I have a 1995 XLH1200, stock internally as far as i know. i've had it about 2 months or so and in the last week or so a new noise has cropped up. once the motor warms up i'm getting a light ticking sound from the top end, i dont think it's exhaust and it's only noticeable at idle once it hits operating temperature. this is my first American V-twin so i just dont know if any kind of top end noise is normal or not. it runs good both hot and cold with no backfiring. this noise is very very faint and it just doesnt have the "oomph" of excessive valve clearances. before breaking my neck and back a few years ago i was a BMW/Triumph tech and i've been working on bikes and cars for 30+ years now. i DONT have a factory service manual yet.
oil levels are all good and theres less than 1000 miles on the oil.

sorry for the poor quality phone picture. that was taken the day i got it.

 

It's a sporty...that's how they sound

 

okay, so nothing to worry about. i just wanted to be sure as it didnt make the sound when i got it. Thanks!

 

Sportster motors are fairly noisy, my wife rides a 2012 Iron and it is quite noisy in the top end. I have also been told if you are running synthetic oil it will be louder than if you are using conventional oil as well.

 

Gibson man are you? I have a 2011 SG Studio and a 2008 LP Standard. LOVE my Gibsons.

 

Yes I am, I have a 09 Sg Studio, and a 12 LP Studio Deluxe, among other various makes and models, but the Gibby's are my favorites. Love them almost as much as my bike!

 

Try getting someone familiar with the bike to listen. A lot of people mistake the noisy valvetrain for a problem when it's just the nature of the beast.

It is possible it's an actual problem, albeit unlikely. Usually those are fairly obvious.

 

I also have a 96 Fender Jagstang, a Swamp Ash Tele with vintage Joe Bardens in it and an old Japanese built Washburn HB-35 (es-335 clone) i'm saving my pennies for a Hallmark Classic 60 now. no way i can afford to buy back my 65' Mosrite MK-I so for 1/6th the price i'm trying the Hallmark. I play the bagpipes too.

 

My first bike was a sporty that I found on craigs list. When I went and looked at it and my brother rode it, it seemed like a really nice bike except for the valve noise I cold hear in it. I called a harley service guy I new and asked him about it and he started laughing....yep, it's a sporty, that's how they sound. No worries.

If you put on a full face helmet you can't hear it....lol. enjoy

 

i'm going to change the oil. no telling what weight or quality oil the local used bike dealer put in it. god knows their mechanics are about useless when none could properly adjust the idle mixture on the Mikuni lol.