IMO, this isn't valve noise. Valve noise typically occurs when engines are cold, when clearances are large. Hydraulic lifters are supposed to cure this anyway, but yes I know all about the unusual link between our left and right valves.

Still, no one seems to be listening to the Road Star Knock Club when we say that this noise is something that happens at a particular throttle setting. Why would the valves make more or less noise when a tiny, very tiny change was made in throttle setting?

If the rod bearings are bad, then they were bad when the bike came out of the crate, and keep in mind that the bike sounds like a million $$ piece of perfection when run for 10 minutes or less People say "yeah, but the oil is thicker then." Are they kidding me or themselves? If thick oil could make a troubled engine sound so much better it would be a cure-all for every guy trying to unload a POS used car/bike/boat.

This is a combustion problem, period.