I want someone to help me out, I hear a ticking noise on my bike it ticks at the same speed as the RPMīs it sounds like when you pull the bushing off a spark plug with the engine runing and the spark jumps from the cable to the spark plug, well thats what it sounds like, i can realy hear it when iīm on the freeway going 60mph, itīs not very plesent after a whyle.
I took a good look around the engine whyle runing but couldnīt put my finger on it, it does it at any RPM.:dundun:

the 06 (and earlier) models have a tick but not like what your describing. Have you listened t an older model? it may be the same (your just describing it different).

My 06 does it, and it bugs the heck out of me, BUTT ive taken it to the dealer and had a few others listen to it. they really cant put their finger on it. but all agree its typical and I shouldnt be worried !?!?!

I just bought the extended service plan. that way if something does go bad... its their problem not mine!

the sound is penetrating, when iīm doing 60 or 70mph the wind pretty much takes care of just about any sound exept that one, it doesnīt sound life threatening but it really does bug me.

Welcome to Yamaha. I haven't seen a Yamaha yet that doesn't have a ticking noise. Yes, even the 07 has it.

Welcome to the forum also.

Well I have always been Honda since I was a little kid, and well this is my first yamaha, Iīm 22 years and 6ī3 and the hondas are feeling a little cramped, the R1 was a way better fit. Anyway thanks for the info makes me feel better that nothing is wrong with my bike, I guess Iīll just get used to it.:riding

Glad you made the switch to Yamaha. I hope the one brings you many good memories.
As with any new model, the 07 is having a couple of problems so make sure you check out the main page on the forum for the ECU update if you haven't done so already.

I would bet almost anything that the ticking noise you are hearing is from the fuel injectors. Sometimes they can be pretty loud. The "ticking" is caused when they open and close...which is why it sounds like it is at the same rate as the RPM. It is normal operation...some are just louder than others.

i believe it's the fuel pump making the sound.....but i could be wrong!!

Mine did not seem to do it till I hit about 250 miles. Now it ticks at the lower RPMs. It seems to come in around 3000 or so but does not seem to do it at idle or with no load on the motor. Strange..... Sounds like a sticking valve (anyone with a SBC from the late 80s to the late 90s know what I am talking about! CHEVY stands for Can Hear Every Valve Yelling haha)

I guess this is normal?

I get a tick or buss when I squeeze the tank with my leggs....Kinda buggs me but I can live with it....

actualy now that tubular031 mentioned it thats exactly what my bike did, I do know that injectors make some ticking noise but didnīt think it would be this loud, it dose sound like a stiky valve.
This is my first yamaha ever..... and mi first fuel injection, my las bike was a CBR 900RR fireblade and it was carburated so I realy wouldnīt know how yamahas actualy sound, I thought it would be the same but I guess not!

+1 for fuel injectors.... mine does it too.

I have a 2007 R1 (with a manufacture date of 10/06).

Mine does it too from just above idle to about 3500 RPM (sometimes loud, sometimes not so loud - and only when hot), but I do not think it is the injectors. In order to rule out the injectors, just ride the bike in first gear up to 3000 RPM so you can clearly hear the tick, then chop the throttle. Notice the ticking decreases with RPM, not throttle chop. So it seems to indeed be valve train related (more prevalent on left side). Really irritating.

...I do not think it is the injectors. In order to rule out the injectors, just ride the bike in first gear up to 3000 RPM so you can clearly hear the tick, then chop the throttle. Notice the ticking decreases with RPM, not throttle chop. So it seems to indeed be valve train related (more prevalent on left side)...

Mine, too. I was assuming it is a loose valve lifter, that's what it sounds like to me. But the fuel injection theory is interesting. Its my first "fuellie" so I don't know. Was planning on doing the 1000 mile check this weekend. I'll let you know what I find.

This has been consistent in other year bikes as well... I recall one thread posted buy some engineer guying saying it was good, bike was holding tight tolerances. I wouldnt stress it.

This has been consistent in other year bikes as well... I recall one thread posted buy some engineer guying saying it was good, bike was holding tight tolerances. I wouldnt stress it.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not stressing. It only takes a shim exchange to fix a loose valve lifter; standard maintenance stuff; part of the 1000 mile check anyway.

+1 for fuel injectors.... mine does it too.

No noise on my bike, 550 miles idles quiet and in the higher rpms :) fingers crossed. 02/07

Has anyone considered the AIS? It has reed valves in it that may be causing the noise. Can anyone with AIS removed verify this?

AIS removed, but the reeds stay in. Several people have mentioned FI as a possible area for the noise. Anyone that has owned more than 1 Yamaha sportbike knows that the ticking noise is signature Yamaha.
Seen to many Carbed Yamahas (including mine)with the same ticking noise to try to pin it on the FI. YZF600R, R6S, R6, R1, FZ6, FZ1, and even previous versions to some of these bikes had the same ticking noise.

They are semply the titanium's based valve...in our case the aspiration's ones...
bye

Just traded in an '06 Honda CBR 600RR last week for an '07 R1 (charcoal) and the CBR had the same ticking sound. CBR is fuel injected as well.

I have the 07 charcoal as well, and ya, it does make alot of top end noise, which I have been told by other is normal. I really couldn't say what it is, but people much more knowledgable then myself said it's cool so...shrug :)

i have the ticking noise in mine and my dealer is replacing my head, not the one on my shoulders but the one on my bike. he said the ticking noise is from the valve not seating properly. this may be your prob but may not. anyway just thought i would try shed some light.

Well I have had the same problem, and I have stripped nearly everything that I can except removing the head totaly to try and find it, everything. I have now found my solution, earplugs or a mp3 player since Iam told that its normal just fing irritating. :-)

07 r1 just past 4000 miles, I also have the tick I didn't really notice it until a buddy of mines brung it to my attention, dealer said it was normal. Just recently I had white smoke exiting my exhaust, dealer said it was condensation. I also had my oil light come on for no apparent reason on several different occasions, dealer said it was a glitch. I document everything concerning my bike I hope you do the same. Other then these problems the bike runs like a champ. I dont have that lag, I've never stalled. I can't complain about the performance.

AIS removed, but the reeds stay in. Several people have mentioned FI as a possible area for the noise. Anyone that has owned more than 1 Yamaha sportbike knows that the ticking noise is signature Yamaha.
Seen to many Carbed Yamahas (including mine)with the same ticking noise to try to pin it on the FI. YZF600R, R6S, R6, R1, FZ6, FZ1, and even previous versions to some of these bikes had the same ticking noise.


+1 only owned one bike that wasn't a yamaha, the rest have been yamaha sportbikes. Of the 4 R6s I've had ALL have had a ticking sound ( I've owned 03, 05, 06S, 06 R6s )and my 07 R1 ticks aswell... common noise along with the MANY toher noises it makes. The most common theory / explanation to these strange noises is due to how high sprung and tightly wound these engines are. Remember where our powerband is on these bikes and consider the mechanics require to make them hold up.

You get used to it and I have written the noises off to powerband design. Which umbrellas the FI, Compression, Stroke, etc...

Well, I feel a little better now except for the guy who posted his dealer is replacing the head. This is my first Yamaha, 07 R1. I dropped it off today at the dealer for the ECU swap and for them to check out the ticking. I seem to have it on any RPM but you cant hear it at high speeds or high RPMs. It is freaking annoying, but as long as there's nothing wrong that's all I care about.

Has anyone tried to contact a Yamaha tech/engineer directly???

Well, I feel a little better now except for the guy who posted his dealer is replacing the head. This is my first Yamaha, 07 R1. I dropped it off today at the dealer for the ECU swap and for them to check out the ticking. I seem to have it on any RPM but you cant hear it at high speeds or high RPMs. It is freaking annoying, but as long as there's nothing wrong that's all I care about.

Has anyone tried to contact a Yamaha tech/engineer directly???

I've chatted with a licensed Yamaha Tech at a local shop and he said it was "Signiture Yamaha", apparently it's kinda a joke of being a trademark of the brand. I wouldn't worry about it, and you can tell the difference between a ticking sound and a major internal issue, trust me on that one :riding

The reason it "goes away" is due to the RPMs mostly, the faster the engine runs the noise is muffled out by the speed in which they're required to cycle. The other factor for not hearing it is speed, the wind muffles it out.

You'll tune the ticks out over some time, and you'll learn to love the characteristics of the bike so much the ticks just fade into distant memory :rock

Grats on your purchase btw

I'm beginning to have second thoughts about buying my R1. Don't get me wrong, I love the bike, but it seems to have some issues. The other day I was riding without a helmet (yeah I know stupidity runs in my family...) and noticed a grinding sound from the top end of the engine that wasn't noticable with a helmet on. Its only there when I downshift or let off hard on the throttle as in using RPMs to slow the bike rather than braking. Also, a few days ago I was idling down the Interstate (doing about 80 or 85mph @ 5500rpm in 6th gear) and had just passed a semi-truck and as I pulled back into the righthand lane, the bike lost power. The engine light can on and the bike acted like it was flooding out. I headed for the emergency lane and as I got there, I pulled in on the clutch and the bike died. After a couple minutes of trying, the bike started again, and ran fine for the rest of the day. Yamaha mechanic said it was because I don't have the Power Commander and ignition module properly set up (I have the zero map loaded), and I should let him put it on a dyno. Don't know if I should have it dyno'ed now or wait a couple monthes til I get the exhaust changed out... Sorry 'bout hijacking the thread!

I've chatted with a licensed Yamaha Tech at a local shop and he said it was "Signiture Yamaha", apparently it's kinda a joke of being a trademark of the brand. I wouldn't worry about it, and you can tell the difference between a ticking sound and a major internal issue, trust me on that one :riding

The reason it "goes away" is due to the RPMs mostly, the faster the engine runs the noise is muffled out by the speed in which they're required to cycle. The other factor for not hearing it is speed, the wind muffles it out.

You'll tune the ticks out over some time, and you'll learn to love the characteristics of the bike so much the ticks just fade into distant memory :rock

Grats on your purchase btw

Yeah, I figured the ticking was still there at higher speeds and RPMs, just muffled by the wind or the RMP speed of the motor itself. I just don't want any mechanical problems, you know what I mean.

Thanks though - I'm loving the bike, just got it a week an a half ago, new :rock If it didn't have the damn ticking noise it'd be 100% perfect, lol. Oh well, so long as there's no loose valves or major engine issue causing it, no biggie.

...Remember where our powerband is on these bikes...

Not to go offtopic or anything, but since it's my first R1, where is the powerband on the 07's?

Thx

true story about my head having to be replaced. bike has been off the road now for three weeks. dont beleive what the dealers tell you,the ticking is not normal, well to a degree anyway. yes they all have i slight tick but i have owned three r1s now and this was a lot louder than ussual. my dealer tried to give me the old, yeah they all do it it bullsh*t but i pushed the issue and they found the head to be faulty. i suggest if you think it is louder than ussual you should mention my senario. 1 up to the consumer i say.

true story about my head having to be replaced. bike has been off the road now for three weeks. dont beleive what the dealers tell you,the ticking is not normal, well to a degree anyway. yes they all have i slight tick but i have owned three r1s now and this was a lot louder than ussual. my dealer tried to give me the old, yeah they all do it it bullsh*t but i pushed the issue and they found the head to be faulty. i suggest if you think it is louder than ussual you should mention my senario. 1 up to the consumer i say.

Any way you can ask your dealer to report this to Yamaha, so that the rest of us have a reference when we go to our dealers? You know how dealers are, most dont care once they've sold you the bike.

SOMEONE NEEDS TO RECORD THIS TICKING SOUND AND ISOLATE WHAT IS THE NORMAL "YAMA TICK" AND WHAT IS EXCESSIVE TICK.

I think I speak for all year yam r1 owners when I say that the cause of yama tick needs to be isolated and people need to know what is normal engine noise and what is NOT!!!!!

some people may agree or not agree with this but i say if your bike is only 500km old and it is making noise that wasnt there when you rolled it out of the showroom, it is far from normal otherwise it would be there when you first crank the bike over. as for getting the dealer to report this prob, they dont give two sh*ts unless you kick up a stink about it as i did. they are only interested in your hard earned cash in most cases.

There are so many moving parts in the motors of todays motorcycles, that there is bound to be noises. We are talking about metal on metal construction. For example, there must me a set amount of clearence between the cam lobes and valves themselves. Each time that steel cam lobe spins over and makes contact with the valve it will make a ticking sound. In a inline four such as the r1, at five valves per cyl. That's alot of ticking, but it is the nature of the bike. Although the newer bikes of today have automatic cam chain adj., cam chains will still make some noise. (ticking) If you ask me, enjoy the ride and if something is really wrong with the bike you will know. Don't sweat the small stuff. Yamaha has been making quality products for a long time.

There are so many moving parts in the motors of todays motorcycles, that there is bound to be noises. We are talking about metal on metal construction. For example, there must me a set amount of clearence between the cam lobes and valves themselves. Each time that steel cam lobe spins over and makes contact with the valve it will make a ticking sound. In a inline four such as the r1, at five valves per cyl. That's alot of ticking, but it is the nature of the bike. Although the newer bikes of today have automatic cam chain adj., cam chains will still make some noise. (ticking) If you ask me, enjoy the ride and if something is really wrong with the bike you will know. Don't sweat the small stuff. Yamaha has been making quality products for a long time.


:stpd: Great first post.:thumbup

Welcome to the Forum.

Good luck & ride safe.

well i agree that these bikes have alot of metal on metal mechanics working inside of them. However, we as a community of bikers should not try to generalize this issue. I have read what people have been saying about this. I mean we have riders that are having there bikes torn apart and heads replaced do to this "NOISE". I am simply stating that, as a entity of r1 fans. We should stop beating around the bush....and find out WHAT CAUSES THIS AND WHAT IS WRONG.

That is why I am suggesting we try to isolate what the NORM for noise on the r1 is and hense being able to tell if there is a problem with your individual bike.

I do understand that alot of this issue is prone to personal opinion and alot of avid r1 gurus on this site say F@$K IT!!! Go ride, and not to stress it. But my opinion is we need to isolate the cause and try to cure it.

well i agree that these bikes have alot of metal on metal mechanics working inside of them. However, we as a community of bikers should not try to generalize this issue. I have read what people have been saying about this. I mean we have riders that are having there bikes torn apart and heads replaced do to this "NOISE". I am simply stating that, as a entity of r1 fans. We should stop beating around the bush....and find out WHAT CAUSES THIS AND WHAT IS WRONG.

That is why I am suggesting we try to isolate what the NORM for noise on the r1 is and hense being able to tell if there is a problem with your individual bike.

I do understand that alot of this issue is prone to personal opinion and alot of avid r1 gurus on this site say F@$K IT!!! Go ride, and not to stress it. But my opinion is we need to isolate the cause and try to cure it.

That's just it, there is no cure for how an engine works. If you listen to any motorcycle you'll hear ticking sounds, due to design the Yamaha's ticking is more pronounced. I've talked to some people about the heads being replaced and the sound I was told you'd hear is more of a clack clack clack than a tick if the heads were bad. That discussion brought up proper break-in methods and such. There is also the possibility that they were bad from the get-go. After all, the machine which make these parts were man-made, which means they are inherently flawed.

The sound from the cams, valves, and butterflies are all typical, and the ticking sound that is heard should be a somewhat "light" sounding tick. It's hard to explain in words, but you'll know when you hear a "hard" tick or a clack.

Conclusion: there is no problem, it's normal engine operation. Some engines will have a problem, bad heads arn't limited to yamaha.

well i agree that these bikes have alot of metal on metal mechanics working inside of them. However, we as a community of bikers should not try to generalize this issue. I have read what people have been saying about this. I mean we have riders that are having there bikes torn apart and heads replaced do to this "NOISE". I am simply stating that, as a entity of r1 fans. We should stop beating around the bush....and find out WHAT CAUSES THIS AND WHAT IS WRONG.

That is why I am suggesting we try to isolate what the NORM for noise on the r1 is and hense being able to tell if there is a problem with your individual bike.

I do understand that alot of this issue is prone to personal opinion and alot of avid r1 gurus on this site say F@$K IT!!! Go ride, and not to stress it. But my opinion is we need to isolate the cause and try to cure it.

Uh, some of us have been having this same discussion with new Yamaha owners for 15+years(before internet forums existed). Every time someone purchases a Yamaha sportbike they go thru this OMG is the motor supposed to make that ticking noise faze until they finally realize that everything is ok and that it is normal. There is nothing wrong with the normal ticking noise that all Yamaha sportbikes have. Therefore, there is nothing to cure.

When you shoot a gun it makes all types of noises. When the slide goes back and then forward it makes noise, but you don't look at the gun and ask what is wrong with this gun and how can I fix it? The gun is doing what it was designed to do and the normal noises come with that movement. However, if the slide locks back or a shell gets jammed and you don't hear that slide come back forward you know something is wrong without even looking at the gun. Your ears become accustomed to what is normal noises associated with a particular movement. When something changes you will know that something is not right.

If you go back and read this thread, there is 1 person that has had their head taken off because of problems. There are always going to be a few bikes that have problems just do to the fact that they are assembled on a production line.

Do you seriously think that if there was a problem with these motors that we would not be up in arms about it? Do you think that so many of us would continue to purchase Yamaha products and continue to believe they are some of the best products on the market?

Ride you bike enough to get accustomed to it's normal everyday noises, and if anything ever goes wrong you will know it almost immediately.

Good luck & ride safe.

Uh, some of us have been having this same discussion with new Yamaha owners for 15+years(before internet forums existed). Every time someone purchases a Yamaha sportbike they go thru this OMG is the motor supposed to make that ticking noise faze until they finally realize that everything is ok and that it is normal. There is nothing wrong with the normal ticking noise that all Yamaha sportbikes have. Therefore, there is nothing to cure.

When you shoot a gun it makes all types of noises. When the slide goes back and then forward it makes noise, but you don't look at the gun and ask what is wrong with this gun and how can I fix it? The gun is doing what it was designed to do and the normal noises come with that movement. However, if the slide locks back or a shell gets jammed and you don't hear that slide come back forward you know something is wrong without even looking at the gun. Your ears become accustomed to what is normal noises associated with a particular movement. When something changes you will know that something is not right.

If you go back and read this thread, there is 1 person that has had their head taken off because of problems. There are always going to be a few bikes that have problems just do to the fact that they are assembled on a production line.

Do you seriously think that if there was a problem with these motors that we would not be up in arms about it? Do you think that so many of us would continue to purchase Yamaha products and continue to believe they are some of the best products on the market?

Ride you bike enough to get accustomed to it's normal everyday noises, and if anything ever goes wrong you will know it almost immediately.

Good luck & ride safe.

LOL, I like how you used the mechanics of weapons to explain your point. Guess you saw that i was a marine and thought that would make me better understand. Just to make this completly clear, I actually agree with you about how these bikes are made, and I am NOT saying that yamaha's are junk. I am just trying to suggest a means by which the forum can get rid of the annoying repost after repost after repost about the tick. Thats all. i have only had my r1 for about 4 months and I am a suzuki person myself, and I to have made the mistake about posting about the tick.

Oh yea u ride safe too.:rock

edit: wrong thread... :lol

LOL, I like how you used the mechanics of weapons to explain your point. Guess you saw that i was a marine and thought that would make me better understand. Just to make this completly clear, I actually agree with you about how these bikes are made, and I am NOT saying that yamaha's are junk. I am just trying to suggest a means by which the forum can get rid of the annoying repost after repost after repost about the tick. Thats all. i have only had my r1 for about 4 months and I am a suzuki person myself, and I to have made the mistake about posting about the tick.

Oh yea u ride safe too.:rock

Yes I see you are a marine, and that is why I used the :machinegu as a reference to hopefully help you understand that the top end ticking noise is just signature Yamaha sportbikes.

Several people noted in the thread that this ticking noise was perfectly normal, but then you continued by saying "we need to isolate the cause and try to cure it" and "find out what causes this and what is wrong" which is why I posted what I did.

As far as letting new people know about the ticking noise, that is why this type of thread exist. If a new R1 owner is worried about the ticking noise they can come on the R1-Forum and do a Search and will find this thread and other ones like it regarding the noise. Then they will know that the noise is normal, and they can go on enjoying their R1 without worrying about it.

However, what usually seems to happen is that a new Forum member and new R1 owner will start a new thread instead of doing a search. If you see this in the future, you can refer that member to this or similar thread regarding the noise, so we don't have to have the same informative discussions over and over. :thumbup

Just like this thread that was started today. http://www.r1-forum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=208388

Ride safe.

Whats up guys !! New to this site ! I had a gsxr 750 for 4 yrs but I always wanted an r1.. well, finally got me an 07 r1 with only 3000 for a good price thinking i was getting a deal, a week after I got it i notice the "valve tick" noice and took it to the dealership.. out of warranty repair.. $1800 worth of work... so dissapointed..

got it for 6200 usc dlls with 3000 miles

Whats up guys !! New to this site ! I had a gsxr 750 for 4 yrs but I always wanted an r1.. well, finally got me an 07 r1 with only 3000 for a good price thinking i was getting a deal, a week after I got it i notice the "valve tick" noice and took it to the dealership.. out of warranty repair.. $1800 worth of work... so dissapointed..

So what exactly happened?

Some 07 heads are notorious for having a bad valve guide, the guide wears out and causes the valve to not seat properly, eventually it will become difficult for the bike to hold idle.

Some 07 heads are notorious for having a bad valve guide, the guide wears out and causes the valve to not seat properly, eventually it will become difficult for the bike to hold idle.

Ditto that..I have a 2008 R1 had loud ticking noise then was running like a Vtwin. Thought it was bad fuel, then thought it may be the coils, well turns out it is the intake valve guides..now Yamaha have had my bike for 2 weeks waiting on the machine shop to reopen after holidays. I will wait to see if Yamaha cover with Warranty cause I told the dealer about the problem 2 days before the 24 month warranty period expired but they could not see the bike until 2 days outside the warranty period. The Tech diagnosed the problem as poor fuel stuck fuel cleaner in it and sent me on my way..now its back with them for head work.
Bike has covered 12000klm and is just 2 years old...not good enough.
If your bike has a ticking noise, is not running well take it to Yamaha. The more people that advise Yamaha of the problem the better for all Yamaha owners in the long run.