How loud is it?

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Apr 21, 2010 | 09:51 AM

#11

1HD1C

Stellar HDF Member

Joined: Apr 2010

Posts: 3,430

Likes: 239

From: northeast

Quote:

Originally Posted by veritas.archangel

Sporties make noise. Yes, I can hear the "sewing machine" sounds over the exhaust and wind. And others can hear it as well. Part of the joys of Sporty ownership. Coming from Japanese bikes it was quite shocking.

LOL, same here and first Harley too.

i bought my bike as a left over demo and they had just
performed the 1000 mile service. on the ride home i was thinking damn
they didn't adjust the valves right and then i remembered they were hydraulic and checked the oil and the level was fine.

called my cousins boyfriend ( lifetime Harley owner) and he said that's normal, sounds like an old singer sewing machine right?

i said yep.

he said get used to it.

I've only done about 250 miles since purchase but its going to take a while to get used to the sound.

Apr 21, 2010 | 04:56 PM

#12

sajackson

Road Master

Joined: Mar 2008

Posts: 929

Likes: 3

From: Caro, Michigan

You guys have never seen the xray image of a sporty huh? Here ya go...

Attached Thumbnails

How loud is it?-65105d1251462729-sporty-1200-sounds-like-a-sewing-machine-cutaway-20engine.jpg

Apr 21, 2010 | 05:01 PM

#13

SauerKraut

Road Captain

Joined: Sep 2009

Posts: 726

Likes: 2

From: Charleston, SC

Water is a great sound insulator. Air cooled engines are just going to be loud. I thought the same thing when I got my sporty. It has sounded like a basket case for almost 10k now, and still keeps going.

Apr 21, 2010 | 05:17 PM

#14

MCactus

5th Gear

Joined: Jan 2010

Posts: 9

Likes: 0

From: Milwaukee, Wisc.

this post has lowered my shoulders 2 inches!! Just started rolling on my "new to me" '83 XLX and thought for sure the valves were going! Thank god it's only a sewing machine.. Now if I could only get it to fix those rips in my pants.

Apr 21, 2010 | 05:20 PM

#15

SauerKraut

Road Captain

Joined: Sep 2009

Posts: 726

Likes: 2

From: Charleston, SC

A hint to any new guys. If you don't like the noise, just take your left leg and let it rest against the tank. It'll shut it right up. Ha ha. Don't sweat it guys. Harley makes a good product.

Apr 23, 2010 | 01:10 AM

#16

michael95688

Tourer

Joined: Dec 2007

Posts: 275

Likes: 0

My Sporty would make Pete Jackson proud (gear driven cam fame). I had a buddy who drove a 1969 SS 350 Camaro with a gear driven cam. I could hear him coming 2 blocks away. My '94 sounds like that.

Does anyone else hear it? I dunno... I hear it and it makes me smile.

Last edited by michael95688; Apr 23, 2010 at 01:13 AM.

Apr 23, 2010 | 01:16 AM

#17

Aires59

Cruiser

Joined: Apr 2010

Posts: 136

Likes: 0

From: Orkney (North of Scotland)

I could not hear the top end noise of my engine untill forward footpegs were fitted - Knees away from the sides of the fuel tank!

Apr 23, 2010 | 03:57 AM

#18

oldncrzy

Road Master

Joined: Sep 2009

Posts: 1,013

Likes: 1

From: New Brunswick, C-eh-n-eh-d-eh

started my bike. stage 1 883custom with screaming eagle II slip ons and kinda baffle-less. story: had my bike running to warm up just before our weekly club run. Buddies wife says to him" you better get ours running too" he says" it is running, ya just can't hear it next to his!. ok slightly off topic but kinda funny. lots of noise when driving, even before mods.