On Valve Adjustments: I believe I need some valve maintenance on my 86 VT500. When I have it running there is an audible (though only if you put your ear low to the engine) chatter/chik-chik-chik noise. It was suggested by a mechanic who listened to it that this was the valves. They wanted 2-300 to adjust them. My question is two-fold. First off, how can I be sure it is the valves? I did not own the bike for the first 14,000 miles so do not have an idea whether valves were ever adjusted or not. Could it be the cam chain, rather than the valves (which I assume is a much more severe and pricey problem)? Second, what would this job entail, were I to do it myself? I've never done engine work, but have rebuilt the entire cooling system (excepting the water pump), changed oil, fixed brakes, and removed/installed wheels. Might this job be within my scope? How much disassembly is required on the VT500 in order to access the valves? I do have the Clymer manual and a good set of common tools. Any help is appreciated. I'd love to save on the job by doing it at home, and would like to learn how anyway. I just don't want to get in over my head and ruin anything. Thanks,

Good questions...
First, the valves are a regular maintenance item and should be adjusted regularly. The cam chain, if it has an external adjustment should be adjusted just as often.
If you have the Clymers manual you are half way there. Look at chapter 3- maintenance and tune up. Find the section on adjusting the valves and cam chain tension. Read it and see if you think you feel comfortable doing it. If you take your time and measure twice you can do this yourself. I would expect that the first time would take 3 or 4 hours but you should be able to get it down to about an hour after you are familiar witht he process. The biggest deterent is special tools. If you have some shop smarts you will be able to make your own for pretty cheap.
If you decide to tackle the project and have more questions or concerns feel free to come back to this site and ask our experts.

Read your manual, if you can understand all the instructions, and feel you are capable of executing them, then go ahead, you should make it OK. But if there is something you do not understand, find out clearly what it means, then make a rational decision. The noise you describe sounds like more than valves to me, but I do not have the benefit of actually hearing it.