Darn wrote:
I've been reading this thread, and I'm by far no expert like Doc, Gram, Musky and about 80% of the others here.

PINGING noice? Not a rattle?
Is it consistent with RPM?
Does it do it only while moving?
To be clear, it's ONLY once it warms up? Or does it do it before too?
It's ONLY 1/16 - 1/8 Throttle?
Does it sound like it's coming from the top of the motor or lower?
Gas additives and octane make no difference?
Changing oil to a thicker oil made no difference?

I'm just trying to get a true fix on what it is and when it happens and where it might be.

Lets start fresh with this and see if we can help.

Hey Darn,

First off, thank you for the questions and thank you to everyone else who's ready to "start fresh" on this issue. For those of us with this noise, it would mean a lot to get to the bottom of it.

Pinging: yes, in the context of what pinging or detonation sounds like in other applications, like my old Chevy Van.

Constant with RPM: No, this can happen at any RPM, although you'd be beyond 1/8th throttle at the really high RPMs.

ONLY at 1/8th - 1/16th throttle: YES, only there. If it's really loud and bothering me, I can just gas it a bit and it goes away. Unfortunately, I can't always ride that way, else I end up hitting the car in front of me

Noise is definitely from the top end, not the tranny. Additives and octane seem to have ZERO effect, and it's done it with every type/weight oil.

I'm really starting to think it's something about the ignition advancing too much in this throttle position zone (1/16th - 1/8th). Reason I say this is that if this were a case of straight detonation, wouldn't it only get worse with more throttle applied? Something about giving it more throttle immediately cures it. In every vehicle where I've had detonation/pinging, it usually got worse the more you opened the throttle.

MS07