Knocking noises; vibrations in the handlebar; oil sipping at valve lid gasket

[rdprdp01]

.........
........ I own recently a 2017 Honda CB 1100 RS(now 10.000 km) I ride it a little and I have important issues as follows:
- Knockings under the front valve lid(front right) only after the engine is hot.(camshaft, valve timing, cam chain???) -
** will not address this issue due to lacking supporting evidence, discription is not enough, and I don't like guessing.....
Use mechanic stetoscope or a screwdriver to pinpoint , check and compare ex and in cams, left and right corners
- strong vibrations in the handle bar(high pitch) after 3,200-5.000 rpm doesn't matter the gear, speed or if I rev' it on stand. I check and all the nuts are tightened OK, vibrations come obviously from the engine. I've used first time AmsOil 10w40, then I change it to OEM Honda 10w30-MA, I've changed the sparks too and... nothing -
** you are wasting time and money by switching oil grade from 10w40 to 10w30 and replacing spark plugs to address this issue.
I always use 10W40 synthetic due to hot summer here and long distance rides. Both oil grades are ok for our CBs as per manufacture.
Testing engine for vibration in N & center stand & 3,000-5,000 rpm may have different results than testing when ridden and under load. Also, the OEM mirrors and  handle bar weight B/part #9 and end weight/part #10 are part of anti-vibration tool, check if you have all these
https://www.hondapartshouse.com/oemparts...top-bridge , as a referance/you have RS
I had 2013/5 speed and while riding this vibration was noticable, normlity and I did nothing to correct it. Sold the bike at 56,000 kms.
Then I had 2014/6 speed and the vibration was less than 2013 model. Also left it alone as normal characteristic for this bike. Sold the bike this May with 134,000 kms. 
Now I have 2014 DLX/6 speed and the vibration is very minimal, and again I will not try to correct it.
All my CBs had proper balancer adjustment.
All CB1100 have the same powerplant, 2010-2013 were 5 speed and from 2014 up were 6 speed, some exeptions apply.
- sipping oil from the valve cover gasket, but this is a common fail as I've noticed to all air-cooled Honda.  
** this is not true.
My '13 std had a little seepage, '14 was bone dry, my '14 DLX had a very little seepage and was fixed by inserting drain plug washer onder one cam cover bolt, do not overtighten it, you may strip the thread
Use this thread to address your leak: http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=19481
.
Some hepful links:
http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread....=vibration
http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread....+vibration
http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread....+vibration
http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread....zing+noise
http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread....gine+noise
http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread....gine+noise
http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread....gine+noise
http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread....gine+noise
http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread....gine+noise
............

 I will try to make a short video maybe the knocking thing will make more sense to what I mean. The knocking is coming mainly from front right cyl head cover, after the engine is hot, in idle sounds/heard best; but till I go to the mechanic to open the lid to see what's inside, things are uncertain. Hate to open an engine so young, it seems I have bad luck considering that I'm the only one having this problems!  Even the Japs have also decreased quality(chrome, welding, cables wrapping, plastics).
 Regarding the handle vibrations, I had several bikes, please believe me, is uncommon, not supportable after 3k rpm, even the dash and headlight is rattling sometimes. All the stuff, handle, mirrors and weights are factory OEM, only small 2 cm risers SW-Motech well torqued. Thank you for help!

I am glad that everyone is working together on this! Please note that the links referenced on the prior site are also available on this site. If you try to access s link from cb1100forum.com and it gives you an error, you can search for Crank Balancer and find the copied Thread.

I am tracking this Thread with great enthusiasm and look forward to seeing where it eventually lands.

David

[peterbaron]

The knocking is coming mainly from front right cyl head cover, after the engine is hot, in idle sounds/heard best;

..... what is the "speed" of that noise compared to the engine rpm while idling?
* if it's significantly slower or 2x slower than the engine speed it might indicate cam, valve clearance... in a 4 stroke, the engine turns twice/720* while the cam turns once/360*  to complete 4 stroke cycle, so the ratio is 2:1
* did you buy it from the original owner, auction, import from a different country...?
* did you test this RS prior purchesing

[TheLegend]

The knocking is coming mainly from front right cyl head cover, after the engine is hot, in idle sounds/heard best;

..... what is the "speed" of that noise compared to the engine rpm while idling?
* if it's significantly slower or 2x slower than the engine speed it might indicate cam, valve clearance... in a 4 stroke, the engine turns twice/720* while the cam turns once/360*  to complete 4 stroke cycle, so the ratio is 2:1
* did you buy it from the original owner, auction, import from a different country...?
* did you test this RS prior purchesing

The noise is heard clearly only on idle, when I rev'it the general engine noise covers the knocking. It looks slower then revs, it looks to me like a camshaft not a valve, the knock is thick and loud enough, soon I will make a movie. 
The bike was bought from Germany-EU direct from the owner, the service card is updated with full services until 8.800 km now I have 10.000 km; the bike is tip-top no signs of drop or other incidents; I bought it in Dec so... no rides, but I didn't recall noises or vibrations at the begining. After I change the oil(AmsOil 10w40) and I install the Givi windshield I've noticed some vibrations and since 2 months that knocking.  Thank you for the support!

---

was the bike bought new or used? if used wonder of it got dropped or something else happened.  I'll be honest, the quality of the cb Is pretty top notch overall.  except the frame welds everything is pretty spot on

Used, direct from owner with service book full maintenance till 8.800 now is 10.000 km; No sign of drop or accident, is Tip-Top really.
That's why I am so upset, is almost new, in a very good shape, I love this bike it's the younger sister of Sevenfifty wich I was very satisfied, I knew it's a very reliable bike but...

---

.........
........ I own recently a 2017 Honda CB 1100 RS(now 10.000 km) I ride it a little and I have important issues as follows:
- Knockings under the front valve lid(front right) only after the engine is hot.(camshaft, valve timing, cam chain???) -
** will not address this issue due to lacking supporting evidence, discription is not enough, and I don't like guessing.....
Use mechanic stetoscope or a screwdriver to pinpoint , check and compare ex and in cams, left and right corners
- strong vibrations in the handle bar(high pitch) after 3,200-5.000 rpm doesn't matter the gear, speed or if I rev' it on stand. I check and all the nuts are tightened OK, vibrations come obviously from the engine. I've used first time AmsOil 10w40, then I change it to OEM Honda 10w30-MA, I've changed the sparks too and... nothing -
** you are wasting time and money by switching oil grade from 10w40 to 10w30 and replacing spark plugs to address this issue.
I always use 10W40 synthetic due to hot summer here and long distance rides. Both oil grades are ok for our CBs as per manufacture.
Testing engine for vibration in N & center stand & 3,000-5,000 rpm may have different results than testing when ridden and under load. Also, the OEM mirrors and  handle bar weight B/part #9 and end weight/part #10 are part of anti-vibration tool, check if you have all these
https://www.hondapartshouse.com/oemparts...top-bridge , as a referance/you have RS
I had 2013/5 speed and while riding this vibration was noticable, normlity and I did nothing to correct it. Sold the bike at 56,000 kms.
Then I had 2014/6 speed and the vibration was less than 2013 model. Also left it alone as normal characteristic for this bike. Sold the bike this May with 134,000 kms. 
Now I have 2014 DLX/6 speed and the vibration is very minimal, and again I will not try to correct it.
All my CBs had proper balancer adjustment.
All CB1100 have the same powerplant, 2010-2013 were 5 speed and from 2014 up were 6 speed, some exeptions apply.
- sipping oil from the valve cover gasket, but this is a common fail as I've noticed to all air-cooled Honda.  
** this is not true.
My '13 std had a little seepage, '14 was bone dry, my '14 DLX had a very little seepage and was fixed by inserting drain plug washer onder one cam cover bolt, do not overtighten it, you may strip the thread
Use this thread to address your leak: http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=19481
.
Some hepful links:
http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread....=vibration
http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread....+vibration
http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread....+vibration
http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread....zing+noise
http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread....gine+noise
http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread....gine+noise
http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread....gine+noise
http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread....gine+noise
http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread....gine+noise
............

 I will try to make a short video maybe the knocking thing will make more sense to what I mean. The knocking is coming mainly from front right cyl head cover, after the engine is hot, in idle sounds/heard best; but till I go to the mechanic to open the lid to see what's inside, things are uncertain. Hate to open an engine so young, it seems I have bad luck considering that I'm the only one having this problems!  Even the Japs have also decreased quality(chrome, welding, cables wrapping, plastics).
 Regarding the handle vibrations, I had several bikes, please believe me, is uncommon, not supportable after 3k rpm, even the dash and headlight is rattling sometimes. All the stuff, handle, mirrors and weights are factory OEM, only small 2 cm risers SW-Motech well torqued. Thank you for help!

I am glad that everyone is working together on this! Please note that the links referenced on the prior site are also available on this site. If you try to access s link from cb1100forum.com and it gives you an error, you can search for Crank Balancer and find the copied Thread.

I am tracking this Thread with great enthusiasm and look forward to seeing where it eventually lands.

David

Thank you very much David, thank you all for the suport!

[peterbaron]

just to mention this post #3 - it addresses the new noise...it might be your issue????, check

http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread....#pid355532

[TheLegend]

The knocking is coming mainly from front right cyl head cover, after the engine is hot, in idle sounds/heard best;

..... what is the "speed" of that noise compared to the engine rpm while idling?
* if it's significantly slower or 2x slower than the engine speed it might indicate cam, valve clearance... in a 4 stroke, the engine turns twice/720* while the cam turns once/360*  to complete 4 stroke cycle, so the ratio is 2:1
* did you buy it from the original owner, auction, import from a different country...?
* did you test this RS prior purchesing

This is a youtube link that I made with the knocking sound, hope it works:

https://youtube.com/shorts/dW0LAVtHDrc?feature=share

[Cormanus]

It works.

[Cormanus]

TheLegend, did you not say you were in Bucharest? Surely there's a major Honda dealer there who could help you diagnose the problem?

[TheLegend]

TheLegend, did you not say you were in Bucharest? Surely there's a major Honda dealer there who could help you diagnose the problem?

In Bucharest there are only dealers with a service, not a Honda Official; I was at one of them(biggest), they make a so called diagnose where nothing was seen, e.g. they see only an injector out of four and no other issues... it seems that they do not have the OEM diagnose soft/tester; they mention too that they didn't know this kind of model so, they are out of the problem. Sadly but in Romania isn't yet an Oficial Dealer with all the soft knowhow and trained mechanics for this. I can't let them make some kind of training on my bike!

[Cormanus]

OK. Not a good idea to be a guinea pig.

[peterbaron]

OK. Not a good idea to be a guinea pig.

Agreed