I ahve an 04 1200C and since I've owned it I would say the valve train is loud but have read several post regarding the same thing, 04 and 05s are loud. It runs great it's been doing it for over 2500 miles now and every so often I ride and think man is that loud down there, would anyone else considar thier's loud, I can hear mine over my cycle shacks cruising not accelerating. Just wondering, reminds me of my hotrad days with solid lifter performance engines like a hammer under the hood.

It's a sportster,they all make alot of noise in the upper
train area. All you can do is get the loudest most
annoying pipes that you can find to help drown out the
HAMMER DRILL effect that you hear as you give it the gas
and go down the road.
We are not talking modern technology in the sporty motor.
This motor style has been rattling like a spray can for
45 years.

Hammer drill is a good description, I am sure no one around me hears it like I do. I can't figure out which I like listening to more the rap, rap, rap or the new growl and rumble of my exhaust.

My only complaint was the primary... No other noise. Try running Mobile 1 V twin oil and see if it gets any better.

Hey if its not makin noise or shakin it mustg not be workin :p

TechRep what noise is coming from your primary?

Mine was a lot noisier before I put Mobil 1 15W/50 oil in it. They are a pretty noisey motor.

....what'll really drive ya crazy is when ya wear a full face in the winter and switch to a 1/2 shell or beanie in the summer....you'll swear something is about to break loose.
.....FYI if your hearing an sporadic hammer drill or maybe a drum roll sound in the bottom down near the lifters then ya gotta be concerned..... at least thats what mine sounded like when the lifters grenaded.
At any rate its not so much the noise as the CHANGES in noise that ya gotta be concerned about.

This is a hammer drill sound whenever you cruise along, steady rap, rap, rap. When you accelerate you can't hear it. It has always done it and I haven't conerned myself because everyone comments about how loud the 04 - 05s are.

TechRep what noise is coming from your primary?

It was chain noise. Adjusting it properly helps. A 3/4 helmet acts like a funnel for any noise from below. I could just pull my left leg in tight to the tank (3.3gal), or hold my hand, open palm, along side the tank, and it would go away. Maybe the fat tank would deflect the noise from going straight to my left ear, or an earplug!! I went through a check, and double check, routine of the tension after I got the bike just to make sure I was doing it right, and all was ok. Everything seems fine and most likely just me not being familiar with the Sporty primary sounds.

Since my conversion, I have installed an M6 (Highly modified) and have not run it yet. I like the idea and I wanted to see what it could do for me. That being said, I have heard of these things self destructing in newer sportster and if you could see how it fits in the newer covers you would be amazed. When the M6 is sitting flat on the bottom of the (newer) covers it sits at an angle to the chain so that the shoe is not in full contact with the chain and will want to bind. It also will not line up with the bolt hole properly because of interference with the cast web supports. Also, no stops to keep it from twisting when install. Part of this issue is that when you install this using the instructions, it is a “blind” install and you would not see this. I was skeptical about this and did a lot of checking with the case off and noted the fit problems.
I have worked with Hayden on this, sent them photos, and a description of what (I thought) was needed. They seemed to like my idea, and agreed that the M6 chain tensioner does not fit 04-05 primary’s, even though they list it for the bike. I will post some photos of the modified M6 on another thread in case anyone is interested.

This has been a good thread. The description of the noise as a "hammerdrill" is about the most accurate description I've heard. It's disconcerting to Sportster owners because it doesn't seem to be present in other motors and folks look at you as though you're about to throw rods up through your... well, you know. And I totally agree that the critical element is CHANGES in the sounds, not necessarily the original sounds themselves.

Have we tried anything different to get rid of the
HAMMER DRILL EFFECT
Syn oil maybe, louder exhuast LOL :laugh

Should sound like a sewing machine if that helps any :shhhh

louder pipes worked for me!