Engine clicking/ticking metallic noise! WTF?

[Guth_imp]

Mine made funny noises after it sat a month, a definite clicking during warm up. It went away after couple of rides.

But in other cases, like when I installed an air funnel or K&N filter or new exhaust or PCV I thought I heard funny noises, Those were probably caused by a bit of fear and uncertainty that creap into my subconsious, making me super sensitive to perceived wierd sounds.

I agree the air cooled engine is by nature an animal of many different noises. One suggested cure is to install a louder set of headers and exhaust.

I can still hear a variety of noises coming from my engine with a Staintune slip-on installed. The exhaust isn't really all that loud. I've always figured that it was just the nature of the beast, being an air cooled engine.

Another thing I've noticed is how my engine (this goes for my water-cooled Hawk GT as well) sounds while it is sitting there idling with my helmet off versus having my helmet on. When I have my helmet on, most noises are filtered out, but others are not so they tend to stand out more. I have no idea how things sound going down the road with the helmet off because I always have it on.

 

[MagnaRider]

Reviving this old thread, I hear exactly the same thing as post #1 with ticking under acceleration. I'm assuming its been pretty confirmed that it is the injectors?

 

[Tev62]

Oh god. Now I've seen this thread I'm going to hear this all the time. Never registered with me before that

 

[peterbaron]

Oh god. Now I've seen this thread I'm going to hear this all the time. Never registered with me before that

Oh my, same as above

 

[Frulk_imp]

CB1100’s have a well documented and long track record of sterling mechanical durability.

Assuming the bikes that do this have been well maintained and not abused I’m confident in stating that this ticking is a normal operating sound. I’ve personally never noticed it. I wear a helmet while riding and have a Yoshimura Carbon Fiber exhaust can sans silencer insert on the bike. The Yoshimura really doesn’t emit a sound signature under 4K RPMs any louder that the OEM muffler. Even sitting in the garage idling I haven't keyed in on this sound.

For comparison stand next to any Ducati, Ural or Harley Pan America for a few minutes. The engines will sound like machine shops building something. Tapping, ticking, whirring etc.

All is well with your CB. However, that will not preclude some forum miscreant from trying to claim it’s caused by a lack of…..wait for it…..RLETS.

 

[Lord Popgun]

Miscreant call me he does. Beckons you the darkside does.

Its the injectors. I never even notice it anymore.

But, it is a ticking right? Not a buzzing? I, and a lot of us, had a connector buzzing in the headlight shell. Easy fix once we figured it out.

 

[Gone in 60]

As long as I keep Jamiroquai playing in my earbuds, this will never be a problem for me.

 

[Tev62]

All a matter of perspective I guess. My '95 Daytona 1200 engine sounds like a bag of nuts and bolts in a washing machine below 3,000 revs. :-0

 

[the Ferret]

I rode with my nephew yesterday on his new FE 501 dual sport single and talk about making a racket sitting there idling...plus it shook like a Harley at idle with visible movement of the fenders etc. lol.

My CB literally purrs by comparison