Valve, cam chain tensioner, or something else

[empire1012]

Hey Guys,
I have a 2007 1250S Bandit. At low RPMs under light load it makes noise. It is like a rattling noise or clanking noise in the engine and seems to be more pronounced when the bike is warm. It is between 2500 and 4000 RPMs and not continuous throughout those RPMs. The engine will also have a light tick while idle from time to time but not always.

So my question is this: if you have a 2007 Bandit 1250S, do/did you have this issue? Any idea what it may be? Also, I've seen a few postings about adjusting the valves but have never done it myself. Is this easy (as in, can I do it without destroying my engine in the process)? Can someone point me to a link with good instructions if so?
Could it be the cam chain tensioner? Lord knows that these freakin auto adjusting tensioners love to make noise...

I know this has been covered 1.21 giga times but I am anxious and keep spending too much money thinking I'm going to fix the sound. Anyone that has had this issue probably did a lot of like I have.

Thanks for letting me rant. ANYTHING will help at this point.

[bullet5]

Hello and welcome to the forum 

I wouldn't be touching the tensioner just yet.

Have you checked things like the oil cooler guard? On old Mk1 B6's this use to rattle horribly at about 4-5k revs, unless it was fitted correctly and had some soft foam between it and the radiator.
I've only just had to sort out the cam chain tensioner on my '93 B4 as it had lost tension over the years. My '99 B6 one is still perfect. A '07 bike shouldn't have any problem with its tensioner this early in it's life.

At what revs do the most vibrations come through the handlebars on your 1250? If it is this 2500-4000 range then I would leave the cam chain out of enquiries.
It'll more than likely be a loose frame panel/bracket.

All the best,
Bullet5.

[empire1012]

Thanks for the welcome and advice. I will check those things and get back to you.
The thing that makes me think its coming from inside the engine is because it is more pronounced when the bike is warm.
I had to replace the tensioner on my F4I because it was faulty from the factory for the 2006 model.
I've got my 7500 checkup coming up and that includes a valve adjustment. Do you know how much it might be for the valve adjustment and the throttle body sync? I would like to do it myself but I'm scared  of the valve adjustment part LOL.