but not out of the realm of possibility..