Hi all! New rider and S40 owner here. I bought my 2007 S40 about a week ago with the plans of eventually using it as a donor bike for a ryca kit, but my choice was definitely influenced by the amount of knowledge and support I've seen on the forum here, so thanks to everyone for that. Since the big purchase, I have logged quite a few miles (a lot of them in parking lots -- I said I was new), and I'm so crazy about this bike that now I'm not sure if I want to mod it or not!

Anyway, to the point of the post: I was on my way to work today, when I started to notice a little tick from the engine. It's hard to notice if you aren't listening for it, but it's definitely there. After listening some more both while riding and walking around the bike, I'm pretty sure the noise is coming from the top end, so I'm thinking it's the valves and not the cam chain (?).

I've been reading around, and several people suggest that a small amount of ticking from the valves is totally normal, but now I'm being paranoid and I'm wondering if they are making too much noise and are out of spec. Is it a Justice Stewart kind of thing ("You'll know it when you hear it") or can someone give me a more concrete idea about whether I'm still good to ride or not?

Well,, call them up & axe them ifn they did the valves,,They were due at 5,000 miles

I do not have a RYCA but my answer would be yes, or else I'd be driving my car. Is the RYCA seat really that bad though, any riders?

The way I see it, an internal combustion engine otta last about 20 minutes before it blows up. These are about the most crude example of an engine Ive worked on. That they stay together is an amazement to me,.They vibrate pretty good, its really pretty danged big for a single, it has a low pressure oil system & the cam is at the veeeery top of it all,, just hopin to get enough oil to keep from galling the what? The WHAT?? The No Insert, Aluminum surface the cam spins in,, Whoever designed it must have been sitting on pins & needles during the first trial run. Praying the cam didnt just lunch the head,, & praying he would have his job at the end of the day.,,
& then theyr really forgiving, Ive heard of valves pretty far out of adjustment, still ran okay, not as spunky, & Noisy..

I do love me some internal combustion engines,, theyre just cool

Haha, thanks for the reassurance, guys. I have been paying a lot of attention to the noise in question and I've noticed that it's basically not present at start up, and then gets louder as the engine gets progressively warmer. I still wouldn't call the tap loud, and it's easy to lose track of in the exhaust noise, so I'm going to choose to believe that it's nothing serious for right now.

And oldfeller, you aren't going to get an argument from me. I've always liked the look of those old British bikes, and I think the ryca is a pretty cool riff on the theme. I bought the S40 thinking it would be an alright bike to cut my teeth on before ripping the tank, swing arm, and rear hub and sending them to California to get the cafe treatment. I honestly didn't expect to get as attached as I have to the bike in its current stock form.

Now I'm coming over all misty. I'm gonna go eat some raw meat and throw heavy things around for a while.