I've got a bump/rattle/knock that's giving me fits. I've checked everything I could think of, including changing fork oil, checking fairing brackets, tightening everything I can find, etc. but can't find it. It's not bad, but just won't go away. It's worse when I'm stopped and idling, and feels like it's either in the front of the bike or the engine area, which makes me wonder if maybe I've got a bad engine mount. Everything seems solid when I check it, so other than the motor shaking like crazy, which isn't happening, how do you know if you have a bad one? If that's not it, any other ideas?

 

Might be the motor mount. I'd get down and check it. Make sure it isn't split or the bolt isn't tearing away from the rubber, etc. Also a good thing to go through and check all the critical fasteners for proper torque specs and ya might find something that's loose.

 

You could also check to make sure that one of your mufflers has'nt slipped and is hitting the end of it's travel on the exhaust hanger. With the year of the bike I'd also check the rubber inserts in the muffler hangers as they do wear out after a lot of riding. Safe Riding!

 

I recently purchased the service manual for my ride (as it is my first Harley) and was glad to see those fasteners identified with their proper torque values.

 

Thanks, fellas. I'll go through everything again and maybe remove the fairing cap to check the cap bolts on the forks, handlebars, and anything else I can find in there. I'll double check the motor mounts to see if there's any splits. I'd already checked the exhaust mounts, plus it feels like it's in the front or middle of the bike. I hate to have to take it in to have them check it, but if I can't find it I may have to.

 

The "ready reference torque values" book from HD is only $6 and a great asset.

 

I agree. And the rubber inserts are $4 and take about 10 minutes to replace.

Beary

 

I also would change the rubbers at the muffler tips,cheap and quick,your noise will go away,99% sure.

 

engage the front and rear brakes while in gear then feather the clutch out intermitently a few times and see if you hear any thumping/banging. This could indicate a loose/broken motor mount. It may take two people, the other to look and listen to the engine area.

Thats the way we used to check out a cars motor mount. good luck

 

Well, went over everything, and the mounts look okay. I've checked the front end and fork caps, checked every weld I could find, etc., and nothing, but went for a ride this afternoon and it's still there. It seems to me it really is in the front suspension, but for the life of me I can't figure out where. I may just have to let whatever it is fall off or break completely (LOL), but would rather not since it could be structural. My handlebars seems to flex more than I remember them doing in the past, but maybe I'm just paranoid, and I did check the handlebar risers and everything was tight without any cracks. Man, it's got me baffled.