I recently bought a xl1200c with a little over 18000 miles I really love it . Anyway the previous owner told me he used amsoil full synthetic I was due for a oil change at 20000 miles he said that it was only supposed to be changed every 10000 miles I don't know much about bikes but I thought it sounded kinda funny,so I'm wondering if I do a oil change if it will quiet down the chattering coming from the top of the head? And also what weight and kind of oil is best for a 1200 with that many miles? The chattering to me doesn't affect the power it's just really aggravating. Any advice is much appreciated since I'm new to this . My bike is under warranty but I still don't want anything to happen to it because of a late oil change

 

Welcome!

I do use Amsoil and I do change it in every 5000 miles. Same oil in transmission in every ten thousand miles. Amsoil recommends oil change in every 25,000 miles for cars, do they suggest now their oil will last in aircooled engines for 10 thousand miles?

 

Me too, they won't STFU.
Could be your lifters need adjusting.

 

Hydraulic lifters with solid pushrods can't be adjusted. What year is your bike? A lot of them just sound like sewing machines. Best fix I've found is earplugs.

Oh, if you run a windshield, it sounds worse.

 

Main engine oil should be changed every 5000 miles and the transmission every 10000 miles. I too use Amsoil but don't have the noise problem you are mentioning with same model. There's not really any adjustment you can make to the valves, tappets or push rods (unless you have installed adjustable push rods). Adjustable push rods may have been installed it you or the previous owner installed a different cam (i.e. stage 4 upgrade). Maybe, if you do a Seafoam (or other oil additive/cleaner) before you do an oil change it might help clean any restrictions in the passageways to your tappets and might allow them to pump up to where they are suppose to (if that is the cause of the excessive noise).

 

Maybe check you tank mount bolts, if they are loose your tank can make a hell of a racket.

John