Harley Davidson Forums

Sportster Models 883, 883 Custom, 1200 Custom, 883L, 1200L, 1200S, 1200 Roadster, XR1200, and the Nightster.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Why so loud.

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 22, 2011 | 06:27 PM
Share
  #1  
nealhix's Avatar
nealhix
Thread Starter
|
6th Gear
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: louisville, ky
Default Why so loud.
After riding Jap bikes for 20 years, I bought my first Harley. This engine is very mechanically loud. With stock exhaust, the various engine noises almost cover up the exhaust sound at idle. It seems worse when the engine is hot. I tried different oils, (presently mobil 1 20w50 for vtwins), but none seem to make a difference. Should I be concerned or is this the nature of the beast ?
 
Reply
0
Old Aug 22, 2011 | 06:30 PM
Share
  #2  
Wanna Ride's Avatar
Wanna Ride
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,543
Likes: 59
From: Chicagoland
Default
Huh? What'd you say?
 
Reply
0
Old Aug 22, 2011 | 06:46 PM
Share
  #3  
jbyun's Avatar
jbyun
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 642
Likes: 0
From: North Carolina
Default
Originally Posted by nealhix
After riding Jap bikes for 20 years, I bought my first Harley. This engine is very mechanically loud. With stock exhaust, the various engine noises almost cover up the exhaust sound at idle. It seems worse when the engine is hot. I tried different oils, (presently mobil 1 20w50 for vtwins), but none seem to make a difference. Should I be concerned or is this the nature of the beast ?
There's your problem right there.

When I first bought my Sporty I thought I had a lemon because it made all sorts of weird noises (i think loud sewing machine is the best description). Turns out, that's just how they sound. Louder pipes should drown that out a bit.
 
Reply
0
Old Aug 22, 2011 | 06:59 PM
Share
  #4  
arealinvestor's Avatar
arealinvestor
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 868
Likes: 1
From: Trenton,N.J.
Default
Originally Posted by nealhix
After riding Jap bikes for 20 years, I bought my first Harley. This engine is very mechanically loud. With stock exhaust, the various engine noises almost cover up the exhaust sound at idle. It seems worse when the engine is hot. I tried different oils, (presently mobil 1 20w50 for vtwins), but none seem to make a difference. Should I be concerned or is this the nature of the beast ?
Is that Synthetic oil your using?? Because it's so thin & slippery;it has a tendency to make a motor sound louder.I don't like running it for that reason.It sounds like the motor is going to come apart!!
 
Reply
0
Old Aug 22, 2011 | 07:01 PM
Share
  #5  
TDQ64's Avatar
TDQ64
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 130
Likes: 1
From: S.W. Pa.
Default
I'll second that...............Get LOUDER pipes ! ! !
 
Reply
0
Old Aug 22, 2011 | 07:12 PM
Share
  #6  
Bagger Jim's Avatar
Bagger Jim
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,241
Likes: 16
From: Fort Myers, Fl.
Default
Originally Posted by TDQ64
I'll second that...............Get LOUDER pipes ! ! !
+1
 
Reply
0
Old Aug 22, 2011 | 07:18 PM
Share
  #7  
sajackson's Avatar
sajackson
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 929
Likes: 3
From: Caro, Michigan
Default
Originally Posted by jbyun
There's your problem right there.

(i think loud sewing machine is the best description).
Someone once had a pic on here that showed a sportster engine with a couple singer sewing machines overlaid. I laughed my *** off when I first saw that pic.
 
Reply
0

Trending Topics

Old Aug 22, 2011 | 07:51 PM
Share
  #8  
jbyun's Avatar
jbyun
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 642
Likes: 0
From: North Carolina
Default
Originally Posted by sajackson
Someone once had a pic on here that showed a sportster engine with a couple singer sewing machines overlaid. I laughed my *** off when I first saw that pic.
Relevant: https://www.hdforums.com/forum/sport...g-machine.html
 
Reply
0
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Aug 22, 2011 | 07:57 PM
Share
  #9  
DK Custom's Avatar
DK Custom
Platinum Sponsor
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 18,685
Likes: 5,815
From: Hickory Flat, Mississippi
Default
The nature of the beast. Get louder pipes and/or use some thicker oil during the hot months.

Kevin
 
__________________
DKCustomProducts.com
Call/Text: 662-252-8828
Email: Support@DKCustomProducts.com
Open House Details














Reply
0
Old Aug 22, 2011 | 07:59 PM
Share
  #10  
barrygreen's Avatar
barrygreen
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,654
Likes: 362
From: Mansfield Texas
Default
Yes it makes noise , after a 20 mile ride home at 80 plus in this heat it begins to sound like a Harley...
 
Reply
0



Advanced Search
Reply Closed Thread Share
Forum Jump

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:26 AM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE