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Front - strange feeling

Dimania

Dimania

Joined Dec 2010
161 Posts | 0+
London West
Recently I'm starting to notice some play in front; when stationary after front brake is applied pushing bars can feel a little play and some kind of knocking; while driving it feels loose, soft and jumpy especially on empty tank and almost like the bike wants to take its own path changes direction. Could it be signs of wear out on forks or head bearings?
 
Whats mileage on the bike?
How long have you had it?
Is there a notchy feeling when turning the bars from left to right?

On a low mileage bike it'd be rare for anything to go I'd have thought as the bars don't really move that much when on the road

If you've bought it 2nd hand then it's possible the bikes been wheelied which could cause damage to the bearings

One other thing though is possibly somethings worked loose and just needs tightening
 
Now its 20k miles did around 2K since I took the bike and it was tight at that time. Bought from women; doesn't mean they can't wheelie ))) Steering moves smooth from right to left
 
Naw , Headstock bearings is easy. Knock out and push in.

Check the brake discs they are floating ,meaning they move ( inner bit and outer bit ), if too much then need changing .

two sets of pads to one disc ish (replacement)
 
if too much then need changing .
Click to expand...
Not in this case, but the usual risk is of the floating disks not floating enough and then they warp.

There will always be some movement and knocking from the disks, but the head bearings sound like they are the culprit here. Can you rock it back and forth with the front brake on and feel for play at the triple clamp or get someone to help to feel it?
 
Doesn't sound like brakes to me. Sounds like headstock bearings. I'd take them to garage or where u bought it from and get them to change them. I suppose like Hector says it's simple but if you've not got the tools just as cheap to take it elsewhere.
 
Two things I have noticed on mine, before u crash in wi head stock bearings...

1. The discs can rock back and forward a bit axially if the bobbins are worn/slackish (mine move a hell of a lot ) so you can get a bit o clunk when moving about at walking speeds or paddlin aboot say like when yer parkin up.

2. When braking fairly hard from middlin speeds, say to approach a roundabout, BUT still in quite a high gear, some times you can get a "knocking " sensation coming back thru the bars, which to me seems like the engine is "chuggin" cos its momentarily in to high a gear.


None of which are a show stopper ah wid say.....
 
Definitely on the way to the garage this week, it's getting worse when I'm thinking constantly about it ))
 
I've got problems wae mi heidbearings as well. Got it on the garage noo getting fixed. Saying at, I often think thit there's a "clunk" fae the sterring head...on every bike I've got. It's one o those things with me and I could be paranoid or something.
 
From the video is impossible to say what the knocking is, but seeing as towards the end the knocking was there with hardly much pressure back and forth, I would think again about the head bearings, unless they really are that shot in which case you should feel it.
Are you sure you can't put your left hand on against the frame and top triple clamp to feel any movement whilst rocking with your right hand on the brake?
If you can get the front wheel up off the ground then feeling the head bearings or even forks it will be much easier to suss out.

BTW, have changed your front wheel recently?
you have checked the calipers are still bolted up tight right?
Is the front wheel spindle and clamp bolts tight?
Are the mudguard bolts all tight?
Are all the triple clamp bolts tight?

But if it's getting louder and worse in a short time, and your not sure, then take it to a garage for inspection before something fails or falls off and you end up on your arse!
 
I would exclude brakes the feeling when riding, braking looks good
 
wes said:
From the video is impossible to say what the knocking is, but seeing as towards the end the knocking was there with hardly much pressure back and forth, I would think again about the head bearings, unless they really are that shot in which case you should feel it.
Are you sure you can't put your left hand on against the frame and top triple clamp to feel any movement whilst rocking with your right hand on the brake?
If you can get the front wheel up off the ground then feeling the head bearings or even forks it will be much easier to suss out.

BTW, have changed your front wheel recently?
you have checked the calipers are still bolted up tight right?
Is the front wheel spindle and clamp bolts tight?
Are the mudguard bolts all tight?
Are all the triple clamp bolts tight?

But if it's getting louder and worse in a short time, and your not sure, then take it to a garage for inspection before something fails or falls off and you end up on your arse!
Click to expand...

I've tried to myself but I can't feel anything. I will ask someone to help me and will check with the garage
 
I'm terribly sorry for misleading you on the sound ))) Its coming from the disk brakes, but I'm still confused about the loose feeling. Can't feel movement in the head bearings, but that might be just me ))
 

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