Motorcycle Repair: Slapping noise, warranty repairs, valve adjustment

Question
I have an '03 Yamaha 1100 classic. The bike has 2600 miles on it. I have slapping noise coming from the front cylinder. Sounds like a wrist pin.
Bike has always had oil and filter changes never been hotrodded. In neutral you can rev the hell out of it and it sounds great. No noises at all. Just hear it slapping when in gear and riding. I just can't imagine a bike with so few miles on it could be having such a major problem. I just changed oil and filter and checked for any shavings in the oil or filter and found none. The bike is out of warrenty because I bought it used and never got it transfered. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks. JR

Answer
Hi JR.
 Are you sure that this sound isn't from the upper head?  oftentimes, the noises that we hear from the cylinders is simply misadjusted or "loose" valves.  You may just need the valves done, particularly if the adjustment wasn't done (or not done properly) at the 500 mile mark.

 You would know if this were the valves if the speed of the sound increases with the rpms and it comes from the head rather than the cylinder itself.  The repair manual has the specs for the valve adjustment.

If the sound is coming from the cylinder itself, then the dealership that you got the bike from may have warranty repairs to make on the engine.

Good luck.
FALCON