If you are not use to riding then the motor may sound like you revving higher than you actually are. Just have to get use to it. These air cooled v-twins are happiest in the 3200-3600 range IMHO. Run her out alittle farther, you will both be alot happier!

 

What he said

 

Thanks again for all the assistance with this. All good advice. I will post an update after a few days of riding to let y'all know how this works out.

Now...if I can just learn how to find neutral better My son has a metric bike and when I ride it, I can hit neutral first try. When sitting at a red light, I finally give up because it is so hard to find N.

 

It would be wise to get used to keeping it in gear and holding the clutch in, with one eye in the rear view in case you need to avoid being rear ended.

Better to be prepared rather than being a statistic IMO

 

Better to rev the motor than lug it....5th gear shouldn't happen until 55 at least IMO. My 103 was broke in during the first 500 with revs varying from 2500-3000 with only short bursts above 3k, then more of the same with bursts up to 4k until 1,000 miles.

I agree that you may be hearing pinging noise. Put premium in that thing and run the revs up and let off the throttle to get some back pressure going too.

 

After I put the heavy breather and D&D Bobcat exhaust my bike got way noisier. Sounds like a lil metal ball bouncing around my engine. I just let it be, when I see a reduction in performance I'll bring her in to get checked out.

 

I also got worried after hearing the noise these bikes make. My earlier years were spent on metric bikes and when I made the switch, I thought something was wrong with it because of the noise. These bikes don't run quiet like the metrics, especially if you are lugging it.

 

Agree 100% My 02 makes a new or different noise every time I ride it, I have learned to tell my ears to shut-up.

 

add lucas to oil, it reduces some noises., lucas additive says right on the bottle, "great for Harley Davidsons" I use it.

 

Try shifting into neutral as you coast to a stop. I usually put mine in neutral at a light, but I completely understand the school of keeping the clutch pulled in case of zombie attack or cell phone addled teen driver.


John