My engine "knocks" when I'm at a standstill ... seems to do it whether I'm in first gear or neutral.  Does anyone else have this problem?

Sometimes when mine is idleing the revs drop (like it will quit running) and there is a "clunk" or "thump", then it idles back up.  It does this infrequently on a regular basis. :dunno:

Hmmm, this isn't that.  It's more a "knocking" or "pinging" sound.  When they dropped the bike off at my house, the guy mentioned it, said if it didn't go away, I should bring it in.  It was time to store it for the winter, so I'm just now riding and noticed that the sound is still there.  It's not all the time, but frequent enough.  I'll bring it to them to have it looked at.  Just wondered if it was something specific to GS500's, etc.  I've only JUST NOW hit 300 mi., so maybe it's something that will work itself out.

Sound like it is just being broken-in. Is that the total mileage that is on the bike? Is it still under warranty?

Yep, embarrassingly enough, that's the total mileage!     I have no idea when the warranty runs out, but I'm guessing I'm still good.  haha.  I'll be taking it in at 600 mi., so I'll mention it then.

I agree with scratch, still breaking-in. Sounds like the camshaft endplay common in the GS's

So if it is the camshaft endplay (??), does that normally work itself out?

Quote from: junoIt does this infrequently on a regular basis. :dunno:

I think what you mean to say it is, "It hardly ever happens all the time."  

It comes and goes, I don't hear it on my F anymore.

Tdan ...  do you remember how long (how many miles) it took before it stopped?

I think it took about 3000-4000 miles before I noticed that it was gone.

OK, thanks for the info.  One of these days ...  I'll get there!   :lol:

My bike does this all the time now too. I had the carbs tuned and after that I noticed it. I think the bike ran too rough for me to hear it before. Everyone I've spoken to (including the repsones I got on this site) says it's natural and no mechanic has commented on it. I just ignore it now. Rev the bike a little at standstill and you can't hear it  

Will do.  It's just irritating, that's all.  

Wear ear plugs and it will go away.  :mrgreen:

Cam shaft play is pretty common on my bike, 93 with almost 16 k.  Ive checked my valves and cam chain tension numerous times and havent found anything wrong, so it has to be cam shaft play.  It was doing it pretty good yesterday, it seems that as it gets real warm and Ive ridden the bike for a good bit of time it becomes much more noticable and frequent.

That's exacly when I started noticing it ... after the engine was pretty warm ... about 60 mi. of riding time.  I will ask the shop I bought it from when I take it in for my 600 mi. check-up.  If they say or do anything helpful, I'll be sure to post it here.

Quote from: dgyverWear ear plugs and it will go away.  :mrgreen:

HA! I never noticed mine until I STARTED wearing ear plugs! :lol:

Didn't know how in-tune you could get with your bike when you block out all the extra garbage sounds. Riding without wind noise is awesome.

I just noticed mine does the same thing too when it gets warm. It actually sounds a little like the cam follower trying to stick. I hope I'm wrong about that as at least one or two other members have had a bad experience with it.

Derek

If/when you take the valve cover off for a valve inspection/adjustment, you can easily do a rough test for camshaft play.  For each camshaft, grab the sprocket or a cam lobe and try to push the camshaft end-to-end / back-and-forth / side-to-side / right-to-left / whatever.

Of the 3 GS500s I have owned, only one of them made "the sound".  And the intake camshaft on that bike was the only one I was able to move from side-to-side.  Even then, it was only the smallest amount.