| Author | Message | ||
     Thumper74 |
I've noticed this noise for a month or so and tightened all of the hardware in the front end today when I changed my rear tire. It still does it. It's a single click/pop right as I almost get to a complete stop. I usually wear headphones when commuting,so it's more of a feeling in the handlebars than a sound. What should I be looking for? What else is there? Can anyone post the torque specs for the triple clamps, caliper mounting bolts, axle clamp bolts, etc? I have a feeling of accomplishment today, by changing my own tire, I mean, I removed, dismounted, checked the balance on the rim, remounted, balanced, reinstalled and went out to scrub in the tire and I gradually worked my way up 100 mph to check the balance, spot on! The hardest part was balancing. Being an tech, I've only used Coats balancing machines and doing it by hand took a few minutes. By the time I was done, it stopped in a different spot each time and when it was stopped pre-maturely, it didn't move. I even took the weights off to see if I wasn't just imagining things and it would stop at the new heavier spot. | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
If I had to guess it's probably one of those doohickey bushings that the front rotor floats on. My 04 12R does it too. I'll address it next time I change tires. | ||
| Tramp |
My s2 does the same thing- it's the floater coming to rest on the rivets, as JLB says. If it's really annoying, avoid stopping. | ||
| Cochise |
My bike has the same click, but I can only hear it when the bike is off and I hit the brake lever.  | ||
| Dartanjang |
Mine has it too. I think it comes from the front suspension. It is easiest to produce by pulling the handle bars while applying the front brake. You then get a pronounced click. My first suspicions were the steering head bearings and then the front brake but these have been carefully looked over and are perfectly ok. I will have my dealer look over the suspension legs when I do the fifth gear recall. | ||
| Tramp |
Note that it only occurs with front brake engagement, D-jang It's perfectly normal, kids. | ||
| Thumper74 |
Thanks Tramp, I forgot that the rotors float. I'll do a once over again and if it doesn't help, put some love into the front brake. Can I lube them or something if I take the front rotor off? Do I need to replace the hardware? | ||
| Lost_in_ohio |
Tighten your steering head bearings. Mine had the same symptom as you described and that fixed it. | ||
| Tramp |
Mine has always had this sound, and each set of steering head bearings I've gone through were correctly set. Actually, kneel down and have someone pull your scoot up to you, and put your ear near the rotor as they stop. It becomes pretty obvious, then. If your steering head bearings ever make a clicking sound, you've got greater issues than a simple correct adjustment will remedy. | ||
| Grianp |
how does one tighten the steering head bearings? I think I may have this same issue. | ||
| Thumper74 |
I went outside on my lunch break to check the bike out to see if there was something I missed during my initial inspection. My main concern was the front isolator. The bushing does not appear to have separated from the casting. My sidestand was sinking into the black top so I rolled the bike back to crush a soda can and applied the front brake. Voila! The noise did it again. I rolled it backwards some more and applied the front brake. No noise. I rolled it forward and applied the front brake. Noise! I rolled it forward again and applied the front brake. No noise. I rolled it backwards and applied the front brake. Noise. I rolled it forward. Noise. Evidently something is shifting when the brakes are applied. The caliper is tight, I checked that this weekend. The only other variables would be the front rotor or the brake pads shifting in the caliper… Ideas? | ||
| Greenlantern |
Elves. | ||
| Lost_in_ohio |
The head bearings......Do the check on them. Elevate the bike and see how easy the bars and forks turn. 1-7lbs of pressure. Page 1-38 in the lightning service manual. from the manual 1. detach clutch cable at handlebar and ensure the throttle cables do not bind before measuring steering head bearing resistance. 2. Remove steering stem pinch fastener and upper triple clamp 3. Loosen steering stem capnut and back off several turns 4. Remove lower triple clamp pinch fasteners two per side. 5. tighten steering stem capnut to 38-42 ft-lbs. 6. Turn front wheel all the way to the right. 7. hook a spring scale into the hole in the front axle pull front wheel to center position. desired resistance is between 1-7lbs. Mine was this. Sounds like you found the problem in the isolator. | ||
| Thumper74 |
Isolator? I think it's in the brakes someplace... | ||
| Tramp |
Again: No such sound will come from Steering head bearings without attendant riding irregularities rendering the machine near-unrideable....and, frankly, no amount of adjustment would remedy such seriously-damaged bearings, total replacement of both bearings and races would be indicated. This clicking on stop is a normal side-effect of the floating disc, and is absolutely normal. before you monkey around with readjusting steering head bearings, simply kneel down at disc-level, and have someone engage/disengage the front brake while loading and unloading the forks. You'll hear, very quickly, that it's emitting from the disc | ||
| Thumper74 |
I already established that, oh wise one.  I need to redo the wheels this winter, so I'll worry about the hardware then. | ||
| Cochise |
just like jay is saying, the only reason why you hear the noise the FIRST time you hit the brakes rolling forward and not the SECOND time is because the rotor has already moved to where it's going to be. When you roll it backwards the first time, the rotor will slide to that point, which is opposite of the frontal direction moved. Thusly, the SECOND time you roll it backwards, the rotor is already where it's going to be, and won't make the sound the second time. Now, go out to your bike, without the brakes depressed, and without your motorcycle running or moving. Okay, you are beside your XB Buell Motorcycle, now, with your favorite hand (no, not THAT kind of favorite) and move the rotor back and forth and you should hear the noise again. If the noise is not heard, first check to see if you're kneeling by the front rotor or the back rotor. The back rotor should NOT be making any noises, since it is bolted to the axle. | ||
| Thumper74 |
I didn't apply the rear brake. I'm assuming it's the front | ||
| Cochise |
Yes, I understand that. The last part was kind of a joke. The front rotor moves, the back rotor won't. If you are kneeling by the back of...ahh forget it, if I have to explain it, it loses its meaning. You're right, dude, I must have misunderstood where the noise was coming from in all of those many posts.  | ||
| Lost_in_ohio |
Sounds like you need a second set of eyes and hands. Someone to rock the bike back and forth while you crawl around and look for it. In rereading your original post "I usually wear headphones when commuting,so it's more of a feeling in the handlebars than a sound." I still believe it is the steering head bearings. I could see the forks move in the bearing when stopping. I would rock the bike back and forth with the front brake on and look at were the stem goes through the neck in the frame. or do a couple of low speed stops with front brake only and watch it. Maybe you will see it move. (Message edited by lost_in_ohio on August 06, 2008) | ||
| Lost_in_ohio |
Tramp, my bike did what I am describing and I rode it every day, except when I would come to a stop it would kinda clunk just as I stopped. More to the point it was just as the weight transferred from front to rear as I stopped. It was in the first 2k miles. I tightened them as described in the service manual and haven't had a problem since. | ||
| Thumper74 |
It's VERY similar to what you describe. I think I narrowed it down today to the rotor bushings though. If I apply the brakes and rock it forward, it will make the noise. If I continue to rock it forward again, it will not. If I apply the front brake while rocking back, it will make the noise. It only seems to do it on harder than mild stops and when I rock it back and forth with the brake applied. I'm gonna go move the rotor by hand... brb. | ||
| Tramp |
Lost_in_ohio: I understand- If it happened in the first 2k, I would imagine it was PDId incorrectly. A severely untorqued steering head (again, from incorrect PDI) would effect such a symptom, however, it should be more of a hollow, "clocking" sound, than the tap or tic of a disc issue. I used to see a LOT of these loose head bearings from bad PDI, on other brands. | ||
| Thumper74 |
I grabbed the rotor and it'll move a hair rotationally. Looks like I needs new hardware. | ||
| Tramp |
Your hdwe. is fine...they all move a tad | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
+1 Trampus, specifically they float. | ||
| Thumper74 |
Clicking is a part of the design? | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
Clicking is one possible result of the design. | ||
| Cochise |
WOW, no offense dude, but that's what people have been saying since your first post. | ||
| Thumper74 |
Tramp, Lost in Ohio used to live a few blocks from me and if he got his bike from the same dealer, a bad PDI is a definate possibility. Me? I'm pretty sure my bike didn't click the first 15k or so... I'd venture to say that clicking was not part of the design. It may be a characteristic of the design as it wears, but it probably wasn't intended to do it. I really appreciate all of the ideas though, it helped narrow it down and I can sleep easy tonight.  |
