Ok, so since nothing that happens to me is ever SIMPLE...  

Today my bike started making an annoying tink tinking noise.  Sounds almost like a rythmic rapping noise, but only at low rpm (1000 - 1500).  Dad looked the fool, and held the long breakerbar all over the engine with the other end to his ear and says it sounds like it's coming from up high - near the tank.

Probably not the best idea, but dad said it sounded threatening, but not necessarily engine related, so I should take it out for a ride, just make sure to have my cell phone on me for emergencies.  It was comforting to hear him yell "remember erica, if it seizes up, all you have to do is CLUTCH CLUTCH CLUTCH!"  

I rode it for about 20 miles, and the sound was non-exisitant while riding.  Only odd thing - the throttle seems to be sticking partially open (like 3k or so).

Preceeding factors:

1. Removed the tank last week to try to alleviate tank rattle.  Put in leather strap to dampen bouncing, but may have jiggled something loose while taking tank on and off.

2. Last week after the tank fiasco, there was suddenly a gas leak which somehow healed itself in the week before I got to get back to it.  I've now decided it might have been dad (aka macgyver on crack) deciding that the petcock had to be set to prime.  

3. I dropped the bike two times on the left side, in sand, trying to get it on the centerstand in a slight hissyfit of frustration.  No visible damage.  


Any words of wisdom, suggestions?  Tomorrow I'm going to fiddle and see what I can do about audio taping the sound to wav - i'll update if i can.

Thanks in advance!

My GS ticks, dont ask me why..

oh well i havent ridden it for so long.. i miss my bike.. i miss riding..

darn it i need a bike to ride..

My 97 started making a semi-rythmic 'tink" at idle one day.  The sound frequency was about 1-2 'tinks' per second.  On close inspection it sounded like something was up with the top-end... sounds alot like your problem, no?   I couldn't figure out what it was and it drove me nuts until I realized that I was only riding across town and hadn't let the bike fully warm up in ages.  After riding 10-15 minutes, I stopped and listened... the sound was no longer there.... could it be just another "character noise" during warm up?  I don't know, but I rode the bike for quite a while since and have sold it to another rider who hasn't complained yet  :dunno:

Several possible causes come to mind: valve tick (temperature dependent) or something vibrating (ie: tank on frame). Does it change as the bike warms up?

Some people have valve noise at idle; others don't.  

Do a search for camshaft end-play; see http://www.gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9811&highlight=jordan or http://www.gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=91229#91229 . Camshaft end-play is harmless, but if you want, next time you have the valve cover open (to check valve clearance), you can put a thicker washer in there.

GSJack said in one instance, his camshaft end-play ticking went away when he changed to a thicker (e.g. 20-50 non-sythetic) oil.

Scratch (I think) also reported getting a tick from one of his valves, after he adjusted the valves from being too-tight to in-spec (but on the loose side); the sound went away when he adjusted them back to be in-spec, but erring on the tight side.

Cam end play washers... they cost like  good $3 or 4... and after 45K miles my cam shafts are not worn enough to take one of them things... They are faaaaaar too thick. The thickest I can fit is about a .6mm and the thinnest they have is a 1.1 mm... so measure the end play, and see that its over that 1.1 mark before buying them.
Cool.
Srinath.

Could be alot of things.  GSs tick, rattle, and make assorted other noises. I've learned to either ignore or enjoy them unless its obviously a BAD noise.

Could be that when you dropped it, a cam slid all the way against its holder. Could be the tank with its new spacer vibrates sypatheticly with the engine at that rpm.

One way to eliminate the tank (!) is to see if it still rattles with the tank full or partially empty. If it still rattles at different fuel levels, then its probably something else.

esokitty,

Does the sound currently being discussed in the Strange knocking noise thread match what you're hearing?  The fact that it only happens at low RPMs seems to point that way....