Strange tapping when cold

Probably a good question for your dealer. I would be inclined to not worry about it. I have the same thing on my FJR with over 6,000 miles on it. Don't forget that when sitting idle, most of the oil will drain back down to the crankcase and on start-up there will not be as much in the head where valve actuation tappets are moving. With pressure from the oil pump coming up after start and oil under pressure is delivered to the area, the noise goes away.

Straxis said:

So I have not been able to ride for about 5 days. I started her up yesterday and heard a strange tapping, it went away as it warmed up, is this normal? it worries me, as the bike only has about 540 miles on it.

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I get the same sound. After lots of research it appears a common theme with the cam chain auto tensioner. Manual tensioner apparently fixes it but haven't tried it myself...I just put on a loud exhaust so now I can ignore it

The stock cam chain tensioner is adjustable as per the Yamaha Service Manual for this bike. The Yamaha YZF-R7 Service Manual actually has very good guidance on how the tensioner is checked and adjusted. It states that the tensioner is adjusted until it touches the "timing chain guide" and then is tightened a further 1/4 turn. I would copy and post those pages, but that would violate the manual's copyright. The manual is actually very good and is available thru Yamaha.

The stock CCT is self-adjusting so once it's installed and reset according to the service manual, it shouldn't be messed with unless it's removed. Manually adjusted OEM CCTs haven't been used on street bikes since the 1980s.

EDS said:

The stock CCT is self-adjusting so once it's installed and reset according to the service manual, it shouldn't be messed with unless it's removed. Manually adjusted OEM CCTs haven't been used on street bikes since the 1980s.

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I have found that because of the faulty design on the CP2 motor's auto adjust tensioner many are going with the APE Manual tensioners to get rid of all the chatter/clatter. Not needed unless you don't trust the auto tensioner or hate listening to it all the time.

@BlackR7NH, where did you hear about faults with the CCT specific to the CP2 motors? I've heard of chains skipping teeth on older, higher revving bikes but nothing recent.

From MT-07 owners complaining of the intermittent chatter/clatter/rattle noise coming from the auto tensioner/timing chain. When I first heard it on my bike I started researching what it was because it didn't sound good at all. I found many people complaining about the same issue and Yamaha dealers tell you "it's normal". It may be normal for Yamaha but my Kawasaki's and Honda's never made such a racket. I find that a fault in the design for sure if it makes your engine sound like something is wrong with it. That being said I put on an M4 exhaust so now I can barely hear it

Noise isn't always a bad thing. A rolling element bearing makes more noise than a plain bearing but will generate far less friction. The damper being pushed harder against a cam chain will quiet it down but more friction and wear is created everywhere. As long as the tensioner doesn't back off, there shouldn't be a problem and the only way to guarantee that is with a manual adjuster. I remember when plastic rollers were used and theyed get beat up because there was very little surface area making contact.