Strange sound

[neilson]

Hi all, hoping you could answer a quick question for me...Sometimes when cruising at around 50mph or so, after I start to let off the throttle I get a strange sound from the exhaust.  It kinda sounds like a pop or backfire or something...Havent noticed any adverse effect on performance or anything...I checked the spark plugs and they look fine.  I'm just wondering if this is a known issue or what.  Any advice is appreciated!

[KYGS500E]

Do you have stock exhaust?  If not... or even if you do this is pretty normal.  The bikes are jetted lean... you could rejet a step up ( i think they're 125's) and that might help some... but all in all my understanding is that this is pretty normal

[neilson]

Vance and Hines exhaust which sounds awesome and it has already been jetted.  It doesnt seem to affect the bike at all so maybe it's no big deal.

[scratch]

'97 with k&n filter (and the V&H exhaust).  Sounds normal.  When was the last valve adjustment?

[neilson]

Couldn't tell ya- just got it last week.  Do you think this could be the culprit?

[Cal Amari]

You don't know the last time the valves were adjusted, and you probably don't know the quality of the work. Don't put blind faith in someone else; chances are, the seller didn't put any extra time, money, or effort into something he was getting ready to sell.

Time to adjust the valves; then, you'll know when it was done, and that it was done correctly. If the valve adjustment corrects the problem, you've killed two birds with one stone. If it doesn't, you've eliminated one possible cause; either way, you're ahead of the game...

[scratch]

Just FYI, valve clearances should be checked every 4000 miles (or multiple therof (i.e.: 8000, 12,000, etc.).

[FearedGS500]

yup what they said. check the exaust while your down there . make sure theres a good seal on the headers and make sure theres not hole in the exuast pipe . just do a full look through .