Selling bike and top-end knock

[My Name Is Dave]

So I'm in the process of selling the GS and moving to an SV650S. I have a girl who is moving up from a Ninja 250 and really wants to see my bike. So when we meet up, odds are that she will hear the knock that we all know and love from our Suzukis. It was said to be the cam chain tensioner by the dealer and that it was normal, and I've heard the same here.

So, 2 questions:
1) Can I easily determine on my own if it indeed is this or something more major? As I still have the factory warranty, should I take it in? The bike rides perfectly and the noise really only can be heard if I rev the bike to or above about 8K and then come to a stop.

2) If this is normal, how do I explain it? I don't want to look like a liar, as I am an honest dude interested in making an honest deal. So any advice? Thanks.

Dave

[Jake D]

Take a long slender wooden dowl, about 3 feet long.  Put one end resting on the area you suspect the knock to be coming from.  Put your thumb over the other end and put your ear against your thumb.  Then have somebody rev the motor.  The knock should travel through the dowl rod and you may be able to localize it a little better.   If it seems to be coming from the area of the CCT, then it might ease your mind.

This could be really stupid advice, but I'm going to stick with it anyway. 

[bulletproofcycle]

The knock is from defective camshafts.

The only way to get rid of it is to contact Suzuki so they can change them under warranty.

I had it done and it purrs like a kitten now.

[xtalman]

If the factory warranty is transferable, who cares?  Just tell her that the knocking is normal (mine does it too) and that if it bothers her, it's still under factory warranty.  Since you brought it to the dealer earlier and had it checked out, show her the paperwork if you've still got it.  All of that should ease her mind.

[FearedGS500]

this knock .. is it kinda like a tick ? i'v noticed mine did it .. i thought it was a valve but when i pulled it out to check it they where all with in spec. .. so would this be what hes talking about ? and if so .. am i going to have to fight with my suziki dealer to get it fixed ? cuz man .. they have already made me mad .. i'v had the bike for a little over 2 months and had a highbeam indactor light go out and they charged me 20 bucks to fix it !!!! .. said it was a whare and tear item .

[ajgs500]

Maybe u should quit doing wheelies?

[My Name Is Dave]

Well, I heard here that it was not a major issue, really just something that we can just live with. I took it to the dealer and they essentially told me the same thing. Nothing is wrong with the bike; as a matter of fact, she couldn't run any better. But I would rather get it fixed if I could than just let it go and wonder. Of course, I would also rather avoid having to put up with hours of crap from the stealer to get a minor issue taken care of.

Oh, and I may not be selling quite yet...I'm still up in the air. And speaking of "up in the air", I'm not doing wheelies, but thanks 


Dave 

[FearedGS500]

hey hey .. i like being on one wheel !! .

[ajgs500]

Then get a unicycle lol.

[bulletproofcycle]

When Suzuki VOLUNTARILY replaces both the INTAKE and the EXHAUST camshafts plus shims I would not call it a MINOR issue.

It is a $800 repair, the noise it METAL TO METAL CONTACT!! Obvoiusly something WILL wear out.

Don't think of excuses GET IT DONE!

[tophyr]

Is this knock intermittent? My bike's got a knock but I can't tell if it happens proportional to RPMs, and it only happens once every two seconds or so, it's not constant. It is fairly reliable though, and it doesn't sound like something's really bashing against something else.. sounds more like a loose part but I looked around and couldn't see anything. I did think it was coming from the top of the engine.

If this is indeed the knock you guys are talking about, will the dealer still do it for me if mine's an '89? I imagine they'd say "no, you're retarded, you shoulda had this done fifteen years ago, eat it".

[surlybruce]

I had the cam end play rattle in my 05 F and informed the dealer on the the bikes first service. They knew of the problem as the shop had already done a 04 F. The noise is a pain in the ass but the engine will last almost forever. Had the motor done in december and was told by the dealer that SUZUKI stopped production to fix the problem in the mid 05 run.Cost SUZUKI about $800.00 CDN .I know there is more on this subject on the site. If you have the warranty then [ MAKE IT SO ]

[NightRyder]

tophyr: yea, proably. Actually, more then likely.

Or I guess they could go the other way: Give you the I'm-retarded-and-don't-know-don't-care look.*

* aka, blank stare.

But if that works out for you, tell me, and I'll go try too.

[ginoe]

i have the same problem. when the bike was brand new it would knock loudly, i made a vid of it but putfile deleted it - http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=18803.0

after many thousands of trackday & regular street miles plus a few mods (k&n lunchbox, scorpion can, re-jet carbs) the knock is still there but not as loud as when she was new.

i'm trading in the gs for a svs this coming season too, let me know what you think of yours when you get it.

turn the gal onto this site and explain to her that the knock seems to be normal...

So I'm in the process of selling the GS and moving to an SV650S.
Dave

[My Name Is Dave]

Well you know what, I'm having second thoughts about selling. Yeah, the main point of this thread was the top-end knock, but I just wanted to say that it's getting hard to let her go already. With riding season only a few months away, I am getting eager to ride and would hate to be without a bike, even if for just one day. So I think I may keep her for at least one more season and then decide what to do from there. I will lose a little when I sell her if I wait, but I could care less. So yeah, I think I'll be around for awhile longer...

Dave 

[chris in va]

For what it's worth, I've done a bit of research about this knock and found out it's just a normal aspect of the engine and won't harm anything.  Apparently many of these bikes have been in for unneeded service to 'fix the glitch'. 

My Jeep Cherokee has a fairly obvious piston slap common to the engine.  Defect?  Sure, but it won't keep the motor from running 300k+.