[Schorsch]

This 2002 FatBoy is my first Harley. I really love this bike.

I have a question to the experienced Harley riders. I'm close to the 1000 miles and since a few days I noticed a "new" noise. I seems to come from the right side and it appears whenever I accelerate from low rpm or in 5th gear from about 50 to 60 mph. It sounds like a small piece is loose, or a little stone that tumbles around in a tin box. This noise appears only for a few seconds but whenever I do the same thing, it comes back.
Hope this doesn't sound to stupid.

I spoke to a mechanic at my dealership and he tested my bike and told me that's pretty normal with Harley, "Harley's have their mechanical noises" according to him. The only thing that bother's me is, it was not there before. Maybe it's normal, like I said I'm new to Harley's.

Thanks for any input's,
Schorsch

 

[sned]

It almost sounds like a ping? What octane gas are you using?

 

[Schorsch]

I only use premium unleaded gas. This noise only appears for a few seconds when I accelerate.

 

[JFScheck]

Only when you accelerate? Kinda sounds like pinging to me too, could it be some bad fuel? Try another gas station perhaps for a few tankfuls...

 

[Holden]

Schorsch,

It's probably nothing, but it pays to check it out. My first thought was ping also. It may be that 50 is a little slow for fith gear. Try winding it out good in fourth and see if the noise is still there. If so, that should eliminate the ping theory and you can go on to other thoughts.

Holden

 

[Sean/98 Fat Boy]

Hey, How long are you riding before it starts pinging? Sounds to me like valves ringing or crappy gas. Just my .02 Hope it helps : )

 

[logical]

Does it sound like a piece of small chain slapping around in the gas tank?

 

[Schorsch]

Thanks for your inputs,

For the gas, I only use premium gas and get that from the big name gas companies like Shell, Esso (Exxon in the US), BP etc.
I just had the first service done and the sound is still here. Maybe it's nothing, like Holden said, however it was not there the first 1000 km, that's why I want to know what it is. The problem is, that it only occurs a few seconds while I accelerate and therefore it's really hard to locate during riding. The more I listen to it, it could come from the exhaust, it coming from the right side and it sounds like there is a little stone in the air cleaner. I checked that, no stone.
logical, maybe you have adifferent way of explaining the sound. What do you think it could be?
I will be back at the dealer on Friday, maybe this time I can show him what I mean.
Thanks again,
Schorsch

 

[logical]

Mine is a definate rattle that I hear on sharp bumps....but if I get careless and lug the engine (high gear, low speed) the engine vibration will also set it off.....could be something different.

Is there a fuel level float in there maybe?

 

[Schorsch]

Hi logical,

you got a different noise. Hope I will know by tomorrow where "mine" is coming from. I keep you posted.

 

[Schorsch]

OK, I was at the dealer today and the issue is resolved. I spoke to the service manager and he knew right away what I was talking about. Before even test riding the bike, he told me "this must only happen when the bike is hot" (after a 15min ride). He is right. It has to do with the exhaust, which is different here in Germany on the 2002 Harley's. We have a very tight control here in Munich, the police is really tough on loud pipes.
The noise thing is resolved, nothing was wrong with it, GREAT!
He showed me some great replacement pipes for my FatBoy, from a local company. The are slip-on's and look similar to the original one. The sound much better and they are certified, so no problem with the police either. But they are expensive, about $1200 including labor and TUV certification. Need to have 'em.

 

[wyodude]

... some great replacement pipes for my FatBoy, from a local company. The are slip-on's and look similar to the original one. The sound much better and they are certified, so no problem with the police either. But they are expensive, about $1200 including labor and TUV certification. Need to have 'em.

 

[HIPPO]

What's the brand and what do they look like?


For the price it sounds like they may include a free flow honeycomb catalyst.

 

[Schorsch]

Hippo,
the company that makes the pipes is AMC. They sound like a Harley should sound like. There was a '02 FatBoy like mine at the dealer which just got them new, what a sound. The website is:
www.amc-pipes.de
They are on my list to get. Great sound and legal, what more can you ask for?
Schorsch

 

[Schorsch]

Hi Hippo,

This link shows the pipes I was looking and listening to.
http://www.amc-pipes.de/pinhalt/gesa.html

Let me know what you think.
Schorsch

 

[Schorsch]

Sorry the link doesn't work they way I wanted to. I don't know how good your German is, but this is the way to get to the pipes I will buy.
If you at the start page from AMC, click on "Galerie Bikes", than "Anlage Vorab bis zur .........", third picture from the left, these are "my" future pipes.
Hope that works, let me know what you think.
Schorsch

 

[HIPPO]

Don't worry, my german is just about perfect, but the website seems to be under construction.
Hard to say much from a picture, but the terminology they use leads me to believe they may be reflective canisters.

The reason I'm interested in looking at some of this european stuff is that I'm not really happy with the pipes that are available and I'm thinking about building my own collectors to match the rest of the stuff we do.

Thanks for the web site adress.

 

[Schorsch]

Hippo,
If you need to know more about them, I can call AMC and ask them. AMC is the featured pipe replacement company at my dealer. There is another replacement pipe manufacturer here in Germany called Kess. Try www.kess-tech.de they also loud and legal.
Whenever you need translation, let me know.
I will be in San Francisco next week and I'm really looking forward to visit the Harley dealers around the Bay Area.

 

[HIPPO]

The stuff Kess has for Harley is all the Kerker-Supertrapp stuff that is made in the USA, apparently they must be the distributors, but the prices they get over there are mindblowing.

If the info is of any use to you these systems are pretty much the best you can get commercially for the Delphi bikes over here.

If you are in SFO you should do a tour of the wineries in Napa, and if you make it to Phoenix I'll take you on a tour of the AZ breweries.

 

[Schorsch]

I will be in SFO on business for six days only, no much wine tasting this time, I guess. Breweries in Phoenix sound good, I go to the US at least once a quarter since I work for an American company, I sure take your offer when I make it to Phoenix. Been in Phoenix a few times, I liked the desert and the food (Mexican).
The prices we pay here in Germany for Harley stuff are pretty high compared to the US. I will get some chrome parts in SFO and some other HD accessories, they are almost half price in the US. The bikes are priced ok, just the parts and clothes are nuts.