HarleyTechTalk

Hello ,
I have a 02 Road King , I noticed when going over a bridge or passing a wall I can here I whistle sound
coming from the bike. I do not hear anything when on the open road. Is this a exhaust leak ? if so
best way to check for one.

02 Road King
88tc , Screaming Eagle Air Cleaner , True Duals , Reinhart Mufflers with performance baffles.

    If anything actually whistles, it might be a head gasket, but that's more like a chirp ? You could try pulling in front of a wall, stop & set your throttle to a fast idle, & walk around the bike to try to find it (bring a friend too). Sometimes our ears pick up weird sounds & harmonics.

I have to twist the shoulder straps on my leather jacket or they whistle in the wind. A chirp could be the rubber exhaust mounts under the saddlebags. Need to determine if it is a mechanical whistle, or a wind whistle.

First thought was maybe drive belt noise but that is usually more a squeak than a whistle. Is it more prominent on one side or the other? Pass the same wall each direction to test that. As stated, do you hear it stopped or only moving? Have you had motorcycle since new or at least a while? Is this whistle something new just recently? Have you added or changed anything lately, tires, windscreen etc?

I'm thinking belt noise....try spraying some Armorall on it to test. It wears off pretty quick though.

I was thinking belt noise also. 


                                                   Shobby Dobby

If you don't have front axle caps on it I've heard that if the hole is turned just right it can whistle.

Ray m

Quote from: Hossamania on December 14, 2015, 01:23:43 PM
I have to twist the shoulder straps on my leather jacket or they whistle in the wind. A chirp could be the rubber exhaust mounts under the saddlebags. Need to determine if it is a mechanical whistle, or a wind whistle.

On the rubber mounts. Brush a little DOT5 brake fluid on them. Worked for me. They do kinda wear out, so if this trick works, think about a new set.

Thanks for all the replies ,
I have had this bike now for about a month. I did put a new back tire on it.
Now thinking about it my wire said she can here something when she is on it.
I will go to dealer today and start with the rubber mounts. if it is still there I will try
the wall and a buddy idea.
Thank you again for the advice.

My "Rinehart" mufflers would whistle. A friend of mines Rineharts did the same thing...When I went to a 2-1 whistle was gone. He still "Whistling Dixie"

Quote from: Hossamania on December 14, 2015, 01:23:43 PM
A chirp could be the rubber exhaust mounts under the saddlebags.

I had this on my Ultra a couple of years ago. It was the metal part of the mount squeaking against the rubber where it slides through. I put a very thin coat of grease on the metal part and slid it back and forth, making sure some of the grease got inside the rubber...problem solved

2001 RoadKing was whistling, found a crack in headpipe. Rear pipe to where it meets the right muffler.

To check header leak I use a long lighter for gas grills. With engine running if exhaust is leaking it will blow out flame when you get close to pipe at head or any joint in pipe.