After furious googling my current plan is to
1. Install the cams in one of the 125 BTDC positions
2. verify I can crank by hand without issues
3. leave valve cover off
4. connect spark plug to ignition coil #1, ground the spark plug to chassis, leave spark plug in open view out of engine
5. Leave fuel tank off, sitting way far away, plug or tape off spark plug ports
6. Connect ECU, turn on bike
7. Crank engine while Recording spark plug and camshafts on a slow motion video.
8. Review video. If spark on #1 happens when cams display compression stroke, good. If cams display exhaust stroke, remove cams, rotate crank 360 degrees
9. reassemble, remember this lesson for the next one.

 

In case anyone comes across this later. I did the method above and it sparked at both compression and exhaust strokes. So... put it together and give it a start? I'm thinking with this new information the ECU recognizes when it starts what stroke it is in.

 

It is the cam timing that determines whether you are on the compression or exhaust stroke and the ignition system wastes an unneeded spark on the exhaust stroke. It sounds like you're good to go.

 

Do not turn it over on the starter. If the cam timing is out the valves could contact pistons and bend. Turn it over gently by hand and observe the cam lobe/valve position on number one cyl on the comp stroke. They should be closed. Then time according to the manual.

 

180 out is when the #1 lobes face in. Lobes face out, the crank is @ TDC, the crank is on the next [power] stroke past TDC for #1. Lost spark is a set of points firing twice. Sequence fire (some ign systems) is a single spark where the cam sensor calls the sequence.

 

Ah. See I didnt know about lost spark. I thought for some reason that it would only fire once per cycle not twice. If that were the case, and I thought it was, then firing on exhaust only would result in knock on compression without spark and/or ignition with open exhaust valves. Neither of which I was wanting to see.

Spark on both was great to see and hear. I was worried for nothing.

Thanks to everyone who responded.

Now i just got to figure out how to keep the damn new valve cover gasket on the cover while installing it, damn thing keeps falling off and I'd rather not put everything back together and have an oil leak from the valve cover.

 

If the cam lobes look at each other that mean it's the overlap phase
If the cam lobes look apart then compression phase

 

An 09 doesn't have points, and I'm not certain the ECU triggers two coils at once. Anyone know for sure?

 

Who said the 09 had points. I showed two types fire. Look at the 3-sparksticks showing single fire. No cam sensor, possible dual fire... depends on tone wheel design too. Only a slow-mo vid [at the tone wheel knows for sure] watching spark in the view as well.

 

I doubt it ever fires two coils at once. I do have 60fps video showing it does spark on exhaust and compression.

 

Sorry Catch, you referred to points, and there are people here who aren't mechanically minded who will get confused by the reference.

 

Why would there be any issue with timing if you lined up all of the timing marks as the manual instructs?

 

He moved the crank accidently.

 

So what people are saying is set the #1 piston to top dead centre then install the cams with the lobes at #1 position pointing out?...correct??

 

Correct.
Sit on bike. Left means 1st to fire with most inlines.
Cam chain on right side, you still look thru the sprockets to see #1 lobes out, sprocket marks now line up with the horizontal line of the head.

 

Wish I knew about this thread a couple of years ago when I did the same thing during my first personal valve check on this bike. I had to phone a few friends to convince me of the wasted spark haha. Convincing myself "it didn't matter" was pretty tough! Good stuff here.