Growl and Vibration ???

[valk2128]

When driving my 1998 Valkyrie in 5th gear around 2800 to 3000 RPMs and I hit the throttle hard, it  growls and I can feel some vibration in the handle bars.  If I accelerate moderately it does not happen.  When I accelerate through the gears and wind her up all is fine. 

I did try down shifting and I do not get the growling or vibration.

Is this normal ?

[Ricky-D]

I don't know about the growl but a little power, full on, vibration is nothing to worry about.  Full throttle or not, the carbs are CV carburetor and are made to handle that WOT at low rpm's.

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[Farther]

I get the same thing with my '03 Standard.  I attrilbuted it to a slight luging because of the low RPMs.

[Skinhead]

I believe it is gear lash, nothing to worry about.

[F6MoRider]

Sounds normal.  If the noise doesn't occur if you downshift first, I'd guess it's the lugging of the engine due to the lower RPMs while "hitting the throttle hard." 

You didn't say if you had a timing advancing trigger wheel or not which may also contribute to the growl as she tries to move up the power curve from a lower RPM while staying in the same gear.

I like to think of these sounds as the beast waking up.   Once you get to 3500 RPM in 5th her rumble should give way to a smoothing out and a request for more gas.

[Patrick]

Without riding it its hard to determine the extent of the growl or vibration and there is no mention of where the noise seems to come from.. It should still accelerate smoothly from those engine speeds if there hasn't been any changes made to the bike.. When was the last time the rear wheel bearings and drive splines were checked??  Just for the heck of it,,stand the bike up straight,, loosen the axle retainer nut, loosen and retighten the four differential retainer nuts and then retighten the axle nut..