95 vs800gl engine noise

[95vs800GL]

The problem I'm having is when I'm idling and sitting the engine sounds ok, with a consistent small tick, but when reved it goes away and the it's a random click coming from what sounds like the front motor. Over all the bike runs great but I can't tell if the noise is the carburators needing timed or something wrong with the front piston. Also figured out someone has worked one the exhaust for the front engine because there is a non factory bolt on the exhaust, could this also cause the backfiring and loss of power in the throttle? About mid-throttle I have no juice and it begins to sputter and backfire.

[sgtcall]

Welcome!
I'm sure one of our smart guys will be along shortly to give you a good answer.
Until then here are a couple of things you may want to check into.

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[Pio412]

The valves on these engines are a bit noisy (as long as you still have the stock exhaust system on it, which is quiet.) but since you said someone messed with the flanges by noticing a different nut on the headers I'd check the header gaskets and make sure they're sealing properly. If the header gasket is leaking these can make a sort of ticking noise. So start her up COLD and spray a bit of soapy water on the exhaust flanges by the head and see if she bubbles... if it does then you have a leak.

A header leak will for sure cause backfiring because of the aggressive valve timing on these bikes.

Check your oil as well to make sure it's topped up!

Also make sure your idle isn't set too low... it might be loosing oil pressure and that's why it could be the valves ticking at idle... maybe? Just a thought. Good luck!

Cheers