Knock/Click Type Noise

[DogHeadGod]

Hey guys, I'm hoping somebody can give me an idea here about what can be causing this....

My bike ('05 plate ZX6R 636) is making a loud knocking/click sound when accelerating.

The click speeds up as the bike speeds up, roughly 1 click per second at 5-10mph then increasing.

Today in an effort to solve it I have lubed and adjusted the tension on the chain and I had a mate look for tight spots on the chain as I rolled the bike forward.

I had the rear wheel off the ground with a paddock stand and spinning it by hand there is no noise, i also tried running the bike in gear while it was off the ground and it doesn't do it then either.

I changed the front brake pads which were worn out, after a local mechanic said that may be the source of the noise, but no dice.

If you hold the throttle steady or ease it off the noise stops.

All the cables I can see are secure, so I don't think it is any of those.

The bike feels ok, acceleration is normal, there are no weird vibrations in the handlebars, pedals or levers

Given the fact that it is around 1 click per second at 10mph I don't *think* it is the engine, as I reckon anything in there would be much faster, the same for the wheels/wheelbearings.

Oil, coolant and brake fluid levels are all good.

I've ran out of ideas, and am now just hoping it's not going to be an expensive fix... so any suggestions will be much appreciated.

Cheers!

[neil.]

I had something similar and it turned out to be the chain, more specifically the master link, which subsequently failed. You're not running an IRIS chain by any chance? It had been distorting/weakening for some time, producing a knocking sound when a particular amount of acceleration/deceleration was applied and it got faster with speed. I would never have known that anything was wrong with the chain by visually inspecting it. The frequency of clicks suggests its something that takes a while to go round to the problem spot, which would also suggest the chain or something on a wheel. Do you feel the knock through the footpegs, because I did... Is the back sprocket okay? Not ovalled/warped? Perhaps the cush drive? You can check the wheel bearings out too.
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CBT February 2008 | A2 June 2008 | Yamaha YBR125 (written off) | Honda CBF125 (current)

[DogHeadGod]

[That_Hornet]

Have a little look at your calipers on your way aswell. Mine move side to side when I ride.

[Phoenix]

Given the front brake disk a tug to see if there's any significantly loose rivets? Take the front sprocket cover off too and see if there is anything stuck in there, still doesn't make much sense given the frequency of the clicking but worth checking. Anything stuck in the tyres that's hitting the front mudguard or rear hugger?

[Walloper]

Get a new oil filter.
Whip the one that is on the engine off.
Cut the top off the filter using a hacksaw
Cut along the pleats of the filter element to open it out like a fan.
Look for shiny metal in the paper element.
If lots of flakes/chips then you may have an engine ready to fail.
I would check soonest as the longer you run it the more expensive the repair may be.
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W-ireless A-rtificial L-ifeform L-imited to O-bservation P-eacekeeping and E-fficient R-epair

[Damon]

Does it make any noise when stationary and reving the bike?

[MarkJ]

If the clicks are less frequent than a rotation of a wheel, and don't happen on a neutral throttle it sounds like a final drive issue to me.

[DogHeadGod]

[Maruchino]

I have this exact same problem on my ZX6R J1!

I have had my headraces done as well as the front wheel bearings.

I'm thinking it's my worn discs (i.e. when the pistons move back into the calipers the pads rattle against the disc/pistons)

Can you get your fingers in there and feel much loose play on the pads? Do you have a guage to measure thickness of the disc to see if its under the service limit?

I'm getting new discs shortly which hopefully will solve the problem.

[DogHeadGod]

New front tyre on it today and new wheel bearings. Still clicking though.

Mechanic couldn't find the problem and recommended a new chain and sprockets as the next step.

If that doesn't resolve it he reckons its the gearbox

[Pete.]

I have had this noise before. In my case it turned out to be the spacer tube in the wheel between the two bearings. The bearings weren't quite snugged up to the spacer and every time the wheel turned the spacer would 'fall' onto the spindle with an audible tick.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[DogHeadGod]

[Pete.]