| Author | Message | ||
     Escham |
As some of you know I just purchased an 06 xb12s Tuesday and I now have 350 miles on it. There seems to be somewhat of a tapping noise coming from the engine. Is this a normal "twin' sound or should I be concerned? Runs like a scalded dog otherwise. | ||
| Percyco |
My H-D Sportster rattles and my XB9S rattles and clatters. They both sound like old farm equipment but run very well. | ||
| Davo |
These bikes have quite a few different noises coming from them. Tapping is very normal. The tall valve train is noisy during hot conditions, cold start and during mid range cruising on the highway. 2700-3100 is especially a chatter zone. Synthetic oil makes the valve even more vocal. When the engine stops making noise then you need to worry. Most HD owners install loud pipes to cover up engine noises. Pinging is the only noise that should be avoided. | ||
| Bigbuell |
I had the same problem as you at first, it sounded like a tap or a rattle, it drove me nuts at first. I got use to it after a while. But since I put the Drummer on and the open air kit on that a thing of the past. Can't here it now  . You just have to get use to the sound of the air cool V-Twin. | ||
| Escham |
Thanks! I had heard that the HD engines are "chatty", just wanted to verify. | ||
| Pwnzor |
blender full of nickels... yeah thats my girl.  | ||
| Molly_hatchet |
after riding other bikes for so long and then getting a buell....that noise drove me nuts....i think id start worrying if it stopped....blender full of nickles hahahaha i never thought of that one...ive tried to describe it to other people il remember that one...i traded a fiend of mine bike for a couple days..when i went to get my bike..... he was in the garage with my bike on the stand...he said dude i think i broke it its makin this weird noise sounds like somethins gonan fall off it ....so i stated it....nope they say its sposed ta sound like that.....i rode off laughin....glad im not the only one that thought that sound was weird. | ||
| Tbowdre |
how the hell can you tell pinging from normal rattling? | ||
| Davo |
When a Buell starts pinging there will be no question. It will happen after a long sit in stop and go traffic and if you quickly load the engine. The pinging sounds like you are clacking empty tin cans together. Pinging is a random sound and it's intensity will change according to the conditions (heat, octane, and load) | ||
| Destroy |
Odd the original poster is complaining of noise. When demo riding many Buell models the very first thing I noticed was how amazingly quiet the bike is. Zero whine. No clatter or knocking. Just a small, light, slow clicking. Maybe they make much more noise when they're broken in? I did notice some engin pinging on my test rides though. Is Premium grade fuel required for Buells? | ||
| Davo |
Yes, I use 93 octane. Its is due to the higher compression and near perfect air to fuel ratio. To get max power and clean emissions it requires the engine to run right at the edge of the pre-ignition envelope. | ||
| Midknyte |
I relented a tank back and got some cheap gas (87 octane) - noticeably noisier. Back on the good stuff. Quieter. | ||
| Mesafirebolt |
My '05 12r makes a lot of engine noise, so far after 12,000 miles the noise has not changed. Now on the other hand...the pinging is getting old... | ||
| Midnightrider |
This is good info - initially I thought my Uly was very quiet too. Put on a drummer at about 2000m and went to synthetic oil at about the same time. I began to notice some engine noises too but I could only hear them when I had my earplugs in. I have been trying to determine if they are valve train noises or if I have a problem with the loose flywheel sprocket nut thing - Uly manufactured Sep 05. Davo's post about the worsening with syn oil and the 2700-3100 range nailed it I have also noticed the occasional pinging after a long idle or slow traffic in the heat I'd rather not have either, but its also nice to know this is "normal" and ridable Thanks | ||
| Vonsliek |
having stared on a 79 xlh, i have NO fear modifying my xb .. the xl platform is bulletproof, if agricultural .. but so are guzzis | ||
| Davy_boy |
I notice mine was a lot noisier then my other bikes but I never really pay any attention to it . Guzzi's sound the same as well with no affect to reliability or performance . | ||
| Diablobrian |
The joke goes: worry when it STOPS making strange noises. |
