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My '07 Night Train was pinging noticeably at highway speeds. (just slip-ons and no tuner) I didn't know whether it was a timing issue or too lean of a mixture. I wound up putting a gallon of 105 octane unleaded race gas in with 4 gallons of 93 just to see if it stopped rattling....it didn't. I realized then that it was running too lean. Just throw some high octane into it to help you diagnose the problem. It'll only cost a few bucks to find out.

 

Newer bikes are known for this, unfortunately, that's the way it is. Had mine re-tuned and I believe I still hear some ping going on, when you get on it. Computer read out says I'm fine. This is how they have to run to meet 50 state compliant EPA laws.

 

I really appreciate all the feedback.

Most of the comments are about gas octane. I always use the highest available. I can't believe it's that. I also riched-up the mixture when I did the stage 1 (SERT), so I'm not sure it's running lean either. If I thought it definitely was detonation, I wouldn't really care that much (although I agree with the one post that ANY ping is unacceptable), but I really think it's mechanical. It's a metal on metal sound. Any more thoughts along that line? Feel free to email me direct. I'm about to bring this to the dealer, and already anticipate being disappointed with their service, so this is about to escalate.

 

My 07 RKC does exactly the same thing, but I could never come up with a good description of the sound. "Pebbles rattling around" as you say is probably the best way to describe it (kinda like a "snap crackle). It has the PC III tuned by Jamie with slip-ons. I have some racing fuel in the garage so I'll give a little bit of that a try to diagnose.

 

Are your RPMs under 2500 when you hear it? If so it may be the "rocks in a can" noise from the compensator. If so the Isolated Drive System (IDS) may solve it. It became standard on th 08 and up bikes. Its about $300 and replaces the rear sprocket with a rubber dampened unt that getts rid of the noise. There were TONS of post about this when it came out about half way thru the 07 model year.

 

I don't have a Softail and mine has done it at all RPM when you throttle up on her. I played with the RPM idea, doesn't matter, when you roll on it hard, she does it.

 

I notice on a couple of 5000+ km trips last year on my '08Heritage Classic, where we were filling up twice or three times a day that anytime I had to fill up with 91 or lower fuel I got pinging when I stepped on it. When I put in my usual 94 octane (Sunoco) there was NEVER any pinging. My vote is that you need to try to increase the octane rating and confirm this is the issue (or that it isn't)

 

Not gonna find 94 Octane in Commiefornia!

 

My buddy has an 07 Ultra that pinged under load with 91 octane.
Went to the dealer and was told that was how Harleys ran and to live with it.

He wasn't impressed with the answer, so he changed to Vance and Hines true duals and no more pinging....