I am coming to the great well of knowledge once again my friends. I have only had a HD for about 9 months. She had 5 miles on her when I bought it and when I had the 1000 miles service done and asked the service department these same questions I am asking you. As of today she has 1900 miles on her. I came from my training bike I call her, a 750 Honda that made no engine noise so I have nothing really to compare to. So here is my question, it sounds like the motor is going to explode underneath me at times. It is like there is loose metal banging against metal. In 1st and 2nd gear it seems fine. In 6th over 60 it’s fine, but there is a range between 40 an 60, In 3, 4, and 5 gears that I think the head is going to blow off the bike. When I am riding in a group like today, 20 of us went for a run I cannot hear over the pipes what other bike motors sound like. A friend tonight who has ridden for years said that it is just the slop in the valve tolerance and they all do it. It’s still under warranty and at 900 miles ago the dealer said it was fine. I think it might be getting worse. Do all V twins sound like they are coming apart at that shift speed? I know we have owned a few cloths washers in my younger years that have made that same noise.