Hi, I'm Steve and I'm new here. I just bought a 2013 Harley Road King Police with only 3,000 miles. Love the bike and it runs great! My only concern is that it has a metallic sound similar to valve lifter noise. It seems to be coming from the left side (my left side when I'm riding) of the engine. It is fairly loud and increases and decreases with the engine rpms. It doesn't seem to be affecting performance.

It also kind of reminds me of the chain noise that older Honda's made where they had chain driven overhead cams.

I've had several Harley's before (though not for a few years) and I don't ever recall having this kind of noise. This is my first EFI Harley engine. Is this normal for this bike? If not, any suggestions as to what it might be and how to address it?

At this point I am largely regarding it as a nuisance unless someone tells me otherwise.
All suggestions appreciated.

 

I bought a 2012 Road King Police last year and it only had 3200 miles. It has a slight valve train noise around 2500 RPM that seems very pronounced to me because I've never had a bike with a windshield. I was told that the twin cam engine is pretty noisy compared to the Evo. Hopefully someone else may chime in with more information.

 

Oh, welcome from Maine!

 

all the twin cams I have owned have sounded like a bunch of nuts and bolts rattlin in a coffee can. Still runnin after lots of miles and abuse.

They are not sewing machines remember !!

My Dad has a Rushmore and it is real quiet.

 

The 103 is a NOISY motor. Sounds like a bunch of marbles in a tin can. Runs like a beast.
You'll get used to it.

 

Harley engines are "push rod" types. That means lots of unconnected metal parts pushing on each other. Result...noise.

 

Thanks for all the replies. Sounds like that's just the way this engine sounds. I'll just learn to live with it. Really appreciate the responses. - Steve

 

Mine sounds like there's all sorts of bits trying their damnedest to get out of the top of the engine. It's done it since day one, and didn't matter whether running the original dino oil, or synthetic. I have come to believe it is just normal.


I haven't pulled the windshield, but I imagine the noise would lessen with it not there to reflect the sound back at me.

 

My valve train noise got considerably less when at my 5k service I pulled the SYN 3 out I had been running and replaced it with Red line synthetic. I'm not saying it's some kind of magic oil, just my personal experience.

 

install load pipes, or just try not to worry about all the strange noises