Hello,

I have recently noticed while riding a noise coming from my 2005 1200 Sportster. I can't tell where it's coming from. It sounds like a tinking noise so I immediately thought it was the Gremlin bell making the noise. I then looked and noticed I had lost the bell so it wasn't that. It seems to make the noise during the 1st half hour of riding and it's intermittant. After about a half hour, I don't seem to hear it. When I park the bike for a while and go again, I'll hear it intermittantly again. Do you think it's something I have to worry about?

Thanks.

 

Do you hear the noise while the bike is idleing stopped in neutral ?
When you give it a little throttle while in neutral,will the noise increase also ?
While riding slowly in first gear, pull in the clutch and let the bike just roll along.....Do you still hear the noise ?

From what little info you have given in your post......It sounds like it could be a lifter that is knockin a little until it gets pumped up with oil.....But without hearing it, and having more info...its hard to troubleshoot noises......

 

If it makes the noise only when your wheels are rolling, it's a good bet it seems to be coming from the right side of the rear of your bike and it is the side of your belt rubbing against the wheel pulley.

Though I haven't tried the fix for it, I understand that rubbing bar soap on the sides (only the sides) of the belt will stop that from happaening.

 

Well, I recently changed to Amsoil, so I thought maybe it had something to do with that...HOWEVER...............I spoke to a friend and he asked me how many keys I had on the key ring.................hmmmmmmmmmm interesting...I went out and put the keys in and moved the bike, but can't decided is that is what I was hearing.............I'll have to take all the keys off (have a HD key ring) and ride and see if the noise still happens. Hopefully that will resolve the problem. I guess one tends to thing the worst instead of thinking of the simple things. If not I'll post again. :-)

 

Maybe your bell got lodged some were under your bike.

 

I've had bolts fall out and pegs to! Harley throws that kind of stuff in for free with every deal[8D]I still luv em'

 

I strongly recommend riding with ONLY the mc key in the ignition. Customers have had all sorts of problems with extra keys banging around and scratching things up... Or worse, being too heavy and ripping the key out of the ignition while riding. I always recommend this when I deliver a bike.

 

Good advice on the key issue HighDesertKid...I never thought of it since, the convience of having everything together and then clipping on my belt...I probably would lose the key if it was single by itself :-p

Hmmmmmm..now I have to check and maybe my bell is under my bike :-)

Thnks

 

I also have a 05 XLC 1200 with 9700 miles making the same noise. While riding at any speed the rear wheel is howling (not grinding or screeching). I thought it was the bearings going out.The J&P cycles store here in Iowa thought it was a belt so i got some silicone belt lube. Worked for the first 90 miles today. Then it came back. Trying the bearings next if anybody has an ideas please help I really don't like sounding like a basset hound going down the road!!! RJ

 

Rsbf11....mine sounds like a tinking noise which reminded me of my gremlin bell tinging. There was not howling noise. Is your warranty up?