Hi All,
I'm hoping someone can help me out with my CBR 600F4i, I've done a fair amount of work trying to figure the issue out, but don't have the technical expertise to fix it.

Normally I would take it to an bike shop (as it's still under warranty), but due to lockdown everywhere is shut and I prefer to use my bike for work as my car is really old

The Bike:
2002 CBR600F4i, I've had it 3 months, 25k on the clock with 1k of them being me.

The noise:
I have a video here: I was riding home, stopped for petrol and noticed the tapping when stopping at the traffic lights just after.
It's never sounded like this before, so I did a fair bit of digging, and the most likely culprets seemed to be CCT or Spark Plugs

What I did myself:
I am no great mechanic, but as I had little choice, I have:

• Swapped out the CCT for a manual one
• Changed the spark plugs for new ones
• Changed the air filter (as I was there rather than for the issue)

Note: the CCT *may* not be fully tightened, as I couldn't find an easy way to adjust and run the engine - adjusting needs the tank up, and as I took the battery out to angle the tank I'm not sure how else I can do it

I'm happy to try to adjust the CCT, but don't want to make things worse as it seems to have made absolutely no difference to the engine (to my untrained ears) si I didn't want to make it worse

Does anyone have an idea what it might be?
Is it likely to be the CCT needing to be tightened?
Do I just need to leave the bike alone until I can get it looked at properly? (ie does it sound like something nasty)?

Cheers in advance
g

Picture attached of removed spark plugs if it helps

Old spark plugs, one of them does seem to have more oil on than the rest

 

Sounds more like the exhaust blowing to me. Check your downpipes for leakage. Don’t get your hand in there obviously. Use something with a tissue on the end or similar.
Best of luck mate.

 

Wow, cheers for the speedy response Wes

I will have a look today

 

Thanks again Wes

I couldn't see any obvious blowing (using a tissue), but it definitely smelled like exhaust gas from the front of the bike, so that does seem to be the issue ( I should have poseted here before changing the CCT... doh)

I'm guessing I need new header pipes, but in the meantime if it is just the exhaust is it ok to ride (if a little noisy)?

I'm also not sure what all the black goo is on the existing header pipes (could the previous owner put stuff to block the noise and it finally blew clear? - or is that normal/oil leak)

Video:
Image:

 

To investigate further you could try getting to your header pipe studs. You might simply have lost a stud or nut. At a guess I’d suggest maybe check where you can without removing the whole fairing first. Some extensions might come in handy as well as a wobble adapter. You might get lucky, you might not but worth a try.
Best of luck mate.

 

I shall give that a go, cheers Wes

 

I just wanted to follow up and thankyou for the advice. I can now use my bike for work again

It was one lose bolt on the exhaust header!!!

I didnt need the
Manual cct change
New air filter
New spark plugs
And 5 days of fking about

(But i did secretly enjoy it way more that I thought I would)

Thanks again Wes - I owe you a beer

 

It really is a great feeling to fixing your own problems! Especially when they turn out to not be as bad as you thought! Good job and enjoy!