Posted by WD on August 08, 2003 at 08:40:54:
In Reply to: timing chain posted by Jamy on August 07, 2003 at 02:27:46:
I have a 98 with about 12200 miles on it (I'm down with blown intervertebral discs, so no mileage in the past 1.5 years). Mine has had a noisy top-end since it was new. If the noise is new to your ride, check your valve clearances. If the bike has higher mileage, check the chain as well. The adjuster slide is likely the culprit, they wear rapidly, they are a cheaply made part. Mechanical noise is normal in an air cooled four stroke engine, and even with everything perfect, you'regoing to hear the parts working. It is an advantage we have over quieter liquid or air/oil cooled machines. Check everything out, now is the time to catch an incipient problem.
Good luck.
-WD