i just purchased a 2001 gs500 and i was wondering if this is normal engine sound? and also it seems like only when the engine is hot is seems to tick a little from the front of the engine like the valve cover or something is this normal? the engine has 15k miles new spark plugs and fresh oil change 10-40w motorcycle oil https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8ormYZUQbw
Sounds fine. Mine was louder than that:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hQ0OEYs0CA
FYI that's not smoke but steam (hella cold that morning). Listen to the sound it makes when I turned off the choke...that hammering sound. It did that for as long as I owned it and I never had a problem. Here's another cold start video of my bike; this time with a higher quality camera:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5vidyo2_iw
In general, these engines are noisy and make all kinds of strange noises. When they're running well and warmed up it should sound like a sewing machine. Otherwise, don't worry about it.
:dunno_black: I guess you figured it out...?