Big Daddy, while I appreciate your sentiment, there is no "carping" by me, no "hurdles" to overcome, no need for a "bridge" to get me over the engine noise. I agree with your intent. This is a small issue, and one that I've already indicated is not a problem for me. I'm only trying to assess whether it's normal (which I can live with) or whether it is an anomaly that needs some attention.
No doubt there have been others on this forum who have parleyed the "valve train noise" issue into a big old fat thing. I'm not one of those people. Frankly, if the *tingle* is typical of this engine, then I can embrace and love it like I would a slightly higher breast on an otherwise perfect female form.
And by the way, no, I have not been riding motorcycles for 75 years. I've just been riding since 1974. Every bike I've ever owned had its own nuances - its own personality, and it own quirks that one learns to live with. This new Vintage is no exception.
I do appreciate your comments, nonetheless.
Steve
Yep, 1974....ya been around these things about as long as I have.
Lots of sets of new tires under our belts huh?
Ya ever notice how a set of new tires makes ya feel so good?
Like a new bike handling, all over again.
Of course, the new tires are great but the problem really laid with the old tires.
All of the fun we had wearing them out too...great memories.
Those old tires get nice and comfortable and as predictable as a pair of old house slippers.
Day by day, mile by mile. In the groove, our "happy place".
Then one day you look down and there the cords are, grinnin up at ya.
You really don't realize just how flat spotted the center of that old back tire was.
At least not until you get a new tire on there.
Swinging a leg over my Indian was pretty much like that for me.
I had my "old" motorcycle for 20 years. A daily driver with right at 300,000 miles on her.
Don't you think I was hearing every snap, crackle, and pop?
I had a whole laundry list of things that were "wrong" with my new Indian.
The floorboards were too high, the handlebars were funny, the seat....
Even the turn signal switch got on my nerves. lol
Early owners (me included) had issues with a 1st to 2nd shifting "problem".
If you go back to the early threads in this forum and others, you will see the posts.
But now you don't read about that anymore.
Did Indian fix this? I know they didn't "fix" mine.....I just learned how she like to be rode.
I changed, the bike didn't.
Then ya got the fading leather issue on the 2014 Vintages.
Guys so upset and frustrated they were threatening class action lawsuits.
Indian acknowledged the problem, apologized, and even sent out a kit that was no better than the original.
In the end?
A four dollar bottle of leather dye from Tandy leather and an hour or two of my time.
But it represents another time that I bent....not the bike.
I ain't preaching at ya Steve....just rambling on for a bit.
None of this probably even applies to ya.
Growing pains I mean.
It used to be a monster under our beds that kept us awake at night.....now it's top end noise.
Regardless, I think the solutions will be found in the same place.