What does 'pinging' sound like?

[cyclecat]

The ticking is the hot metal - pipes, engine - cooling off.

[AlabamaNomadRider]

Good explaination on the noise after the engine is shut down. Those are normal sounds and nothing to worry about.

[Jared]

sound a spark plug makes
marbles in a tin can
late 70's Toyota
old diesels under heavy acceleration
wooden balls knocking around in a plastic bucket

I think we're back at square one...

I too have never noticed any pinging. I run reg gas, but my elevation at home is 5000 feet and I often times am riding at 7000-9000 feet.

[macmac]

That ticking noise after shut down is a 1947 out of work gremmi, rappin his tiny hammer in the exhaust system. You need a bell.

[macmac]

CC, You live high enough for a natural richer mix. Gene you don't.

[ccmjr77]

I hate the sound. The old diesel and stuff in a can is pretty good description.
Sounds like something very bad is happening. TFI and intake mostly solved the pinging for me, but this summer I have started pinging when it is hot again. I may have to adjust my TFI and/or start running premium again.

[dandantmm]

When my Nomad pings it sounds like I have marbles in the cylinders that are being bounced around. That's the best way I know how to describe it.

[redjay]

Thats a pretty good description. I dont think I have ever heard it on any other motorcycle except the Nomad that I can recall.

[Top Cat]

I really gotta jump in here. My Nomad pings on reg gas and it sounds nothing like anyone has described yet.
To me, and I may hear different than others, it sounds exactly like, have you ever run on a freshly resurfaced road and had the little crushed stones get thrown off your tires and into the underside of a metal fender?
Thats what my bike sounds like when it pings.

[fish]

"TC" knows what mine sounds like ven it pings :(
His description hits the nail on the head

[danleb75]

Mine sounds like as if there was a metal ring around a universal joint getting "clanked" around and around.

Mine will only do it in 4th and 5th gears. Actually, 5th gear is useless o my bike unless I am over 120 km/h (75mph). My cruising gear at 100km/h (62 mph) is 4th gear. And it will usually make the sound in 4th going up steeper hills.

Can't wait for my Cobra F2000. I hope it fixes this annoying sound, and I can get 5th gear back.

Met a guy at a motel last night on an 08 Nomad. Completely stock except for some V&H pipes, plus he was towing a trailer. Got to talking to him about it, and he can cruise up & down the highway with the trailer and his wife on back in 5th gear without any pinging/knocking at all. Doesn't even have a fuel processor on it.

He had the same tires as mine (ME880). I thought part of my problem was the bigger rear size 180/70R16, but that he didn;t even notice a difference putting his on.

I'm losing patience with my bike. Things were better before I de-baffled and changed tires.