In preparation for Cadwell on Saturday I've had the RVF apart, checked the valve clearances (all within range), new plugs, oil, filter, coolant etc..

Start the newly reassembled bike and there is a horrible knocking noise.

I only checked the clearances, did not change shims.

Any ideas?

Left something in the rocker box?
You should not have killed it with a simple paranoid pre trackday fettle. . . Must be something simple

Cheers, I need to strip it again in the morning.

Could I have knocked out a shim?

Highly unlikely as the depth the shim sits in the keeper is much greater than the clearance so there physically isn't space for it to come out unless you unbolted the cam carriers

they can come out..or they can not be seated properly and the finger can get caught in the little recess... if you are missing a shim, I reckon the little bastard is still in the top end...

Ive seen people forget to put shims in (after taking out) and starting the motor, the valve collects dropping out out, the valve falling down and runing the engine hah.

You would have to be really unluck for that though.

By clearance check I assume you mean sliding in a feeler gauge to check the shim clearance, anything else?

You shouldnt hav moved anything apart from the rocket box so its odd you have a noise, as Mark has said, did you leave any tools in the rocker area?

Strange one

lol my bet is a 10mm spanner.
worst case mate fetch it along anyway, there are enough skilled V4 people there who will help sort it track side.

Well, stripped it down, all shims insitu, no tools left under covers.

There is no noise when the valve covers are loose, plenty when they are even slightly nipped down.

Old thin gaskets?

The front cover is marked "IN" but is it possible to fit it the wrong way round ?

I assumed the "IN" side pointed to the carbs.