Front end noise

Color of the day · 05-31-2017, 06:48 PM

I was out riding and took a nice S curve about 50mph and was leaning to the right. There was a small bump in the curve and front end made a noticeable clank as i went over it.

I check everything and all is there and tight. Can forks make this noise?

Thanks.

pyoungbl · 05-31-2017, 07:08 PM

Color, did you notice anything other than a sound....like a severe jolt? It is possible that something in the front suspension is loose. Another possibility is that the suspension bottomed out (why I ask if you felt a jolt). You can check out the various parts to see if anything is loose, also put a zip tie on the male slider of one fork so you can see how much suspension travel you are using. It is possible that you need to add some preload. Other than those possibilities I'd say that the last resort is to take the forks apart to look for something loose inside.....not my idea of fun.

Peter Y.

Another thought.....if you have the center stand installed that might have bounced and then slammed back into the frame.

Color of the day · 05-31-2017, 10:25 PM

I checked everything on the front. Seems to be tight. I do have a center stand and that may the source. When I finished riding for the day, I noticed that my center stand was preventing my side stand from being deployed.

The bike was great. We had a 14 mph cross wind. That was not too much fun. The more I ride this bike, the more I like it.

Sullybiker · 06-01-2017, 08:24 AM

I don't have an RX3 but on my Ninja it's not unusual for bumps in the road to cause the occasional clunk, and it's deceptive where it actually originates from. Sometimes it's the front floating caliper clunking (it has a tiny bit of play), occasionally the chain will slap the swing arm at the looser end of its tolerance too.

You could also - if you were on maintenance throttle (in a turn if you're not rolling-on you're actually decelerating slightly) or even lifting - have compressed the forks a little; they may have bottomed.

pyoungbl · 06-05-2017, 10:17 AM

Color, the side stand must be deployed before you deploy the center stand...and you must store the center stand before doing the same to the side stand. If you do not do this in sequence the center stand will not go all the way back up to the frame, it will foul on the side stand. I bet you are hearing the center stand banging because it is not being held in the up position by the retaining springs.

Peter Y.

fjmartin · 06-06-2017, 01:02 AM

I have a strap that hold the centerstand up as it would cluck badly when riding offroad. Drove me crazy...thus the strap.

pete · 06-06-2017, 05:14 AM

sounds like the forks may have toped out on the return stroke...
wouldn't hurt to check the fork oil...
but a clunk can come from so meany places...

..

Inroads · 06-23-2017, 10:55 AM

Mine front end clunks too after a good jolt.Youre not alone.

05-31-2017, 06:48 PM	#1
Color of the day Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: 484 miles east from the geographical center of the United States Posts: 45	Front end noise I was out riding and took a nice S curve about 50mph and was leaning to the right. There was a small bump in the curve and front end made a noticeable clank as i went over it. I check everything and all is there and tight. Can forks make this noise? Thanks. __________________ "Tolerance is not the same thing as acceptance, and acceptance is not the same thing as an endorsement" Life Member VFW / Life Member NRA / WWG1-WGA
	0

05-31-2017, 10:25 PM	#3
Color of the day Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: 484 miles east from the geographical center of the United States Posts: 45	I checked everything on the front. Seems to be tight. I do have a center stand and that may the source. When I finished riding for the day, I noticed that my center stand was preventing my side stand from being deployed. The bike was great. We had a 14 mph cross wind. That was not too much fun. The more I ride this bike, the more I like it. __________________ "Tolerance is not the same thing as acceptance, and acceptance is not the same thing as an endorsement" Life Member VFW / Life Member NRA / WWG1-WGA
	0

06-06-2017, 01:02 AM	#6
fjmartin Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Redmond, WA. Posts: 534	I have a strap that hold the centerstand up as it would cluck badly when riding offroad. Drove me crazy...thus the strap. __________________ 2017 BMW F800GS Adventure
	1

06-06-2017, 05:14 AM	#7
pete Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: ChCh , NZ Posts: 2,261	sounds like the forks may have toped out on the return stroke... wouldn't hurt to check the fork oil... but a clunk can come from so meany places... .. __________________ 09 XT660R ... 06 TTR250 ... 80 Montesa H6 125 Enduro... 77 Montesa Cota 348 MRR "Malcom Rathnell Replica"... Current resto projects.. 81 Honda CT110... 80 Kawasaki KL250A1... 11 Husaburg TE125 enduro... "sold" along with another 31... Lifan 125 Pitbike.. "stolen" ... KIWI BIKER FORUM...... http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/content.php All the best offroad rides in NZ... http://www.remotemoto.com/ E-mail... xtpete1@gmail.com
	0

05-31-2017, 07:08 PM	#2
pyoungbl Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Portsmouth, Virginia, USA Posts: 632	Color, did you notice anything other than a sound....like a severe jolt? It is possible that something in the front suspension is loose. Another possibility is that the suspension bottomed out (why I ask if you felt a jolt). You can check out the various parts to see if anything is loose, also put a zip tie on the male slider of one fork so you can see how much suspension travel you are using. It is possible that you need to add some preload. Other than those possibilities I'd say that the last resort is to take the forks apart to look for something loose inside.....not my idea of fun. Peter Y. Another thought.....if you have the center stand installed that might have bounced and then slammed back into the frame.
	0

06-01-2017, 08:24 AM	#4
Sullybiker Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Western PA Posts: 363	I don't have an RX3 but on my Ninja it's not unusual for bumps in the road to cause the occasional clunk, and it's deceptive where it actually originates from. Sometimes it's the front floating caliper clunking (it has a tiny bit of play), occasionally the chain will slap the swing arm at the looser end of its tolerance too. You could also - if you were on maintenance throttle (in a turn if you're not rolling-on you're actually decelerating slightly) or even lifting - have compressed the forks a little; they may have bottomed.
	0

06-05-2017, 10:17 AM	#5
pyoungbl Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Portsmouth, Virginia, USA Posts: 632	Color, the side stand must be deployed before you deploy the center stand...and you must store the center stand before doing the same to the side stand. If you do not do this in sequence the center stand will not go all the way back up to the frame, it will foul on the side stand. I bet you are hearing the center stand banging because it is not being held in the up position by the retaining springs. Peter Y.
	4

06-23-2017, 10:55 AM	#8
Inroads Join Date: May 2015 Location: Wimberley Texas Posts: 193	Mine front end clunks too after a good jolt.Youre not alone.
	0