I would have to agree with it being a lifter or exhaust leak.

 

that what i think too..thats metal....some metal rubbing against on the other..i can hear it more where the chrome cap is.....

 

Take a wooden dowel and place one of those rubber chair leg feet on the end that touches the bike so you don't scratch anything and listen at the different areas. It will tell you where the noise is at least originating from. I had a noise that sounded like a collapsed lifter, and it was intermittent and the dowel ended up leading me much to my surprise, to the Primary case. I had a loose slapping primary chain. The auto adjuster had not ratched up to the next step as my new chain stretched. However, it did not sound anything like that! Quiet as a mouse now.

 

Pushrods?

 

I just posted about M1304 Big Twin Neutral Rattle which HD calls normal.

 

Sounds like a loose heat shield check them all

 

first thing i did...thanks

 

Maybe a collapsing lifter?

Does it do it with a fresh oil change?

 

It is hard to tell from your clip, but I think my bike is making the same noise. I have a 2009 FLHTCU with 46K miles. A few months back I was getting some noise at start-up and then getting that tapping noise when the bike was hot. As I increase the throttle the noise subsided, then when I let off the throttle the noise got loud. Then the dealer while looking into the start-up issue replaced the compensator sprocket. Everything seemed fine for a few months. Then just the other day after riding about 100 miles the tapping noise returned. Again if I keep the RPMs high the noise is gone, but when I let off the throttle the noise is loud. If the noise you are hear gets less when you open the throttle, let me know if you find a solution, and when I find a solution I will post it as well