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[FuzzFace]

Hey gang.  I got a question for all you highly observant VTXers...I am used to driving my Goldwing, and just bought a VTX1300c to share its garage.  It sounded good the first week or so, and now it sounds a lot more metallic, with valve noise (of course, cause I haven't taken it in for the first valve adjust), but also it really almost sounds like it's knocking under acceleration.    Now, I just added my Memphis Fats windshield last week, and I know that reflects some of the sound back into my face.  Should I just take the windshield off and drive it down the road to see if it still sounds the same?  Yeah, I probably should do that tonight.

Am I just nuts, or has someone else noticed this type thing before?

Or... am I just being totally obsessive? 

Thanks in advance,

[TAZ]

Well I thought my was raddling from the valves and I just found out last week it was the console raddling.  I put my hand on the speedo when I hear the raddle and pushed down and it stopped.  Thank God it wasn't in the valves.   You might try that..

[FuzzFace]

Thanks Taz.  The sounds I hear are in time with the engine strokes, but you never know....

Fuzzy

[FuzzFace]

Cool.

It's easy to get used to a sound, then have to relearn all the new sounds when you add a bike.
I used to ride H2 Mach IV Kawasaki triples, and they had an idle sound that sounded like a AAFueler on the starting line.  It took a little while to get used to it, and after that I got hooked on the sound.

Now, I'm getting used to two sounds:  the whine and deep roar of the GL1800 under acceleration, and the "hammer" of the VTX.  Not bad, just different.  You're right, I need to consider the pipes when I get over the $$ shock of buying the bike and some accesories. 

Thanks a lot for the reply.

[hipshot]

Sounds like it's too far gone to repair . Just drop it off here and I'll give it a decent sendoff (Taps in background).

[bockshot]

I've wondered about the clangy valve sound myself, so after your post I stop by my local Honda house, to ask the mechanic, he said all the VTXs are metallic clapping sounding because of the exhaust valve clearance being so huge, .0013. Is he right? or do we have a problem?

[FuzzFace]

  You are going to love this.

I took off the windshield and rode for a couple hours, and I now understand what is going on.   The noise I hear is not heard when it is off. The windshield reflects all the noises from the engine that are purely mechanical.  With it off, I only hear the wind and the pipes. 

Nice.

At least I know that there is nothing wrong with it now.  Maybe those louder pipes now, huh?  Sorry about that hipshot...

[Swampfox]

I get that sound too!  The reason it does it is the values, your oil filter is not letting the oil flow enough and your oil is breaking down. Change your oil and you should hear it quite down a little bit and if that doesn't help valves aren't gap properly.  When Mine was brand new it was fine!  It didn't start until I let my oil get dirty.  I replaced the filter and oil and that didn't help because, I used Honda oil and STP filter cheap, but made to wear out your engine so you will trade it in on a new one. I'm going to try a better grade oil next time.  Maybe that will help.