Noise in steering head

bosco659

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Starting or continuing a discussion from another thread. Trying to locate and eliminate a clunking noise in the steering head when braking and or hitting a sharp bump. It’s been suggested it’s loose bearings in the steering head. I have new tapered bearings installed. Lifted the bike and the head seems tight using a couple of test methods. Will test again with cables, wires etc removed.
 
What year of bike/front brake is it?
Do you have any play in the caliper or rotor?
 
Can you make the noise happen sitting still and applying the front brake when rocking the bike forward and backwards?
Is the headlight and fork ears solid?
 
Will repost. It was just an image of my brake setup. While stationary with brake applied, I can rock the heck out of the bike but can’t make it do the “clunk”. Not sure what you mean about the fork ears and headlight being solid. Thx
 
068BDCAC-5BBE-4254-B025-C3B06D788505.jpeg
front brake porn
 
Not sure what you mean about the fork ears and headlight being solid. Thx
Anything on the bike that may be loose enough to make the noise.
Funny thing about noises is they don't always come from where you think.
A "clunk" is usually metal to metal. You may have to dissemble the bike until you find 2 parts with that show wear spots on them from hitting together.
Good luck. Nice looking front end.
 
My guess is that it’s your floating rotors. Those inexpensive Chinese rotors are very noisy since the tolerances between the disc, carrier, and the buttons they use aren’t super tight.

Could also be the front pads knocking since they can shift around in fixed calipers. The pads will settle in one location, then when you grab a handful of front brake, the pads are pulled into a sudden stop at a new position within the caliper which creates a knocking noise. You can confirm this at walking speed - walk your bike backward with no brake on, stop with the front brake then walk forward and stop again. If it’s the pads shifting, you’ll hear and/or feel it. The Brembo 6 pot race brakes on my Subaru track car back in the day did this every time I stopped and it drove me nuts. Nothing to worry about mechanically typically, but it is annoying.

Or, it could be a combination of all things.
 
Could be brake noise but I also hear the same noise (occasionally) when I hit a sharp bump in the road (without braking).

How about the front wheel bearings? If they are worn - you’d get a clunk in the front end. Replacements are inexpensive and not too difficult to install.

Pete
 
That "clunk" can occur if roller bearings in the steering head need a little more tension. Often there's enough slop to cause the "clunk" but too little to feel by lifting the front end and trying to rock the steering head.
 
That "clunk" can occur if roller bearings in the steering head need a little more tension. Often there's enough slop to cause the "clunk" but too little to feel by lifting the front end and trying to rock the steering head.

+1
My money is on the steering head bearings , needs to be adjusted.
 
As grizld1 said above. When I fitted my taper bearings it took a bumpy road to get them to seat properly followed by a small adjustment to get them snug. I could tell when they went slightly loose because the front brakes juddered just before the bike came to a stop.
 
Bosco:

XS650 Direct has the spanners at their warehouse in Stratford, ON - and if you order before about noon on Wednesday, you’ll likely have them by Thursday morning.

Pete
 
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