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Mine clatters loud as hell with almost 12000 miles on it. Sounds exactly like it did when new with 7 miles on it. The recent change to straight 60w VR1 maybe helped slightly, but still sounds like thousands of little hammers tapping on the rocker covers. It's normal.
The sound goes straight up, and if when riding you lean your head way over left or right, it gets alot quieter. Anyway, with all the clatter and wind noise, I just wear earplugs or ear buds and don't worry about it.
Only problem with earplugs is the bike just purrs, so I end up speeding a lot. Damn lucky I haven't gotten a ticket yet.
Most peeps coming off a Jap bike would think my Nightster's gonna blow up. It spits and pops, rides like a rigid (it's lowered), and drags on either side going around corners. No manners at all. But every time I park it, peeps just love it and that SOB just howls away from a light. Spinning wheels in first; wheelstands in second and third. The V&H Shortshots make some nice music. Assuming they're tightened up, of course. LOL
Having shipped my 2006 1200 sportster over to the U.S.A. From the u.k. Where the temperature is always colder than the U.S. I find that after travelling 3000 miles across the country I am experiencing a real noisy engine. Now my question is. Is it because the oil is too thin as we have been riding in temperatures of 90F. So therefore the engine is really mega hot.
Would it be better with a thi met grade engine oil? I've read ref. the thi ker gear oil for the transmission works well but I just wondered if a thicker engine oil would be better.
Anybody out there tried this. I have been using HD 20-50 which I'm not sure is any good out in these temperatures. We're hoping to complete a ride to Vancouver and back so would appreciate any helpful comments on this.
Cheers.'H'
hello all.. well since posting on this about my sporty making all kind of noise i since found the noise..the bottom of my tank seems to be really thin one day i was riding i was tiered of that f*kn noise so i started feeling around while i was riding as i got to the underside of the tank i pushed up on it and it stopped... remember those "cricket toys: the metal was like that or like the safety button on a jar.. when i got home i took the tank off put some of than pipe insulating foam tube over the bar under the tank..
no weird noise.. still sounds like i'm riding around in a chipper chopping up chains.. but that weird valve/rattling/like it was going to explode..only when hi rpm noise was gone..
i have a 30 year old bike so it may not be the same problem as someone else.. y'all have a great day...
I noticed a similar problem in my Ducati (1100 EVO). When the engine gets really hot, it seems to me to hear more noise coming off it.
IMO is oil viscosity related (running Mobil1 Racing 10W-40). When oil temperature sky-rocket, it gets thinner and allows for a noisier engine.
Let the bike sit for ten minutes, and noise is gone.
Never notice any extra noise in my 2012 Nightster so far.
Can you say compensator? One of the biggest noise contributers, automatic chain tensioner probably the second. Cam chains, lifters, push-rods, valve rockers, (push-rod-motor) hey it's a harley. Old-school design. I have read, that the Sporster motor is the best in endurance though. It's amazing what the Motor Company can get away with. Man-it's-a-Harley! Hey I love my 2008 E.G.U.C., FLHTCU, but I am smart enough to know better than compare it to better engine designs. You are not riding technology, you are riding history, tradition, classic, piece of yester-year! A horse will get you there and so will a Mercedes. I love the old relic, for reasons other than performance. "Pop"..215-Deg's.."Pop"....305-Deg's (nothing) and around it goes!
[QUOTE=HarleyRulez;665897]Is the noise a clicking noise? I seem to get a loud clicking when I am at driving at speed on my 2004 1200C, usually after the engine is pretty warm. Almost like a rattling, but nothing is loose, and it does not do it all the time...weird.
/QUOTE]
Yep. I don't know if this is just Sportsters OR ??? Glad to hear im not alone. Probably just another wonderful HD quirk?
Last edited by Mark Winchester; Oct 27, 2020 at 11:02 PM.
My noise turned out to be rattling heat sheilds due to a loose hose clamp. Took 10 secs to fix. Only noise now, besides the sweet SE rumble is the gas cap & I love it. There are so many quirks that are intrinsic to HDs that any other maker would fire every line assembler AND quality control team over. I've always said the low tech appearance of HDs are in reality high tech in psychology.
Originally Posted by skypilot101
Most peeps coming off a Jap bike
Ha ha ha....I wonder what the ratio is from kiddy rice rockets to the one and only REAL motorcycle...a HD compared to from HD to plastic junk bikes? 10:1+ or more...gotta be! < This is THE appeal of HD. Its not something that can be tested w/ a stopwatch or calculator. Its indefinable. Even after fossil fueled vehicles are declared illegal and the EPA end up doing the chasing the w/ pretty blue lights HD will be still have this quality.
Last edited by Mark Winchester; Nov 13, 2020 at 06:09 AM.
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Sportster noisy engine
