valve clearances.

[syko]

hi again.
just wondered if there were any other ways of knowing if valves on modern four strokes need re-shimming. obviously checking the clearances isn't a big hassle and i do them often but i just wondered if there were any other signs that you can look out for when riding/idling/reving the bike that indicate that the valves are on there way out??

For example I was once told that if my bike starts to backfire quite a lot it indicates that the clearances aren't right.
is that true?

 

[Ol'89r]

For example I was once told that if my bike starts to backfire quite a lot it indicates that the clearances aren't right.
is that true?

syko.

Yes, that's true. Also, hard starting and lack of compression are a couple more indicators.