If u want quiet maybe a Goldwing or BMW would be good for u after all 110yr old engine design should be stone quiet rite. Just ride it like its your last day on earth.

 

I bought a New 2012 Dyna Switchback with the 103, it had what I call exsessive valve tapping/rattel noise. This Started at about 2000 miles after I changed to synthetic oil. Dealer said this was normal and since I changed to synthetic it would be more noticable, That answer never sat well with me.

I also bought a New 2012 Roadking with the 103.
I noticed from day one it also had this valve tapping/rattle noise while riding.
It just does not seem right to me, I can only compare this tapping noise to a Chevy V8 when the valves need to be adjusted but not as load. I see from reading others on this blog others have this same problem, Both bikes are under warranty so I guess if its not right, sooner or later something is going to give and they can fix it for free. It is just anoying noise, time for loader pipes i guess.

 

The noise I have is not pinging it it upper engine valve noise is the best I can describe it.
Most noticable riding not under load 20 30 40 50 mph just crusing, dealer also suggested to keep it above 2000 rpm and using synthetic oil increaes the noise I am hearing

 

This is the Timing Map that finally got my pinging to stop:

 

Take out the cat and the valve noise will no longer be heard, because the mufflers get louder.

 

I did remove my cat and the exhaust is a bit louder but I too have excessive valve train noise on my 103. The dealer said it is within the acceptable range but it is for sure louder than my 2010 Limited was. So I would say that removing the cat was very beneficial in the reduction of heat but did nothing to reduce the amount of valve train noise your going to hear on my 2012 Limited.

 

I have V&H with no Cats- But my 103 is HOT as hell especially with lowers on- It was close to 85 degrees yestersay here in FL and with the lowers still on
my inner thighs felt like KFC chicken thighs- We need Quick disconnect Lowers

 

What did you find?

I've got a 2014 Limited with 6600 miles on it and all of a sudden when I rev on the throttle slightly I am sometime hearing a load ping. i can hear it under acceleration too mostly in 5th and 6th gears and its not constant. does it more than it doesn't do it but it sounds bad.

 

I have had a 2010 96", a 2011 103" and a 2013 103", all have had the same noise you describe.

I have tried synthetic & Dyno 10w-50, 20w-50 and straight 60w this summer; no change.

I am OCD and others that have rode my bike don't seam to hear it.

So I ignore it the best I can and ride.

 

got a 2013 flhtc, ran Amsoil from 1k break-in...noisy rattle from 2k to about 4k...no big deal, they make noise...but at 24k(miles) cold start up produces clanking lifter for about 10 seconds, kinda like first start up right after oil change. Dealer replaced lifters under warranty. Still noisy for a couple seconds, and still noisy at 2200rpm....So I switched to Bel-Ray dino 20-50 and voila noises gone! I always thought the dino vs syn was a bunch of crap, but results don't lie! Still a little noisy at 2-2200rpm but overall twice as quiet and I'm quite happy.

Btw my 88in WG is way quieter, even with Amsoil.