I have noticed since I got my bike back that I have a fairly high pitched tapping ( for lack of better terms ) mixed in with the normal sound of the exhaust. It's not in rythem more speratic than anything. Sound disappears around 2000 rpm. Everything is tight,heat sheilds,baffles. I have the SE h/c pistons. I put on new heads with bigger valves, 1.900 intake and 1.615 exhaust and a higher lift cam ( 575 intake 560 exhaust ). I made sure the shop checked all clearances. so I'm sorta stumped on where that sound is coming from. If it was a clearance issue I'm not so sure it would have lasted 300 mile with me riding as hard as I do. bike seems to run fine. Could the increase in the exhaust valve size cause this. I also changed cams but the cams are close to what I had before ( 204's ) and didn't have this sound. I guess I should mention my exhaust is the V&H big radius with big city quite baffles. Any thoughts or directions ?

 

Simple things first since you're feeling good about no clearance issues (and I'm thinking you're right about seeing it after 300 miles pushing it) .

Mounts coming loose on the exhaust? Had the slightest bit of play in a shield set up a tapping like a tack hammer on a vise.

Can you isolate the source with a stethoscope? A 2 ft chunk of garden hose works great as dumb as it sounds - just stay away from the business ends of those radius pipes.

 

when i had my motor built to a 103 i had SE heads 259e cams and forged pistons the whole 9 yards. and that motor was noisey then when it was stock and even then it was noisey. could be just the build i do know they get louder when you do BBs.

 

Use a lit cigarette & check for exhaust leaks at the heads or around the whole gasket areas of both heads. If the smoke starts moving around, you have most likely got a leak in that area.
That's how I found a head gasket leak on my rear cylinder.
Hatch.