Honda XL 125 Varadero 2007 engine noise

[Geeeza69]

Hi
My bike has recently started having a ticking noise coming from the engine (best way to describe it) and also a slight burning smell
Still runs and drives as it should but as iv only had the bike about a month and paid a fair amount for it I'm getting a little bit worried as I don't want it to die on me lol
I'm a complete novice when it comes to anything mechanical with bikes so have no idea what it could be. my local garage tells me It has oil in.iv done about 800 miles since buying it and am going to put it in for a service in the next week or so. Would that sort the problem or is going to be something else?

Cheers for any help in advance

[P.]

Where is the noise?

The exhaust runs close to the sump plug so an oil change previously could have been done baldy and its dripping... but unlikely.

[Mark65]

Exhaust expanding and contracting?, the smell could be road shit, I ride to work on a lot of country roads and sometimes when its muddy or field and cow shit are on the road the hot exhaust stinks for a while.
Mark
____________________
07 Yamaha YBR125, 07 Honda CG125 , 15 CBR300R (Chocolate Crank, Deaded), 16 CB500FA, 19 Honda Forza 300, 70 Suzuki SV650

[Geeeza69]

I don't think it's the exhaust. And I think you might be right about the smell as it's been fine today. And the ticking is coming from as far as I can tell the left hand side of the engine.

[KymcoRatChop]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJS0aHwFzsg
If it sounds like this - then your cam chain tensioner

if it's like that but quieter and less "abrupt" then it's probably valve clearances

[P.]

Grab a video of it, as long as you are good with the oil changes it should last you a lifetime.

[Geeeza69]

It sounds just like that but quieter. U can only hear it when it's ticking over. And yes il be making sure it gets regular oil changes. If it is the valves should I be worried? Il try and whack a video of it up later aswell.

[P.]

What mileage are you on?

[Geeeza69]

Just coming up to 15000

[P.]

I'f they've never been adjusted, I'd probably get them done.

I haven't done mine in 20,000 miles on the Varadero and I have no noises, lack of power or anything untoward occurring.

A video would help, perhaps a walk around getting fairly close to the engine and clutch casings on both sides.

[Geeeza69]

Will get a video up as soon as I get the chance

Cheers for the help so far 😃

[moonzoomer]

Does the noise disappear when the clutch lever is operated?

[Geeeza69]

No it's always there it's just u can only hear it when it's ticking over as it's not loud enough to hear when driving

[Geeeza69]

Just to add before I bought the bike according to the garage it had been in dry storage for about 9 months by the previous owner but they put it thru there workshop before selling it to me

[P.]

If I can, I'll record my Varadero, I've done zero work to that bike engine wise.

A garage putting a bike through their workshop could mean they pumped tyres up and maybe checked the oil level, I don't trust garages

[Geeeza69]

just recorded a video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nGJxm8teLc&feature=youtu.be

[P.]

Quieter than mine, sounds perfectly fine to me

[moonzoomer]

The bike sounds fine, keep an eye on the oil levels as some of these bikes use a bit when thrashed and change the oil often (I would suggest every 1 k miles) but other folk would disagree, oil is cheap and easy to change so that is my best advise in keeping the engine in good condition. Good clean oil saves a lot of hassle and money in the long run.