| Author | Message | ||
     Hishers |
Ok, I'm pretty much a nooby to the v-twin and when I got my 07 XB12Ss 8 weeks ago I thought it didn't sound that good. I pretty much bought it sight unseen and used with only 4 miles on it. It came from a huge multi-brand dealer who had several used Buells with only 4-6 miles on them. They said they got them from a bankrupt dealer and were required to title them. Hence they were technically used but essentially new. So as I said I bought it w/o test ride or anything because an XB12 was my dream-bike and I was getting a good deal. Well I noticed I could here quite a bit of valvetrain noise over the too quiet stock exhaust. Since there were no other Buells around to compare it to I searched the web to find out if this was normal. I saw many threads on how the Buells engine makes more mechanical noises than most other engines so I figured it was normal and I will have to put up with it until I get a slip-on that will drown it out. Yesterday my wife bought an 07 XB9Scity that was just assembled in May and pulled out of the crate Thursday. When she started it up for the first time the first thing I noticed was that the exhaust is about all that you hear, little or no valvetrain. So do you guys think there might be something wrong with my bike? It will be going in for its 1000 mile checkup next week. Should I insist that there is something wrong and they find out what it is or is it indeed sort of normal to hear that much racket from a new engine. To all those who made it through this lengthy post, Thanks | ||
| Sneth |
I would have the same concern, but i went to a Buell demo day. The 12 has the interactive exhaust, so sometimes the engine is clearly louder. The 9's have a much smoother system, IMO, and no exhaust servo. Once you get a new exhaust system, you will never hear that engine again. As a matter of fact, if you go download Al's exhaust shootout, he has sound clips in there. You can hear the engine over the exhaust in the stock setup.... http://www.americansportbike.com/ | ||
| Jefco418 |
I bought my 06 XB12Ss back in April and noticed a little engine noise. When I had the 1000 Mile service done the dealer recommended Synthetic oil. The engine noise got a little louder. I contacted the dealer and they have actual technicians that ride bolts. They said this was normal especially when running synthetic. I would would raise the question when you take it in. | ||
| Chadr81 |
Mine makes some valve noise too. I have a couple friends with 12r's and 12s's and they are all as noisy as mine, if not a little louder. We all run synthetics. Chad (Message edited by chadr81 on July 30, 2007) | ||
| Hishers |
Thanks all for your input and putting my mind at ease some. Sneth, I have that shootout saved on my computer and will give the stock sound clip a listen again. When I take it in for service I will bring it up and see if they will start up some other 12's while I'm there just to make sure. Definitely need to get a louder slip-on though.  (Message edited by hishers on July 30, 2007) | ||
| Xl1200r |
These engines are just plain noisy. You want to hear some real valvetrain noise? Take it for a ride around the parking lot with no helmet on. The thing sounds like nothing it bolted down inside. I would mention to the service guy that you're a bit concernced about the noise, but you wife's bike is probabyl quieter because it's newer and nothing is broken in yet. They get noisier as things losen up a bit. Chances are you have nothing to worry about. | ||
| Chadr81 |
I was pretty shocked when I took mine out for a ride with no helmet off too!!! It was pretty loud... something you don't notice as much with the helmet on. | ||
| No_rice |
if it sounds like nickels in a blender than it is fine. once it gets quiet i would worry... | ||
| Sparky |
The XB series Buells transmit more mechanical noise to the rider because, unlike the tubers which have a relatively thick-walled plastic gas tank and several gallons of gas to attenuate engine clatter, there is only a thin plastic airbox floor, filter and cover which don't do enough to quiet the noise. But there is at least one aftermarket kit, the name of which eludes me, which provides a thermal-acoustic barrier that goes under the airbox floor. Such a device should be fairly effective at quieting the noise that a rider hears. I've investigated some auto speed shops where they offer a thermal blanket made of laminated mylar/thermal barrier material which is approx 1/8" thick and 24 x 40" overall. I'm tempted to buy one and make it fit if I can justify a $40 experiment that may or may not work. But if it cuts down on perceived clatter and improves performance any by reducing the amount of heat that gets to the intake air sensor, filter and throttle body, that would be a neat hot rodder's trick, wouldn't you say. | ||
| M1combat |
Wait till you get to about 5K miles  . Blender full of nickles . It's all good. | ||
| Tx05xb12s |
I noticed that mine made a lot of valve clatter from about 2,000 to 6,000. Before and after not so much. Now that it's good and broke in, it is much smoother. | ||
| 4cammer |
How these things ever got past the EPA noise tests is beyond me. Man, I love the sound of an American V-twin, 4 cams and 4 pushrods. This ain't no sewing machine. | ||
| Davo |
Hishers, Noisy Harley valve trains are happy Harley valve trains. | ||
| Luxor |
Blender full of nickels?? I think they sound more like a sock full of quarters in a dryer All normal, they make lots of noise. If they didn't I'd be worried. 03XB9 8k miles, noisy as hell. 04XB12, 550 miles, getting noisier every time I ride. (Message edited by luxor on July 31, 2007) | ||
| Chadr81 |
Hmmm... Blender full of nickels and a sock full of quarters in a dryer... I will have to try these out and compare the noises to see how close they really sound. I'm guessing I will take my noisy valvetrain over those noises any day of the week!!! | ||
| Firstbatch |
I was just wondering about this as I changed over to M1 20-50 a few thousand miles ago and it sure seemed to get a bit nosier..thought maybe one of the hydraulic lifters was going down...... | ||
| M1combat |
Well... I've got 50K on my 12R. It stopped getting noisier at about 10K. Until 50K that is... | ||
| Odinbueller |
"Noisy Harley valve trains are happy Harley valve trains." Amen! Once an XB valvetrain goes quiet, pull in the clutch immediately, as the rear wheel is about to lock up Chris | ||
| Ryanhook |
I recently added an open air box to my xb12r and the valve noise was louder than my D&D exhaust, something like this is normal or do I need to adjust anything? after a short ride I went back home and changed to the stock air box. |
