Clunk?

[sertman]

Hello all. Has anyone else experienced a clunk in the front end when going over bumps. I have done the steering head inspection as outlined in the factory manual and passes the test. I have also checked to see if something is loose. No luck there either. I am begining to wonder if the front forks are low on fluid from the factory and thier is an air gap in the damper. Any ideas?

[Redbird]

How many miles, and has anyone ever had the forks apart for anything?

[jimmystartup]

I'm having the same symptom over rough pavement (or on my gravel driveway). The bike has 24,000 miles and I don't think the previous owner had the forks apart. I'm planning on tearing them down in the coming weeks and will be sure to post any improvements.

[sertman]

Update.....I was inspecting the front end again and to my complete disbelief i discovered that the right front brake caliper was LOOSE! I have had the bike since new and have never touched the brakes. so i cannot even begin to explain this. anyways, I torqued the bolts back down and now the clunck is gone. Needless to say i spent the rest of the afternoon going over every nut and bolt i could get a torque wrench onto.

[demon]

Every couple of months, I go over my moving parts to make sure nothing has come loose. When you are breaking the sound barrier you can't hear anything.

[jimmystartup]

I'm suffering from the same clunk in the front end. The bearings were replace a year ago and I'm at a loss as to what is is. I don't want to spend the $ to have a dealership look at it.

Since it is a 97 with 25,000 miles maybe I'll just have the forks torn down and re-valved, springed, etc.

Thoughts?

[RodeRash]

I'm suffering from the same clunk in the front end.

If I remember correctly, you do a lot of wheelies. They're kinda hard on the front suspension. You could have loosened up the steering head bearings again.

[jimmystartup]

If I remember correctly, you do a lot of wheelies. They're kinda hard on the front suspension. You could have loosened up the steering head bearings again.

Nope, not me. Wheelies are not my bag baby!

[blkbrdrydr]

I swear that I can hear the fork springs banging against the insides of the fork tubes occasionally. Of course... I also hear strange voices inside of my head every now and then too.

[birdie_xx]

I've heard about the air ducts hitting the inside of the cowl sometimes.

Check there and tuck some foam there if they rattle....

Cheers,

[Motobeagle]

Check there and tuck some foam there if they rattle

Now that's not very "Honda" like behavior. :wink:

[birdie_xx]

Now that's not very "Honda" like behavior

Can you say "Polish home improvement "?

Actually not my idea, I red it somewhere...... :wink:

Cheers,

[erixx]

same situation here.

Had it before putting new springs and after. Its a 'clonk-clonk' thing at slow speed bumping.

I doubt its the calipers, they have a little movement freedom due to the rubbers that hold the side-sliding axes in place...

Air? The less oil? Can't believe it is that... but the noise is coming from the forks..

STRANGE!

[freakee1]

hey Guys

When I got my not loved xx I had to replace a few things (hoses etc) and I pulled it pretty well to pieces to re oil, re-brake fliud, re-coolant etc

I found my 97 xx had what I thought was a "clunk" and it ended up being the the noise of the fork oil in the dampners under stress. I have a rough gravel driveway and it doesnt happen on the road. I changed the oil and seals and the noise is still there (the noise is more of a very quick sucking noise than a clunk - sorta think of a porno movie :oops: ). While it was in bits I checked and regreased the neck bearings and they were ok

I also pulled the calipers (both rear and front) apart to clean and flush the braking system - found nothing loose or damaged

I would say its the fork oil

me

[jimmystartup]

When I first got the bike I suspected the sound was coming front the instrument pod because it seems to really move on its mounts when I'm on a rough surface. The more I listen the more confused I become... :sad:

[G2]

I'm constantly tearing down my forks in search of the best set-up (for me) so I have a pretty good understanding of the XX fork.

1) Did you buy the bike used?

2) Do you hear the clunk when the fork is being compressed or when it is rebounding?

3) Is it a rattle that isn't stroke direction dependent?

4) Have you had the fork caps off to see if the damper rod is screwed into the cap and the jam nut is torqued? If not, put the bike on the centerstand & unscrew the caps one at a time being careful not to strip off that last, very fine, aluminum starter thread. Pull the cap/damper rod up till it's fully extended (a bit over an inch) and stroke it. Gently. Feel resistance both ways? No noise?

5) Is there a thin wall, steel spring spacer installed? (to try and reason out wrong pre-load/topping out possibility)

6) Parts look wet with oil?

Fork caps get 17 ft. lbs. of torque but snug will do if you don't have a wrench. No need to loosen the bars.

Steering head bearings can be checked a number of ways. While on the bike, stick a left hand finger between the tank and under the top of the steering head. Rock the bike back and forth while rapidly applying the front brake on and off. Feel for movement.

I hope pecking out this post proves useful.

G2