Hello!!
I came here, after many others places, to ask about an annoying sound my 91's Bandit 400V has.
A litle description and than listen by yourseves. It does not match the rpms, so there aint the valves (I guess). It's not the camchain either (I checked). Im guessing oil pressure problem... Im changing the oil pump, just in case.

sec 12, it starts
sec 48, it's there from the start.
http://youtu.be/OrTBZFfZS50

Any contribution??
Thanks!!!

have you checked all of the nuts or bolts are tight on your exhaust headers?

I wouldn't say something is lose...
THe sound isn't there when the bike starts (cold). After a few mins it begins and after a good ride, when the bike gets a nice tº it fades away. Funny, huh?

Hmm, does sound odd then. Obviously it's hard without being there but it definitely sounds like something rattling/knocking. Would say its less likely for it to be non-engine related if it disappears when the bike gets warm. Mine sounds like it knocks when its cold as well but not that bad

Put a screwdriver to your ear and against different points on the engine and see if the noise gets any louder.

Hello!
We checked and it definitely is in the Camshaft. The cam chain?? I tried to change it once, but mine is of 120 links! I just can find the 118 links part. Any idea why mine is 120???? :/ (Keep in mind it's a VC)

It may just be the tensioner that needs replacing

Nope, the tensioner is fine! I actually bought one and was just as good as the one on the bike...

Wow I have a very similar sound to my '92 GSF400, but it's not nearly as loud as yours.
I recorded it:
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/22072961/MF/ratel.wav

I also immediately checked the cam chain but it looked fine (very tight).
I went to the garage and the let a mechanic listen and he immediately said it's your cam chain tensioner.

I went ahead and bought a manual cam chain tensioner and put it in. The stock automatic tensioner seemed fine to me. I'm still in the process of rebuilding.

Do you know what the problem was for you?
Oh btw, your bandit doesn't sound good to me. Sounds like it's running on only 3 cylinders.

My cam chain tensioner went a few weeks ago and sounded exactly the same. All sorted now.

Mine did it all of the time, hot and cold though.

H D wrote:My cam chain tensioner went a few weeks ago and sounded exactly the same. All sorted now.

Mine did it all of the time, hot and cold though.

So what exactly what do you mean "it went"?
I haven't tested the my new manual cam chain yet, but the old automatic one looked fine. When I put a screwdriver in and wind it back you can feel there's still plenty of resistance