Kinda bummed out by engine clatter.
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 12,653
Likes: 18
From: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
Kinda bummed out by engine clatter.
Guys, I have to admit that I'm really starting to get bummed out by all the noise coming from my motor. I know there's a hundred threads on this, and the dealership says it's normal top end clatter. But it is louder now than it has been. I now have 12,000 miles on the bike and it's loud when giving it gas and cruising down the highway. The other day, I even took my windshield off to test that reflection theory, and it's true. The noise "almost" disappears with the windshield off, but it's still there. Even cruising down the highway at 70 mph, it's constant. I have stock head pipes, stock AC, and American Custom slip-ons with the mid rumble baffles installed (after modifying them by adding a few extra holes in each one).
I don't know what else to do, but I'm definitely not happy with my bike the past month or so. And I know it's not my imagination. It has twice as loud now as it was ever before. Still, they say it's normal engine clatter. Other than going with a full blown Stage 1, and adding louder pipes, any suggestions? And no, I don't want to ride all the time without my shield.
I don't know what else to do, but I'm definitely not happy with my bike the past month or so. And I know it's not my imagination. It has twice as loud now as it was ever before. Still, they say it's normal engine clatter. Other than going with a full blown Stage 1, and adding louder pipes, any suggestions? And no, I don't want to ride all the time without my shield.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
Likes: 402
From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
sell it.
really
this is what they do.
my Panhead's valve train is about as loud as the pipes- really. ( and the pans have felt pads glued inside to control noise and drip oil onto the works.
the twin cam is pretty much the same hardware/geometry doing the same job.
it is the nature of the beast.
when you sit on top of a motor it is gonna be hot and noisy.
all those noises mean something.
the beauty of the BMW boxer is that the valvetrain clatter is stereo.
maybe, you can learn to love and feel a part of your bike ( read Pirsig's Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance).
mike
ps:
the suggestion of adjustable pushrods makes no sense to me, more precise tolerances are maintained with the stock pushrods and they are usually lighter weight, which is better.
really
this is what they do.
my Panhead's valve train is about as loud as the pipes- really. ( and the pans have felt pads glued inside to control noise and drip oil onto the works.
the twin cam is pretty much the same hardware/geometry doing the same job.
it is the nature of the beast.
when you sit on top of a motor it is gonna be hot and noisy.
all those noises mean something.
the beauty of the BMW boxer is that the valvetrain clatter is stereo.
maybe, you can learn to love and feel a part of your bike ( read Pirsig's Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance).
mike
ps:
the suggestion of adjustable pushrods makes no sense to me, more precise tolerances are maintained with the stock pushrods and they are usually lighter weight, which is better.
Last edited by mkguitar; May 19, 2012 at 12:52 AM.
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 827
Likes: 3
From: NW Florida
Kinda reminds me of my buddy's old sportster. Used to joke about the only time he worried about his oil level was when he didn't see oil leaking from his motor! You have to get comfortable with the sounds your bike makes and ride on, but when you hear something new, or out of the ordinary, start checking. Otherwise, look around for something quieter.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,124
Likes: 4
From: pittsburgh, pa
When I switched to Redline synthetic I noticed about a 20% decrease in the valvetrain noise on my '04 Ultra/88ci. There is similar "clatter" in my '12 RGU 103 ci, and it makes some noises the 88 didn't make, but they are the same as my buddy's '09 EG 96 ci, and he says it's normal for these motors (he's a USAF mechanic and disassembles his EG for fun!). I've noticed I have a bit of pinging at 2800-3000 RPM (93 octane) that I'll mention to the dealer at the 1000 mile service, but I expect that it just is the way the tuning is set from the factory.
You get used to it, or you don't. It is par for the course with HD's, and part of it is that the air cooled motors are engineered with looser tolerances. I've come to accept it over the years as normal. If it bothers you too much then going with a water cooled metric may be more to your liking. If you go with louder pipes to drown it out you just create another issue to contend with.
Mike
P.S.: If you trade it for a Goldwing you are required to turn in your Man Card when you sign the papers at the Honda dealership!
You get used to it, or you don't. It is par for the course with HD's, and part of it is that the air cooled motors are engineered with looser tolerances. I've come to accept it over the years as normal. If it bothers you too much then going with a water cooled metric may be more to your liking. If you go with louder pipes to drown it out you just create another issue to contend with.
Mike
P.S.: If you trade it for a Goldwing you are required to turn in your Man Card when you sign the papers at the Honda dealership!
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
From: Western NY
I'm with you OP. I picked up a 2012 RK recently and its my only issue with the bike. Ive owned Harleys for a while now and don't mind the sewing machine noise but the clatter this 103 makes is annoying...1000 mile service is coming up and i'll address it with the dealer but i'm sure its just the nature of the beast. Otherwise its a fantastic bike in all other areas and for those reasons i can put up with it.I was planning to switch to synthetic at the 1000 mi service but i'm afraid that will make it even louder so i'll probably stick with the Dino oil.
JG
JG
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
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From: Oxford, Nc
When I first drove an early Twin Cam, ( Heritage w/ windshield,) after coming off an Evo, I was astounded at the racket bouncing off the shield. The newer models, 07 and later are worse IMO.
Interestingly to me though, my current 2000 Road Glide with a Stage II 95" kit (from the factory,) is one of the quietest HD motors I've owned. But it now runs adjustable pushrods and Black Ops lifters with the new cams I installed last year.
I wonder if that might be a help on the newer models.
Interestingly to me though, my current 2000 Road Glide with a Stage II 95" kit (from the factory,) is one of the quietest HD motors I've owned. But it now runs adjustable pushrods and Black Ops lifters with the new cams I installed last year.
I wonder if that might be a help on the newer models.
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 572
Likes: 110
From: under the bridge on the sunrise side
I feel you pain, but it is the nature of the beast. As has been said you have to learn to live with it or sell it and buy something more suited to your needs. For me I keep my knees tight into the tank and barley hear it, knees out and it sounds more like a thrashing machine than a sewing machine.