My Road King has a LOUD clattering noise at idle, through acceleration, and at cruise. It is loud enough I can hear it plainly even with a full face helmet on. Local dealer mechanic rode bike and said it was normal for this engine. Their recommendation was " buy louder mufflers". Does this sound right to anyone else ?

 

they say "ticking" is normal,,,,,,but I would question "clattering"...mine makes loud ticking noise and I frickin hate it

 

Oh, you mean like when I pulled into the garage on my 09 RK the other day and my wife asked what the hell is all that racket?

Perfectly normal and part of the old tech charm.

Enjoy.

 

... and one of the reasons I wear foam earplugs. So I won't obsess over the "normal noises".

 

Bahaha. Funny sheet there. Good response from your old lady.

 

Dude, it's your Flux Capacitor. Definitely.

Check it, make sure it's in Specs.

 

i've owned 4 harley bikes from sporty to fatboy to roadking to street glide and they all have a different noise or personallity .as long as everything works good i just accept it as normal .my current bike has a weird noise at the primary auto adj.chain tennsioner ?
i just ride as if i don't hear it anymore ride safe

 

Louder mufflers worked for me. Now I wonder if everything is ok because I don't here all the noises anymore.

 

Darn!!!! And I thought I had it narrowed down to my self-starting, self-blocking, single -swing osciallator !!!!

 

My 09RK had an awful rattle when I brought it home. The trim on the front headlight nacelle was loose. Another thing, check your all the exhaust joints. I'm finding that there are always loose nuts () on new bikes.
Good luck, I know how annoyed you must be with a new bike.