Let me preface this with saying I've just returned home from a trip from Alberta, down through Montana, Idaho and Washington.

I spent 4 days riding putting on about 2000 miles on my 2018 Road King Special that had about 1500 miles on it before I left and just had it's first service inspection before I left.

I ran into a couple oddities and addressed one with a dealer while I was abroad.

1) When I use the front brakes after riding for a bit, there's a loud clunk when the front brake engages. I was concerned that it was something in the front end and wanted to get it checked out before I continued on my trip.

The dealer where I stopped at, the service manager had me pull in and took a quick look. I explained what was going on, that even when stopped, if I held the front brake and rocked the bike back and forth, it would clunk. I was advised that this was considered normal and that the brake pads were hitting a pin.

2) I have stock exhaust on my bike still, and while riding at a constant speed, or decelerating, it sounds from either the lifters or valves make a chatter that's louder than the exhaust. It's been doing that from day one.

Are either of these considered normal on a 107 M8?

Thank you.

 

Clunk from floating caliper or rotor?

 

Can't tell, but from what the service manager was indicating, it would be the caliper.

 

I dont have any noise when applying the front brake. Only warped rotors which I have yet to convince the dealer need be replaced.
As for the lifter noise, only on rare occasions does the valve train make any noise and its gone within 30 seconds. Usually right after a hot restart.
I'd have someone your comfortable with doing it, sit on your bike and rock it back and forth with brake applied while you try and narrow down exactly where the clearance is being taken up and generating that nose..
Then take a video of it with your phone zooming in on the area.

 

# 1 sounds like steering head bearing to me. But what do I know?

 

Don't think a fully stock exhaust should have any lifter noise at all.

 

My front brakes only clunked when I had floating rotors, and that only happened the first time I applied the brake and after running a while. Normal for floating rotors, not for stock.

 

Gonna have to noodle this one a bit.

 

I also have an '18 w/bone stock 107, also live in Edmonton so if you'd like to meet up to compare engine noises just send me a PM

 

Check the heat shields for the rattle, they can be deceiving. I finally figured out when I pressed my leg against the different shields on both sides during idle.
My brakes make no sounds and I wouldn’t feel right if they did.