CBR650R Ticking noise!

[adammatheww]

@adammatheww I've got the same bike and recently fitted a Black Widow full system (this one). Did 4.5k miles with stock exhaust and never heard anything like this, so I'm convinced it's the new one.

I'm getting the ECU reflashed on 5-May and hope that will fix the problem, so will let you know. Took this video immediately after firing up on an early Spring cold morning (couldn't upload the video). Choke is active so it's a more pronounced noise (didn't note the revs), but it's audible in all gears when riding and the tapping speed increases with the revs.

I'm determined to solve it - definitely not something I'm happy to live with as it's taking some of the joy away from my new exhaust, and riding in general because I don't know what it is.

I'll let you know if it's sorted in a couple of weeks, but have you had any joy getting rid of it?

(I also replaced the gaskets and torqued to spec when fitting.)

Oh damnthat’s definitely louder than mine haha!

I’ve learned to live with mine now but it’s pretty subtle and only really noticeable if you’re listening for it, assume it’s the nature of the engine

Sounds daft but can you hear roughly where the noise is originating from? To me it sounds like there might be a leak somewhere in the exhaust system because it’s so loud, did you use the glue stuff at each part where the exhaust connects together? Can you feel any parts of the exhaust where air is coming out (other than the end pipe)? Other than that might be worth just buying a cheap new set of manifold gaskets and just doing it again just in case one failed or has slipped out of place, failing that I have no idea mate😬

 

[Rafe]

That is seriously loud man. Mine ticks because of the PAIR but that noise is so pronounced that I'm convinced it's not the PAIR.

Right at the end of the video you get up near the headers and it sounds really loud there. I agree with @adammatheww and take a look at the header ports. Maybe get the RHS fairing off and get in close to the headers and see if you can locate the source.

 

[User31]

Thanks guys, appreciate the quick responses! I'll take the fairings off to listen and feel carefully for any leakages. It does seem more pronounced near the headers, so I'll start there and work back. Worth noting this is the loudest it's ever been, but it's clearly there and noticeable at all times. My mate even said it sounded like a Harley since the I fitted the new exhaust!

@adammatheww no I didn't use the glue but I still have it, so if there is a leak at any connections I can resolve that easily. However, I'm bracing for a full refit so will look out some new manifold gaskets in preparation. Put the lack of glue use down to first-timer uncertainty.

This is my first bike and the first time I've done a job like this - really enjoyed the project and it's given me a taste to learn and do more. I was proud of the job I'd done, but clearly the universe wants me to practice more! 😁

Couple more questions please, if you guys can help:

1. Should I cancel the ECU refresh for next week until I've sorted this? Feels obvious that I should, but I'd value your opinions.
2. If I sort this by finding and resolving a leak, is there any point getting the ECU reflashed? I'm happy with the power and fuel economy, and assumed it would fix the ticking (assuming incorrect fuel/air mix or similar). If the reflash isn't required for that, could save myself some money (and hassle of having to update insurance) by not getting it done.

Thanks again, these posts are a great help.

 

[adammatheww]

I feel your pain... I put my full Black Widow system on, fairings back on and everything then realised there was glue for the connections, and that there was a little bit of air coming from one of the pipe connections🤦‍♂️ had to pull it all apart again! Glue is definitely needed though, as any air escaping can mess with any ECU or power commander tunes you get put on the bike in the future, can also cause ticking I believe but not as bad as yours! 😆

Cancelling depends on what you mean by ECU flash I guess, if you're removing your actual ECU from your bike and sending it off in the post or dropping the ECU to somebody etc to be flashed, then it won't make any difference what you do to the exhaust now, because all you're doing is telling somebody what bike you have and what exhaust, and they're putting a map onto your ECU based on that information... if this is the case it doesn't matter if it gets flashed next week or a few weeks later, you'll just have to fix the exhaust before you put the ECU back in your bike, or put it back in anyway and live with the bike running a bit strange until you do sort the exhaust out, it won't make your bike unusable though, just not as nice as it could be 🤷‍♂️

If however you're taking your bike to a tuner and they're putting your bike on a dyno table and putting a custom map on the ECU, then yes you'll need to wait until you've sorted the exhaust out, because they'll put the map onto your bike based on a suspected air leak, so when you do come to fixing the exhaust, the map will be way off, and your bike won't be smooth as butter as you'd expect it to be, and you'll have to get it flashed again, pain in the a** 😆

in response to if it's worth getting the flash done, it really is personal preference in my opinion... other people on here would argue otherwise! I took the power commander route though, so I fitted the power commander myself and took it to a tuner to get it on the dyno table and custom map it for me, and the difference was instantly noticeable, to me anyway... might have been placebo, but for me it much smoother slow riding, engine didn't heat up as much, much smoother up the entire rev range. I did ride my bike for a few months with the black widow system installed without any form of tune though so I might have noticed it a bit more than you would, for example 😄 But if you're happy with how your bike runs with just the exhaust, then stick with it I say! But I have no idea if it can actually damage your engine if you don't get it done, somebody else might be able to comment on than front, but it didn't do my bike any harm for the months that I rode around with no flash, that much I do know

My final opinion would be cancel the flash (for now at least, will they charge you to cancel?), because either way the flash isn't going to stop your ticking in any way shape or form! Fix your exhaust in your own time so you're not rushing and stressing, try and get rid of the ticking, it might disappear once you put it back on a second time, and come back here if you have no luck ☺️

 

[Cbat]

U @RickySea glue? I think you mean silicon gasket. Definately have a leak at your header. Did you replace header gaskets and properly torque header nuts?

 

[miweber929]

I downloaded the video and that's not PAIR, that's an exhaust leak either from the manifold gasket area or another connection near the motor.

 

[Cbat]

I downloaded the video and that's not PAIR, that's an exhaust leak either from the manifold gasket area or another connection near the motor.

Yep at least of the primaries not in contact...almost sounds as if no gasket.

 

[Luke8188]

Hi I recently added a termignoni system to my 2016 CBR650F and when accelerating from about 3,500rpm I get a ticking noise. I don’t hear it when cruising only when accelerating. Could it be the PAIR that I am hearing or is it likely an exhaust leak? Thanks
Luke

 

[miweber929]

Hi I recently added a termignoni system to my 2016 CBR650F and when accelerating from about 3,500rpm I get a ticking noise. I don’t hear it when cruising only when accelerating. Could it be the PAIR that I am hearing or is it likely an exhaust leak? Thanks
Luke

PAIR should be not functioning by that RPM so I’d say an exhaust leak is possible. Did you use new exhaust manifold gaskets?

 

[Luke8188]

PAIR should be not functioning by that RPM so I’d say an exhaust leak is possible. Did you use new exhaust manifold gaskets?

No 🙈 which I am thinking is likely the issue but I don’t notice a leak at the header when sat on tick over. I have ordered some though to then do the install again with the new gaskets, after reading a few forums thought that might be the issue but with no obvious leak I was unsure.

 

[Cbat]

No 🙈 which I am thinking is likely the issue but I don’t notice a leak at the header when sat on tick over. I have ordered some though to then do the install again with the new gaskets, after reading a few forums thought that might be the issue but with no obvious leak I was unsure.

New gaskets with proper torque for each nut. I dab a little copper gasket on the new gaskets to keep them in place otherwise they will fall out while you try to mate up the headers. Snug the nuts first, torque after you have the midpipe on and secured.

 

[Luke8188]

Exhaust off and back on today with new gaskets fitted - seems spot on now! Cheers for the help.

 

[ghehen]

Could someone help me? i heard clicking noise when the engine get hot( click click click like computer mouse get clicked. I’m not hearing it when the engine get warming up. (2018 cbr650f - 20.000km original PAIR valve, custom exhaust - cut off castalyst + link pipe)

Today, that clicking sound catch my ear cause today i let’s the engine run when i open my house gate.

 

[adammatheww]

Could someone help me? i heard clicking noise when the engine get hot( click click click like computer mouse get clicked. I’m not hearing it when the engine get warming up. (2018 cbr650f - 20.000km original PAIR valve, custom exhaust - cut off castalyst + link pipe)

Today, that clicking sound catch my ear cause today i let’s the engine run when i open my house gate.

Hi pal 👋
I’m not sure if that’s loud enough to be a header leak issue, kinda sounds similar to mine when the PAIR valve was still present. Removing the PAIR valve helped a lot with my problem but the engine still makes a slight ticking sound, very similar to yours.
I’ve learned to drown it out and forget about it, I re-sealed my headers and it made no difference so I kinda ruled that out.
My suggestion would be remove your PAIR valve per instructions on other threads & make sure your headers are sealed. If the ticking is still there after both of those options are checked off it’s the nature of the engine and you just gotta live with it 🥴

 

[miweber929]

Sounds pretty normal to me.

 

[ghehen]

Thk u guys, riding a fews for a long time cause of COVID crisis make me a little bit more sensitive.
before that i’ve never noticed that noise.

 

[Arthur45]

Thk u guys, riding a fews for a long time cause of COVID crisis make me a little bit more sensitive.
before that i’ve never noticed that noise.

Can I ask is it louder/more noticeable on the cam chain side (right hand side) of the engine? Think mine sounds very much like yours. Thanks.

 

[ghehen]

Can I ask is it louder/more noticeable on the cam chain side (right hand side) of the engine? Think mine sounds very much like yours. Thanks.

Mine is more noticeable near exhaust header pipe.

 

[bishop]

Oil pressure relief valve opening and closing?

My last bike was a Ninja 250R and exhaust was not so loud. On cold days in Canada you would hear ting, ting, when it warmed up. It was the oil pressure relief valve opening and closing. When finally warmed up it went away.

 

[Tpdo1996]

My cb650r have sound like this, i read all thread and i can’t understand how to fix this.

My video:

I got to dealer and check exhaust gasket but this not problem, he say this is sound from timing chain and is fine, some cbr or cb will have this sound.
Sorry for my bad english.