As long as it doesn't start becoming a 'BABOOM!', a little snap crackle and pop doesn't hurt anything. I once had a '41 Ford that crackled for 50 miles straight going down the hill between Kingman and Needles and it wasn't hurt at all. Come to think of it, my '49 Triumph did it more than the Ford and it was still running strong the last time I saw it. That is a normal trait of a high performance engine and most efforts to stop it end up costing horsepower.
Your ride might have helped a bit in curing you, cold air tends to kill germs.
I guess there are limits, but I came home feeling better last time I went riding in spite of the icesicles in my beard.
