New owner, couple questions

[lonekazoo]

Have a couple of questions that I couldn't find in a search, so posing them to the group.

I recently sold my '01 C10 and picked up a nicely cared for '08 C14.

Upon a cold start, I hear 1 or 2 seconds of a worrisome clashing noise that immediately goes away.  I'm hoping it's a cam chain tensioner or such.  Doesn't happen so much on subsequent starts.  Is this typical? 

Also regarding cold starts, I'm familiar with the behavior of the ZX14 motor--on a cold start the RPM's initially rise about 1K above idle for about 1 minute and then gradually return to normal idle speed.  I've heard this on other C14's as well.  On my bike, it starts and stays at idle speed with no warm-up cycle.  I know the previous owner pulled the flies.  Are the butterflies responsible for the fast idle warm-up cycle?  If this is the case, is it a good idea to physically increase RPM's briefly to get oil pressure up?

Thanks!

[Rhino]

Yep, noisy almost tractor sound for a few seconds on cold start is due to cam chain tensioner is normal.

Can't say about initial startup fast idle as my fly's are still in.

[gPink]

Secondaries are not relevant to warmup. Idle set at 1100-1200 seems to work well.

[maxtog]

Secondaries are not relevant to warmup. Idle set at 1100-1200 seems to work well.

I remember reading that the secondaries are wide open at cold start and then snap mostly closed at some point after fast idle.  So they don't do anything at initial start, but are involved in some way afterward.

[lonekazoo]

Yep, noisy almost tractor sound for a few seconds on cold start is due to cam chain tensioner is normal.

Ok, thanks!  That's good to know.  I'm in that early stage of thinking "should I have bought new" and "is this noise the reason he sold it cheap?"

[VirginiaJim]

Some bikes have the noise, some don't. I have it mine.  Mine makes the noise.  Max cranked his bike up last night and I didn't hear it all on his.  Nice looking bike by the way, even if it is the wrong silver color.

[Pokey]

Some bikes have the noise, some don't.  I have it mine.  Max cranked his bike up last night and I didn't hear it all on his.  Nice looking bike by the way, even if it is the wrong silver color.

Max who?

[VirginiaJim]

Maxtog.

[Pokey]

Maxtog.

No kidding, I am sure that was interesting. 

[Son of Pappy]

Using Jims verbage, I "haven't it mine"  Once I switched to the K&N filter the noise went away, I "have it mine" before

[stevewfl]

Welcome, and you will love you KiPass 

[texrider]

Try holding the clutch lever in while starting, you may find it's quieter and not so much clunk into gear the first time.

[maxtog]

Some bikes have the noise, some don't.  I have it mine.  Max cranked his bike up last night and I didn't hear it all on his.  Nice looking bike by the way, even if it is the wrong silver color.

Yep no noise- but it is the RIGHT silver color- true silver!!

[maxtog]

No kidding, I am sure that was interesting. 

Indeed!  I am an interesting person.  Nice meeting VirginiaJim!

[Pokey]

Indeed!  I am an interesting person.  Nice meeting VirginiaJim!

I am interesting as well "ask Jim" and yeah he is good people!!! 

[VirginiaJim]

Using Jims verbage, I "haven't it mine"  Once I switched to the K&N filter the noise went away, I "have it mine" before

I'm a master of the King's english!  K&N didn't help me.

And you had to quote me twice?   

[lonekazoo]

Thanks for the responses!

Another quick question:  I commuted home in heavy rain for the first time today, and every time I stopped, a steady flow of steam rose from the fairing openings, fogging up my instruments and windshield.  Is this just a case of high humidity/high dewpoint?   My C10 never did anything like this.  I'm sure passersby thought I was overheating, and it was really disconcerting to me.   Worried I might be missing a fairing shroud or baffle somewhere and that water is getting somewhere it shouldn't.

One thing different from stock is that the previous owner wrapped the headers,  does that cause extra steam?  Should I be worried??

Thanks again!

[maxtog]

Thanks for the responses!

Another quick question:  I commuted home in heavy rain for the first time today, and every time I stopped, a steady flow of steam rose from the fairing openings, fogging up my instruments and windshield.  Is this just a case of high humidity/high dewpoint?

It is just water pouring onto the hot radiator and headers.  It is normal and will do the same thing when you wash the bike with the engine running.

[lonekazoo]

It is just water pouring onto the hot radiator and headers.  It is normal and will do the same thing when you wash the bike with the engine running.

Thanks, Max.  I guess I'm just not used to seeing that amount of vapor coming off the hot parts, I do live in the desert.  I think the dewpoint was very high today which probably formed more steam.

[Conrad]

It is just water pouring onto the hot radiator and headers.  It is normal and will do the same thing when you wash the bike with the engine running.

Why would you leave the engine running while you wash the bike?