Is it a lemon? More exhaust issues

**fireball** · 17th January 2008, 12:06

back in november last year i went and purchased a 2000 Marauder 250 and have had nothing but mechanical issues not great big ones but still it almost feels like it will spend most of the time in the shop than out on the road.
thus far all the issues are all exhaust system related...

so far it has spent 2 weeks in the shop just to replace head gaskets
and yesterday after 200ks of solid running up around 16 (was a great ride by the way!) the exhaust has started making noise again....
after talking to kittyhawk and ruling out it wasnt the mounting points still have no idea what could be wrong even after kitty riding it she couldnt work out what the noise was..... any help?

what happens is as you roll off the gas it makes like a metal on metal sound but almost like it wants to backfire its an odd noise and very noticeable

err help kitty? any other way to describe the noise?

anyone got a clue?

**Disco Dan** · 17th January 2008, 12:08

Sounds like your bikes got "hairballs"

**Kittyhawk** · 17th January 2008, 12:13

Its got me puzzled maybe its not the exhaust system perhaps the problem lies deeper and that the exhaust is just amplyfing the sound.

**Jimmy B** · 17th January 2008, 12:19

Hows your chain and sprockets?

**Coldrider** · 17th January 2008, 12:23

Baffle plates/tubes loose inside the exhaust pipe?

**fireball** · 17th January 2008, 12:35

when the bike was in the shop last time i asked rob to look at chain and sprocket etc.... all was in good order its got another 1000 odd ks before i need the new chain and getting breaks done at the same time also...

but this new issue is just past my own knowledge.... was going to get LilSels mechanic to look at it ideally would like the whole thing to be flushed re-tuned etc etc but there is also that money issue i dont want to sink alot of cash into this bike as much as i like it (plus the down side of getting a loan bike)

**jrandom** · 17th January 2008, 12:55

Just ride the tits off it.

If something breaks, fix it, otherwise carry on.

Small aircooled four-stroke motorcycle engines tend to be generally rattly and clattery, particularly after a few years of use. It's just the way they are. Loose tolerances and cheap materials. If it sounds like it's falling apart, that's probably because it is. Don't let that bother you, nothing's actually going to explode. It's amazing how gracefully those long-suffering little machines manage to degrade over time.

I wouldn't worry about it. Keep an eye on your engine oil level, lube the chain whenever you can be arsed and just ride the damn thing.

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**fireball** · 17th January 2008, 13:12

Originally Posted by jrandom

Just ride the tits off it.

i can not really afford to repeat the thrashing my last bike got, the need to get to and from work is too great and its my only set of wheels plus this bike needs to stay in some form of quality for resale.....

**FilthyLuka** · 17th January 2008, 13:52

Originally Posted by fireball

i can not really afford to repeat the thrashing my last bike got, the need to get to and from work is too great and its my only set of wheels plus this bike needs to stay in some form of quality for resale.....

Yo, my bike did a similar thing for a while. I have an idea of what might be causing it but i really need to hear the bike to tell you for sure

**Jimmy B** · 17th January 2008, 14:02

Originally Posted by fireball

when the bike was in the shop last time i asked rob to look at chain and sprocket etc.... all was in good order its got another 1000 odd ks before i need the new chain and getting breaks done at the same time also...

Reason I asked is I had a problem years ago with a CBR750, was convinced I had an exhaust problem because it made a weird metal on metal sound like “popping” or backfiring. Turns out the front sprocket was poked and it is most noticeabe initially on deceleration where the chain loads up and slides/jumps over worn and probably hooked teeth. Just a thought

**fireball** · 17th January 2008, 14:08

Originally Posted by Jimmy B

Reason I asked is I had a problem years ago with a CBR750, was convinced I had an exhaust problem because it made a weird metal on metal sound like “popping” or backfiring. Turns out the front sprocket was poked and it is most noticeabe initially on deceleration where the chain loads up and slides/jumps over worn and probably hooked teeth. Just a thought

the sprocket looks to be in good condition not worn, teeth are in good condition and the chain is tensioned correctly (as far as i know)

**Mr Skid** · 17th January 2008, 16:54

Originally Posted by jrandom

generally rattly and clattery

Originally Posted by jrandom

Loose tolerances and cheap materials.

Originally Posted by jrandom

If it sounds like it's falling apart, that's probably because it is.

Sounds not dissimilar to my old XT600.

**Ixion** · 17th January 2008, 16:58

And mine. Air cooled singles always sound like that.

**fireball** · 17th January 2008, 22:02

Originally Posted by Ixion

And mine. Air cooled singles always sound like that.

its when the sound changes you are in the shit.... going to pull the thing apart if that fails to find what the noise is off to the bike shop she goes....

oh and this bike is not ideal for being 2 up