Ah crap, death rattle.

The SV is ill

Was belting up the N7 when the engine started making a tapping sound, by the time I got to the petrol station it had loudened, and was significantly down on power.

Oil level should be OK, I checked her last week and it was full... I was driving her pretty hard because it's geared stupidly low, was at ~ 130mph for 20 or so miles, which has the engine between 8-9k RPM in top gear.

Anyone know if a TL1000 engine will fit in the SV frame?

It's an otherwise mint 01 curvy.

Thanks in advance

If I were you I'd look into what's causing the tap first, before jumping in fitting a new engine. Engine tapping sounds are never a good sign, but not necessarily game over for the engine. Always best to pull over immediately though, not carry on riding it, the noise getting louder sounds like you've made it worse continuing, hopefully you didn't carry on at 130mph with it tapping?! Sounds like it might be running on one cylinder, could be anything causing that, sounds like something's snapped. I'd start taking the engine apart personally, nothing to lose. Don't know for sure, but doubt the TL engine will fit. Hope you get it sorted.

Cheers for the reply mate, I do appreciate it.

No I didn't keep going at that speed, I knew there was a petrol station two miles or so up the road so I dropped down to 4k RPM and nursed her there, then got a van to bring it home.

svste tried the tl engine in a curvy, ended up being a right pain in the ass

Originally Posted by davepreston

svste tried the tl engine in a curvy, ended up being a right pain in the ass

I've seen a decent TL1000S for €1,500, I might see what I can get for the SV and move on!

Check simple stuff first, like one of the spark plugs might have come loose and might be working its way out.

Don't laugh, the noise they make when loose sounds like a tapping noise from the head that gets worse as the plug moves outwards and I had to deal with exactly this on a SV650K3 last week. The owner thought he'd blown the bike up cos it sounded so bad.

Cheers Lozzo, I'll be a very happy camper if it's just a spark plug

had a look today, couldn't get to the plug though as it's a rad off job.

She starts and idles perfectly, with a noticeable tapping from halfway up the front cylinder (close enough to where the tensioner is)

Definitely not bottom end at least