Noises

[Snapey]

I looked at a potential project today that had some engine problems. K2 with about 88,000km that popped & backfired badly. I was turned off the bike by the pitted fork stanchions so I didn't go in to the bikes history with the owner. To me it sounded like the timing was out a tooth or two but how? Cam chain tensioner faulty? What known faults are there that could cause this?

I doubt the owner will come at what I'm prepared to pay but negotiations are under way & the timing question is just out of interest.

[Andre]

Maybe the cams had been taken out (for adjusting valve clearance or whatever) and adjusted chain sprockets wrong. Tensioner put in wrong (forgot ball)? Chain/Sprockets/guidance worn out due to skipping oil changes?

[seth]

If it's in such a state also check the vacuum hoses to the throttle bodies as if any leaking/not connected they cause all kinds of bad running problems

[NutR33]

I just brought a K8 that had the same problems, could hardly idle and when you revved it it would backfire and miss really bad. Turned out the vacuum hose to the map sensor had been swapped with the vacuum hose on the pairs valve under the fuel tank. Once that was fixed and the tps adjusted and throttles balanced its running like a dream.