Blame the EPA...HD didn't want to put CAT & emissions on their bikes. Sorry to say - it's going to take ~$1K-2K to get your scoot running happy, but the answer is yes - spend the $$$. It's a good investment in the bike & will at least get you off the forum & out riding more..

 

The problem is Harley f'd up the stock calibration for high altitudes, in Denver I'm guessing you can't get 93 octane and they didn't do the greatest job accounting for it. It's not the EPA or the catalyst's fault, blame the calibrators at Harley.

 

Dumb question...what does pinging sound like?

 

Sounds like to me that the MOCO has reached their design limits for an air cooled motor, given the EPA spec. guidelines ! I don't understand how they can legally sell these bikes with all the pinging they do, and the customer has to spend more $ to make them run ? Could there be a class action here ? I think we will be seeing a water cooled soon !
JMHO Craig

 

Yeah... Im just pissed that I have to spend more to make an expensive bike run like it should. If there was a lawsuit I would sign up in a heartbeat.

Pinging sounds like small rocks bouncing off the underside of the gas tank. It is engine detonation and it will destroy the engine.

 

I doubt Harley is letting this happen (ping etc) on thier own. EPA rules are tough, worse on an air cooled motor.

 

predetonation that sounds like rock hitting the iside of your front fender, is the best way I can describe it.

 

Some are hot, some are not. I had an '08 Ultra and it would cook my leg in traffic on hot days. Had to add fuel management and change pipes to cool it down. Now I have an '11 Ultra, 100% stock, still has the break in oil in it. Rode 250 miles yesterday in 90 degree heat, with a passenger, up and down mountain summits and plenty of stop and go traffic too. No pinging, no real excess heat, slight throttle response delay in 6th gear. Why some run so damn hot and some don't is beyond me.

 

with all the noises a Harley makes I'm not sure what is normal and what is not?

 

Realy, sounds like a few A holes here. The OP has a simple problem of a lean condition or low octane fuel and ya'll are opening up a law suit with MoCo.

Simple fix have MoCo re map it, or buy a tuner and do it yourself.