My son asked me to take him around the block this evening. So I backed the softy out of the garage and fired it up. I immediately heard a ticking sound coming from the front of the motor that I've never heard before. Sounded like an exhaust leak or a lifter tick. I let it idle for just a sec and we jumped on headed around the block. I got a couple streets over and it went away. I recently put new bassani pipes on so I thought maybe an exhaust leak even though I've not heard it to this point (new pipes have been on over a month).

I guess it concerned me a little because I've not heard it before and it was a pretty damn loud tick. And I've riding the bike to work probly 300 miles this week without hearing this noise.

 

Did you check all the mounting bolts?

 

The only bolts I checked were the header bolts and they were tight.

 

Lifters is the first thing that comes to mind. But I'm not a mechanic.

 

Me either. Thing that tripped me out was that this was the first time I've heard it. And I've rode it quite a bit this week.

 

I would check the exhaust since you just changed them.

 

Betting on exhaust leak when starting cold....Pipes heat up and expand and get quite.

 

Sounds like a lifter to me. I had the same thing, lifter would bleed down after bike sat for a while then pumps back up after running for a little bit.

 

The only thing that you've changed recently is the pipes.... that's where I would look.

If you suspect a lifter, try different oil. Spectro 25-60 dino oil is the best I've found when it comes to noise.

Good luck in the hunt

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I have a lifter that does the same thing. Comes and goes.