Ticking/rattle from left hand side of engine

[nivek24]

Got this 2014 cbf1000, 11760miles, well looked after but i have this annoying Tick/rattle on the left side of engine, starting from cold it is tapping, seems to turn to a rattle when i rev it, above about 3000rpm it temporary goes then comes back, it is the same when engine is hot.
I have used a probe to listen on the engine but nothing stands out as the culprit, i don't think it is normal, its been noisy since i bought it at 1100miles any body else have this or is it normal valve train noise.
Kev

[Art]

You don't say if its a SC58 or SC64 but it probably makes no difference. My SC58 starts up from cold with a top end tick that disappears within seconds of full oil pressure/circulation which I feel is normal. Once in a while when pulled up stationary at traffic lights or a junction I'll notice a rumble that lasts for no more than a second or two, never got to the source of it or worried about it, its been like that for 40,000 miles.

Since the tick you describe turns into a rattle and comes and goes I'd suspect the valve train, maybe a sticky valve or damaged valve spring or maybe the wrong grade of engine oil or old/contaminated engine oil. Proper diagnosis is probably beyond the experience level of the home mechanic and maybe best to take it to an independent workshop where a qualified mechanic can cast an ear to the fault, there shouldn't be any cost involved unless an exploratory strip down is required to properly diagnose the fault.

[nivek24]

Hi Art, i to have noticed that sort of a rumble  when pulling up, it sounds alarming, like you i have had it since i got it, i thought it may be related to this tick/rattle problem.
i used 10/40 oil, manual says 10/30 shops say the 10/40 is fine, wonder if it would make any difference, what do you use.
is the SC58 the mk1, mine is the mk2.
Oil and filer changed every 12months and only got low miles on it, so it not been neglected.
Kev

[Art]

Yours will be the SC64 facelift then, mine is the earlier SC58. As far as engine oil goes the specification is the same.

I change my engine oil and filter every 8,000 miles. Apart from the Lock Downs I expect to cover 10 to 15,000 miles per year so annual oil changes don't come into it for me. My current engine oil of choice is Motul's semi synthetic 5100 in a 10W-40 multigrade which exceeds the Honda specification of API SG and JASO MA. I've also used Silkolene Comp 4 XP 10W-40 and Halfords Motorcycle 10W/40 semi synthetics which also exceed the Honda specification. My oil filter of choice is Hiflo HF201.

As per the owners manual viscosity grade of engine oil should be based on average atmospheric temperature in your riding area. I read that as the average atmospheric temperature not maximum and minimum which means that here in the UK with average lows and highs between 5°C and 15°C a 10W-40 multigrade (-5°C to 40°C) is perfectly acceptable and possibly why 10W-30 multigrades (-15°C to 30°C) are not so readily available.