I just bought a 2007 Sportster 1200L and noticed a rattling noise coming from the engine that sounds like when kids used to put baseball cards on their bicycle spokes. The noise is constant whenever I use the throttle at any speed and in every gear. Because it is a brand new bike and I have been abiding the break-in rules, this is very frustrating and discomforting. Is this normal? Has anyone heard the '07s sound like this?Can someone please shed some light??

 

Check you heat shield clamps...

 

relax!! Sportsters have very noisey engines. Lots of ticking noises and such that are completely normal for sportsters. I think it's the lifters that you are hearing and is 99.9% likely that it's completely normal noises. If you are totally freaked by it, run it by the dealer, but i do think that the noises you're hearing are probably the same noises everyone hears from the sportsters. A new set of aftermarket mufflers will drown it out a bit.
Rob

 

I get a little of this at low speeds... it sounds like loose sheet metal. I believe I'll go check MY shields. But then again... I ride on 4 miles of gravel every day, so I had to make a little skid plate. It might be flapping.

 

Someone told me it was probably the lifters but I wanted another opinion to make sure. I appreciate your response. I want be very certain I dont do anything to screw up the bike like let a strange noise turn into a big problem. If there is any other adive you can give me for my new bike that would be awesome! Because of this sound I have been hearing I have been questioning whether or not I am shifting at the right speeds. I dont have a tachometer so I have been doing my best to feel the engine out. Any adive there? Sorry if my questions are elementary, I just dont want to hurt my baby

 

My vote is for the lifters, mine were noisy till I switched to synthetic oil then quieted down. Your fork lock may also vibrate and rattle as mine did and as mentioned loose heat shields do chatter. Overall sportys are noisy, you should try riding with a windshield like I do and then you really heara lot of those noises.

 

I was expecting a lot of engine noise when I got mine but it's not as noisy as I thought, it is quite a bit noisyier than a metric though. Just ride it like heck till your 1000 mile service and ask the dealer to listen to it when they have it in, they will know if it's normal or not.

 

I have the 883 and I shifted into 2nd around 20 mph, third at 30, 4th at 40, 5th at around 50-55. That was during the break in. Now that mine is broken in, i'll rev it higher. I've found that these bikes like higher rpms. There should be a guide in the owners manual that says when you should be shifting gears during the break in. My opinion is that you're doing just fine. Enjoy the bike and try not to worry about every little sound you hear. As I said...sportsters are very noisey.

Ride safe man.
Rob

 

Upper engine noise is normal. I just make sure my pipes are louder.lol.

 

noise could also be something as simple as a loose gas cap.
next time u are riding, place your hand on the gas cap as u ride, the noise might be that simple to fix.......or you could have the normal sporty brand sewing machine top end.