09-30-2026, 12:00 AM
So I've been wrenching on bikes for 15+ years now and I still see people ignore valve clearance checks until something sounds wrong. By then it's usually too late and you're looking at burnt valves or a dropped seat.
Here's my take. On most shim-under-bucket setups, check them every 15-20k miles even if the manual says 26k. Clearances tend to tighten up over time, not loosen, and a tight exhaust valve is the one that bites you. If you hear that ticking get quieter instead of louder, that's a red flag, not a good sign.
Quick tip for anyone doing it at home: rotate the engine to TDC on the compression stroke, not the exhaust stroke. I can't count how many people have measured on the wrong stroke and panicked over nothing.
Also don't skip the feeler gauge and just eyeball it. Feel matters more than the number on some of these older bikes.
What intervals are you all running on your daily riders?
Here's my take. On most shim-under-bucket setups, check them every 15-20k miles even if the manual says 26k. Clearances tend to tighten up over time, not loosen, and a tight exhaust valve is the one that bites you. If you hear that ticking get quieter instead of louder, that's a red flag, not a good sign.
Quick tip for anyone doing it at home: rotate the engine to TDC on the compression stroke, not the exhaust stroke. I can't count how many people have measured on the wrong stroke and panicked over nothing.
Also don't skip the feeler gauge and just eyeball it. Feel matters more than the number on some of these older bikes.
What intervals are you all running on your daily riders?