It's not a scary or dangerous sound to my ear. Not a rattle or anything. Best described is "I can hear the sound of a chain rolling in a relatively normal way", on the right side of the bike, near the top end. It does speed up and slow down with RPMs, and isn't really heard at idle.

The sound just started in the last few weeks and I'm at 28.6K miles. Most of my rides are about 50 minutes each direction commuting (27 miles or so; because traffic) with other rides going anywhere from 2-3.5 hours in the mountains. I don't do real short hops.

I know the best move, and likely the recommendation from ya'll experts, is to open it up and have a look. But if it's most noticeable from the top end, I don't know how much I can see. I've been in the lower right side a couple times. Once to install the 'slavy CCT at the #2 position (at 10K miles) and once to replace the clutch cam that broke. Other than adjusting the valves, I don't have experience with the top end of the motor. I'm hoping this doesn't mean I need to replace the cam chain and the guides.

Also hoping I'll hear, "Naw dog, you're cool. The cam chains get a little noisy later in life, but nobody has had to replace one earlier than 30K miles." Doubt that's what I'll get.

Thanks in advance for advice.

I'm about to get inside the clutch cover to take a look. What info and pictures would be the most useful to get the best advice regarding the cam chain status?

I've been reading a lot of threads on cam chain replacement and frankly, those posts have me terrified of doing that job. The issues with clutch basket removal, the small pin that falls out, oil pump gear on backwards, etc. I'm not afraid to try stuff, but when I read these posts, I get a lot of doubts.

Some of the discussions have me believing the tensioner guides are more the issue than actual chain stretch. Has that been narrowed down to just the  main tensioner guide? And can someone direct me to what is considered the best thread on replacing the chain and that guide? I have my cardboard box prepped with the outline of the clutch cover for the bolts.

Huh. Could this be right? I can't find my post where I posted about the data when I installed the 'slavy cct mod. It was out 19.6 mm at 10K miles. I don't have a notation on where it was sitting with the CCT installed at the 2nd hole, but it's measuring 8mm at 28.6K.

I double checked the info here and it doesn't sound like it needs to be measured at a particular position in the cycle, TDC or anything.
Seems like I should just button her up and the ride the snot out if it!

One more.

and then just an overall

Gotcha. Thanks.

To remove the tensioner, I need to put a folded zip tie in the hole first, right? Same as when someone moves it from position 1 to position 2? I haven't found photos from the how-to guides. Probably that whole Photobucket Phiasco.

For the life of me, I could not expose any sort of hole to insert a zip tie, or anything else.
I released the pawl and compressed the plunger many times ( dang, that little spring is STIFF!) but never found an opening. So I had the distinct displeasure of fighting that plunger spring while attempting to get the shoulder bolt back in the threads, and the shoulder through the tensioner tab. I don't recommend this to anyone looking for a bit of fun.

Crankshaft direction is with the wheels.