I have a 2000 R1 with a 01 engine that has 5,000 miles on it. Within the last 1,000 miles the top end has became really noisy. I have read several times that this year bike is very noisy in the tappet area. I have recently switched oils from mobil one to Amsoil. I am wondering if my valves may need to be adjusted. If not then at what point do you service the valves for adjustment? How hard is this job to do? I have never dug into a bike engine before.

I'm having the same problem with my 01. I just changed the oil, uesd royal purple 20w 50 full synthetic motorcycle oil. Rode the bike yesterday and noticed a loud ticking noise coming from the top end. Not sure if it's the valves or what. My bike has just over 10,000 miles. The valve adjustment interval on this bike is over 20,000 miles. Anyone had to adjust their valves before 20,000? If it's not the valves any ideas what it could be?

really it helps to run oil like 20W-50. valve adjustment dont need to be done till like 26000 miles.. most of time the intake valves will tighten up.. exhaust will be fine.. 99.9% of time the valves do not loosen up with miles.. they tighten up.. so if its real noisy have it checked.. could also be cam chain.. they tend to be noisy and can go out and stretch as well.. get stethescope and listen to motor.. go to harbor freight.. and they sell one for pretty cheap for checking noises.. if not get good screwdriver and stick end to motor and ur ear to plastic handle.. listen to various parts of motor.. listen on side and on each cylinder part of head.. see if u can pinpoint it.

its not hard to check valves..now adjusting them is pain..time consuming. pulling cams out, getting right shims, putting cams back in.. if u have service manual.. and some mechanical skill.. u can do it.. but if not.. save it for Pros.. better safe than sorry. spend$200 to find out.. instead of $2000 on motor..if it goes out

Thanks long R1. I will definately have it checked out. Do you think that I should try to 20w50 oil to see if most of it goes away? I am currently running 10w40 Amsoil. Also one long r1, I am getting my ivans jett kit put in this week. I have dyno-jet currently. I think that in the past I have read that you had the dyno jet set up but could never get it right. The mechanic is going to install the needles and the jets for me, but I am going to be the one that is doing the low end adjustment. Can you send me in the right direction on how to do this correctly since you have adjusted with this set up on your old 00. I had the same problem that you had. The bike runs fine in the midrange but gets lean around 9k 10k. At least that is what it feels like. The bike doesnt pull as hard in the higher rpms. Ivan said that is where his jets shine. Thank you for your help so far.

My 01 with 4100 miles has a top end click like mad but the valve adjustment is all within spec. No clue what it is.

glad I'm not the only one with these noises...

im having the same problem except mine is a really loud tapping it was a light tap until the clutch flew apart now it is really loud i havent yet got the valve cover off to check it but was wondering maybe if it could be a valve spring broke?

I am starting to believe that the r1 engine in general is just a really noisy engine. I went to the track two weeks ago and heard an 05 raven running at idle and it sounded bad itself. I felt alot better hearing it run.

Hey guys, I'm new here, and this is my first R1 (2001). I was curious about the top end noises I was hearing too. I plan on getting a manual cam chain tensioner, to see if it quiets down at all, but it seems like all R1's have this noise, huh? I got mine with a little over 8000 miles on her, now she has a little over 10,000. I feel better knowing it's not just my baby. Thanks....this site rocks.:rock

Hey guys i have a 2001 r1 and my top end started to do that.. The one major thing i would check is your valve retainer.. Even before your 20,000 mile service..

I have 14,000k on mine and it`s quiet as can be.

My 01 is noisy too. It's running the recommended oil, and I was curious so I did som research and found out that it's supposed to be caused by the fact that there's 5 valves per cylinder on these models. Lots of valves, thus lots of noise. Don't know it it's really the cause, but I'll go with it.

Just glad to hear I'm not alone.

Just finished a San Diego ride this past weekend and the ride home I started hearing a lot of noise from the engine. Not sure if it's because of the Circle K gas that I put (the only gas station we could find at the time) or if it was normal. I only ride the bike on the weekends and it only has roughly 10,000 miles on it. I run full synthetic oil in her and use 20W-50. I hope this engine noise is normal with the 2001 R1s.

until this '08 Yamaha I owned a few each of the other jap brands.

and this bish ticks and makes more noise than anything I've owned. everyone told me its normal. over 8000 miles with all this noise and racket and no probs to report http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j180/stevewfl/avatars/teethsmile.gif

i live in warmer climate..so i run 20w50. it seems to help with vavle noise.. so its worth shot.. as long as ur not in climate where its 0 degrees outside and trying to ride bike. think weather for 20w50 is like 30-120 degrees or so. so if u fall in that category, its worth shot on ur next oil change.

and yes i had problems with dynojet kit. ive installed hundred of damn things, with no problems ever..until my own 00 R1. i couldnt make it work. it wouldnt take 100% throttle and run up past 9k rpms. nothing like taking carbs apart 10 times when there hot to get u pissed off. put ivans in.. no problems at all and ran like freakin top. dont know what problem was..maybe just kit i had. maybe something wrong with it. but at time i didnt have anything special in bike, just scorpion slip on and stock air filter.

I think I may be having the same noise. It almost sounds like my chain is clicking but maybe its the valves, its a smooth clicking noise not like something is being damaged, but I think I need to have it checked out.

Wow, I posted this forever ago. Dont worry about your noise. I have had 5 different 2000 and 2001 engines and they all tick and make noises. It is the nature of the beast. The more you think about it the more it will get inside of your head. Unless you hear banging from the piston rods ride it like you stole it and enjoy. Took me a year to get the noise thing out of my head. Disturbing.

bought a 01 from a guy because there was tapping in the top end of engine, apparently from reading the thread there is no reason for alarm, right? also the guy was running synthetic 10w30, is this a problem? my other bike ran royal purple.

i have a 00 and my makes the same noise but i have 36000 miles on it besides the noise runs strong as ever.

a friend told me to switch up on the oil, going AMSOIL. hopefully that will quiet it a little.

I am currently finishing up on paper work to become a Amsoil Distributor. I liked the oil so well that I checked into the distributorship deal and now its comming true. It will really quiet your engine down. Shifting will be a lot smoother was well.

I am a big fan of Amsoil! It does run quiet.

good to hear you are becoming a dealer, cant find amsoil anywhere in my area. how soon will you be finished with paper work.

For those of you who have a Joes in your area (formerly G.I. Joes) they carry it

I you running Amsol synthetic?

Yes sir.

good to hear you are becoming a dealer, cant find amsoil anywhere in my area. how soon will you be finished with paper work.

The guy that I am dealing with is going to get me the paper work as soon as he gets back from vacation. Should be after x-mas.

00 r1 over 33 k on engine and its been sounding like this shit since the day i bought it so no worries guys haha

ps: running motul synth

My friend has 2001 R1...his engine is pretty noisy...sounds like little clickin' sometimes...but nothing bad...my 2000 R1...it is nearly the same cca 15 000 miles...very good condition...engine runs perfect.Just a little noisy:)

I like it!

I think yamaha should get in on this thread and find a solution to their noisy a$$ engines:)