2011 Ultra Limited, 40K miles. High flow air filter, stock heads, CVO slip-on's. I know it's a Harley and makes noise. Took it to the dealer and got the old "I didn't hear anything unual" bit. This noise just started recently and is consistent from start up to high speeds. It doesn't seem to matter whether I'm sitting still or rolling down the highway at cruising speeds. It does seem like its a little less when clutch is pulled in. The only thing I've done recently is have a new front tire put on. I will say that it doesn't seem to have the zip when I crank on the throttle that it has in the past. It's kind of like it boggs down and is struggling on the throttle. I've ran a couple of tanks of gas through it so I don't think its the gas. I have check most of the exhaust bolts and clamps but nothing seems loose. I'll try to post a video of the sound when I get a chance. It's not a tapping noise more like a loud ticking sound. Thanks in advance.

 

 

Sounds like a lifter not pumping all the way up. Could also be rocker shaft noise... very common. Have a look around my website, might be just what you need.

Easy non-invasive possible cure.... change to Spectro 25-60 DINO oil..... lots of folks find it quiets things down.

Good luck in the hunt

John @ Rockout

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2009 EG UC here... I sometimes hear a ticking noise too... but it doesn't seem to do it all the time. The other day I noticed it and poked around... that day it turned out to be my lower fairing vent rattling. It always seems to come from the right side of the bike... I think it's mostly normal head noise echoing off the lower fairing.

Good Luck!
John.

 

You are leaving everyone to GUESS if the ticking frequency varies with engine rpm, changes with each shift, or varies with speed, ticking rate always the same at a given speed regardless of gear selected. YOU know, but no one else does.

 

No it doesn't seem to vary based on rpms or speed. Obviously the faster the rpms the louder the engine and the pipes so it's not as profound. I'm trying to load this video recording but it's a large file.

 

Your best bet is to put it on a lift and start snooping around while it's running at various RPM's. You can use a stethoscope to isolate if it's coming from the engine and if so where. I will say though with all this plastic noises tend to bounce around. Often times where you think the noise is coming from when you're riding isn't exactly where it is. I have had this happen a couple of times.

 

If it DOESN'T follow engine rpm OR speed, that begins to hint that it is a rattle, not an engine or wheel related noise.

 

On my 14 ag I had what sounded like a lifter ticking it ended up being the right driver floor broad when I scrapped it it lifted slightly and then rattled when off the bike. while riding it wasnt loud again road noise and helmet noise couldn't hear it. finally crawling around the bike pushed the floor board down not even enough to feel the move but noise went away. noises play tricks on our ears at times. good luck.

Batman