Ticking/clicking from chassis

[asellus]

On my '07, if I lean it around or bounce the suspension or otherwise apply any sort of torsional force to the bike, I can sometimes get it to click from somewhere in back, where the swingarm attaches.

The tick is metallic and almost hollow sounding, I'd say. Kind of like a catalytic converter cooling down on a car.

It will do it cold, warm, while on the side or center stand, or balanced. My heavier friend seemed to have an easier time making it happen than I did, but I'm not entirely convinced it's due to weight.

I'll be pulling off the wheels to get new tires and going through the chain and swingarm lubing process in a few days, so hopefully that'll address it or I'll see something.

Beyond that though, any ideas?

[Triple Jim]

You'll probably lube the rear shock pivots while you're doing the swing arm, so that might cure it too. Just guessing.

[asellus]

Here's to hoping that's the case.

I'll report back once I tear it apart.

[Ghostt]

Is the chain adjusted properly? Lubed? Might as check that too while your in the neighborhood.

[jkv45]

I've heard that type of sound before, but it was coming from the front.

Loose steering head bearings (loose nut under the upper triple) was the cause.

The nut on the throttle may have also been a contributing factor...

[greg737]

The rear engine mount is notorious for loosening up on the Pre-Gen EX250, needs to be checked and re-torqued regularly.

Or, another thought is that your '07 is now 10 years old and I'm gonna guess you've probably never serviced the swing-arm pivot or the Uni-Shock linkage.

And the original rear shock, by KYB, is a really lousy piece of equipment (even when it was brand new) that could easily be going sour at 10 years of age.

Bottom line: this ticking/clicking issue is something that will probably go away if you do the long-term maintenance the bike requires.

[asellus]

Originally Posted by greg737

The rear engine mount is notorious for loosening up on the Pre-Gen EX250, needs to be checked and re-torqued regularly.

Or, another thought is that your '07 is now 10 years old and I'm gonna guess you've probably never serviced the swing-arm pivot or the Uni-Shock linkage.

And the original rear shock, by KYB, is a really lousy piece of equipment (even when it was brand new) that could easily be going sour at 10 years of age.

Bottom line: this ticking/clicking issue is something that will probably go away if you do the long-term maintenance the bike requires.

Awesome, that's pretty much exactly what I was hoping to hear. Thanks!

The bike has had none of the 6k maintenance done. I'm slowly going through that list, and chain maintenance is right up top for Monday or Tuesday.

Originally Posted by Ghostt

Is the chain adjusted properly? Lubed? Might as check that too while your in the neighborhood.

I've never done a chain before, but I'm pretty sure mine is close to toast. It's lubey, but man is it grody. I don't think it's been relubed or cleaned in the last 2000 miles. The tension is within spec. I feel like there's a lot of slack in the driveline too, but I'm not sure if that's considered normal or not. Could also just be the throttle cable needing lube or replacement.

[Z1R rider]

Originally Posted by greg737

The rear engine mount is notorious for loosening up on the Pre-Gen EX250, needs to be checked and re-torqued regularly.

Wouldn't hurt to check all the motor mounts, as the motor is stressed member and part of the frame

[asellus]

Originally Posted by Z1R rider

Wouldn't hurt to check all the motor mounts, as the motor is stressed member and part of the frame

Aye, that's been added to the list. Thanks!

[asellus]

Hahaaaa, this is mildly concerning.

Rear upper engine mount:


Rear lower engine mount:


Thanks for the pointer.

[Triple Jim]

I laughed when I saw the photo, but I'm also going to inspect mine now.

[greg737]

The high-RPM-high-vibration nature of the EX250 causes every bolt and fastener on the entire bike to loosen up and eventually bail out off the bike as you roar down the interstate.

Because of this most EX 250 guys who do their own maintenance are big believers in putting a little Blue Locktite on everything​ that has threads.

[Triple Jim]

You think an Ninja 250 vibrates bolts loose? You should try an old Kawasaki H2.

[asellus]

Huh. I have a car half taken apart in my garage right now as well, and a number of days ago a small nut showed up in a pile of things I was working on. No idea where it came from.

Turns out it's the nut for the top rear bolt, so that's one less thing I need to buy. Huzzah!

Now, to go eat a ton of shipping costs for a single bolt and nut.

Originally Posted by greg737

The high-RPM-high-vibration nature of the EX250 causes every bolt and fastener on the entire bike to loosen up and eventually bail out off the bike as you roar down the interstate.

Because of this most EX 250 guys who do their own maintenance are big believers in putting a little Blue Locktite on everything​ that has threads.

I'm pretty sure CRA and the like require every fastener to be drilled and safety wired for this very reason.

[CaliGrrl]

So far, husband has helped me do all my own maintenance, and yes, the motor mount bolts had come loose at one point. Everything that goes back together pretty much now has blue locktite on it. As well as being torqued to spec.