Hi all,
I noticed a soft tapping noise a few days ago coming from my '04 VTR when I get going from a dead stop. It was just one tap each time, and it only happened sometimes when I got going from standstill.

Over the past few days, the noise has gotten louder and more frequent. It happens every time I take off. I now feel it in the left hand control when it makes the noise, too. I only notice it in 1st and 2nd gear, but I'm not sure that it would be noticeable at higher speeds due to wind noise and engine vibration. I have heard rumbling from time to time when idling in neutral, clutch engaged, but this doesn't seem to coincide with the tapping noise and I have not noticed any flaws in clutch performance.

I checked the chain and all the external parts I could think of that might make a noise. I see there is another thread similar to this,
"Trying to identify a new noise... (maybe the clutch, or gearbox?)", but he doesn't seem to have quite the same problem due to the vibration in my left control. It seems like it must be either the clutch or the transmission, but would that explain the vibration in the handle?

I have been riding this bike every day for 2 years. The noise is new and getting progressively worse every time I ride the bike for the last 3 or 4 days. Any help will be greatly appreciated!

 

has the clutch fluid been replaced for a while? If not I would start with easy things. Not many gearbox problems with our bike though so...

 

Okay... Any other ideas? I'm going to take the bike apart tomorrow and see wtf, but I was hoping somebody here would recognize the problem by description and I could maybe get the parts before I have the bike in pieces.

 

Wheel bearings and cush drive hub rubbers are with looking at too.