Hey guys, so quick question when my bike is running there is a constant ticking type of noise coming from the motor,,sounds like its all internal. Just wondering if its normal or not? Bike has 5500k miles an is an 07, never really been raped on either. Ive heard its a Kawasaki thing but just wanted to make sure everything is mech. sound!

 

What bike is it? If its the KLX, then its "normal" or so Kawi and the dealers say it is anyway. LOL

 

It's an 07'zx6r ninja

 

Cam chains are routinely noisy on Kaw ZX engines. Also, watch for oil starvation on right upper side if idling on sidestand. The cam chain tensioner (made of some type of nylon-plastic) always seemed cheapo to me, but seems to work most of the time.
The ticking is probably nothing unusual. Adjust valves as recommended and check tensioner while the top is off.

 

First off, listen where the ticking is coming from. Best way to listen for noise is to get a mechanic's stethescope and touch the probe around on the covers where you want to listen. I can tell which valves are slightly loose on my Zephyr using one. A quick substitute is to take a long screwdriver, put the tip where you want to listen and rest the handle against your ear, enabling you to hear the vibration and noise.

If it's coming from the valve cover area it is loose valves, maybe need adjusted. It ain't cheap to do so it may not have been done yet and with 5500 miles or klicks it's likely coming due

If the noise is coming from the cam drive area of the engine it could be the tensioner is starting to go bad. Sure lots of Kaw engines are noisy. Ask me about the two tensioners I put in my KLX before having to rebuild the top end with new cam chains at 15,000 miles. And the buzzing noise from my Zephyr when I got it with about 12,000 miles on it. In both cases I was told noisy Kaw engines are normal. After the first one I put in a manual tensioner, on the second I was smart enough to do the same. Seems a lot of the KLX650, Zephyr, Eliminator, and Concours riders get the same line. Now many are going to manual tensioners. I now have over 27,000 miles on the KLX using the manual tensioner with no problems and minimal adjustments. The Zephyr has about 6000 with no adjustment.

By the way one rider on a Concours had the dealer tell him there was nothing he could do about the noise in his Concours and besides it was "old technology". That, from a dealer. The rider got a manual tensioner, installed and adjusted it, and the noise is gone.

If you find you actually have cam chain noise, the tensioner is going bad, give me a PM or email. I can help. I've helped out over a hundred riders so far with this Kawasaki short coming. If it is the tensioner it may be normal, but it isn't good.