I recently bought a YFM 225 from a friend of a neighbor, I bought it sight unseen for $100, went over with a battery (it had been sitting for almost 2 years), cranked it up & drove away. GREAT bike for my needs, I'm very impressed with it.

So much that I wanted another one so I can take a friend riding too. I just bought another one, this one is YFM 250, also had been sitting for several months. This one is in great shape too, but I have one concern with it.

There is a "ticking" sound at idle coming from the engine. I'm told by a local mechanic that it is a valve & that it's normal for an older bike. Maybe he's right but it sounds to me like it could be a loose timing chain possibly.

My question is this: Is it really normal? Do these engines have a timing chain & a tensioner? What would you look at if it was yours??