850 Engine Noise

[Gorminrider]

Your description sounds like the bike is warmed up is all.... there has to be some noise at the valve rockers epecially with the bucket shims or you won't be sure the valves are closing completely. Kind of like your clutch cable adjustment....it's almost impossible to get perfect, without any slack for all conditions.
It might be as simple as: When your bike has settled to it's maximum temperature so has your multigrade oil made its best guess on how thick it should be...

 

[Steve]

"Noise" is rather subjective. Some like the way the engine sounds and call it "music", while others prefer the silky silence of a Goldwing and think an air-cooled engine is "noisy".

Bringing your valve clearance down from 0.008" to 0.004" (and less) was a good move. :encouragement:
It will definitely make it quieter. Engines do change sound as they warm up. If it does not sound obnoxious, it's probably not. It's possible that you might be experiencing the infamous "cam walk". Does the sound come and go? Mine will knock a few times, wait about 5 seconds, knock a few more times, etc. As the engine speed is raised a bit, the noise goes away, By the time I cross 2000 RPM, I don't hear it any more. Yours might be doing the same thing. In fact, it might have been doing it all along, but it was masked by the large valve clearances.

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[93Bandit]

"Noise" is rather subjective. Some like the way the engine sounds and call it "music", while others prefer the silky silence of a Goldwing and think an air-cooled engine is "noisy".

Bringing your valve clearance down from 0.008" to 0.004" (and less) was a good move. :encouragement:
It will definitely make it quieter. Engines do change sound as they warm up. If it does not sound obnoxious, it's probably not. It's possible that you might be experiencing the infamous "cam walk". Does the sound come and go? Mine will knock a few times, wait about 5 seconds, knock a few more times, etc. As the engine speed is raised a bit, the noise goes away, By the time I cross 2000 RPM, I don't hear it any more. Yours might be doing the same thing. In fact, it might have been doing it all along, but it was masked by the large valve clearances.

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Steve, if you recall the original question in this thread, cam walk is what we determined the idle noise is. That noise comes and goes and sounds exactly like the video that was posted. :encouragement:

The noise I'm talking about now is definitely valve train clatter. It's exactly what I heard before shims, but much much quieter and mostly unnoticeable. I'm just used to auto engines that are quieter. This is my first air cooled engine. If they're inherently more noisy, I'll get used to it. Just wanted to make sure I don't have anything coming apart.

 

[Steve]

I'm just used to auto engines that are quieter. This is my first air cooled engine. If they're inherently more noisy, I'll get used to it. Just wanted to make sure I don't have anything coming apart.

(Most) Car engines are a LOT quieter.

Air-cooled engines are noisier. Compare an old VW Beetle to a newer Subaru.
Same type of engine, Subbie is water-cooled.

Bring it on down when the weather warms up a bit, we can check it out in detail. :encouragement:

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[Gorminrider]

one member's fix- paraphrasing, I think he said "turning the cam-end rubber around"

Reporting back, I've finally insured the 650 and during a 40 mile ride this worked! I simply reversed the cam-end plugs as shown in post 30 (https://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?255040-850-Engine-Noise&p=2535606#post2535606)

My bike would start the cam-walk clatter as soon as the bike was warm,but since doing this, I haven't heard it . Plus, a proper ride yesterday inclines me to report this simple fix is worth investigating for others annoyed by it.
As to "long-term" and "risks" I can't say until it exhibits something or until I take the valve cover off, but even if it wears the plugs away between valve-checks, I'd say it's worth it.