i heard a slight tappet noise when i test rode a naked bike today.. is this normal?

You'd better hope you can hear the tappets. When you don't, you are overdue for a valve adjustment.

You would be suprised at how much rattling and tapping noise you will hear from a naked bike or when you ride without a helmet. And first to answer your question, it is normal to have some light tappet noise in a TL or any metric bike, especially if it has some miles. at very worst, assuming it runs good, is that it might be due for a valve adjustment, but that is regular necessary maintenance. True story when I was younger and a beginner in the repair field. I went on a trip to SC for bike week and for the firt time rode without a helmet. I heard noises that I had never heard on my bike that I thought it was falling apart. I took it to a dealership and had it checked out. They says - nothing wrong with your bike. Embarrasing but a great 45 dollar learning experience

Never been on that model...but I've ridden plenty of bikes where you could hear plenty of valve train noise. Nothing wrong with them, set up as close and tight as could be...it was just part of the design.

Cartain lubricants can help to calm valve train noise...if you don't believe it ask anyone w/ a pushrod driven engine who has tried to track it down. If that doesn't help--the only way to tell for sure is to have it checked or check yourself (if you're comfortable digging in).

I don't know the bike, don’t think I have even seen one, however the engine is from a Suzuki TL1000 so parts and labour shouldn’t be too painful.