JGIG73
Novice Class
Posts: 39
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posted October 12, 2015 10:09 AM
Feedback from the front forks/handlebars
Hi Guys, Im having an issue with my front suspention where Im getting a small amount of feedback thru the handlebars when Im going over bumps/imperfections on the road. If im on a good road its smooth and rides perfectly. I can cruise with no hands and it rides straight as an arrow. Front wheel lines up nice with the handlebar position. This started a few days ago, I checked the torque tolerances of all the Upper clamp bolts, lower clamp pinch bolts, steering nut, lower fork leg pinch bolts, front axel nut, and calipurs. Everything is torqued to manual specs and still exhibits this problem. It feels like something knocks thru the handlebars as if something is just a little loose when running over imperfections on the road. One thing I saw in the manual is there are torque settings for 2 bolts that are under the lower fork leg pinch bolts. When I look under each fork leg I see an opening where the front axel is visible, but there are no bolts. I dont even see any threads. any ideas what could be causing this?
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fish_antlers
Administrator
The Truth is Out There
Posts: 21871
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posted October 12, 2015 12:33 PM
number one cause would.be front tire pressure. number two would be front tire wear or cupping from incorrect inflation or simply hard riding. how many miles on the tires? what brand / model and what pressures are you running?
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What business is it of yours where I'm from, Friendo?
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JGIG73
Novice Class
Posts: 39
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posted October 12, 2015 12:39 PM
Right around 6k miles on Mich Pilot Road 3's typically inflated to 38psi
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fish_antlers
Administrator
The Truth is Out There
Posts: 21871
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posted October 12, 2015 02:27 PM
6k miles they are probably done either cupped or worn into a different profile.
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What business is it of yours where I'm from, Friendo?
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JGIG73
Novice Class
Posts: 39
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posted October 12, 2015 03:32 PM
Edited By: JGIG73 on 12 Oct 2015 16:34
Here is something else I didnt mention. Right before this started I noticed my front wheel was a slight degree off from when my handlebars are centered. I figured my forks where a little tweeked from all the shitty roads here in NJ. The bike didnt exhibit any problems at all, but being OCD when it comes to this type of stuff I decided the fix the issue. I used this tutorial to re-align the forks in the clamps. Essentially I had the bike on a rear stand, loosened the following to where they are all turnable by hand: steering stem nut, the 4 bolts in the lower fork clamps, the lower fork pinch bolts, the calipers, the front fender and the front axel. Then gave the top clamp a few good pushes straight down before torquing all the loose parts to spec. The front wheel was aligned again with the handlebars, however this problem arose right after I did the work. I just went over all the bolts again with a torque wrench tonight and they are all in spec. I noticed when I brake hard or soft I can really feel the problem. Its like a loose clunk feeling in the handlebars but ever so slightly. I checked the top clamp bolt tolerances as well all is in spec. Also checked the upper fairing stay bolts.
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fish_antlers
Administrator
The Truth is Out There
Posts: 21871
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posted October 12, 2015 04:32 PM
okay... try this then:
http://www.bikeland.org/bridges/the-home-depot-frame-check.html
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What business is it of yours where I'm from, Friendo?
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zx12mark
Pro
Posts: 1653
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posted October 12, 2015 05:14 PM
Tire`s on sport bikes start going away after 3000 miles.I milkem to 5000 then burn the rear off at the track then spoon on a new set.
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JGIG73
Novice Class
Posts: 39
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posted October 13, 2015 06:11 PM
I redid the fork alignment today and the bike rides great. Doesnt pull, rides straight with no hands on the bars everything seems good. The issue is when I brake. I think this was the problem all along. Here is what Im experiencing.
Jacked up the front and spun the wheel, I noticed a fair amount of brake drag. The wheel spins freely but I can hear brake drag on the rotors and it causes the spin to slow down is this normal? I inspected the rotors as they moved for any apparent warping.. no visible problems. I disassembled the calipers (I usually do this once a month or so) and scrubbed everything with dish soap. I noticed when I pumped the lever all 4 pistons where not coming out evenly. One was stuck on one side and two on the other. After a good scrubbing both sides where working but still not exactly even. Some pistons come out faster than others. Im thinking there is uneven pressure on the rotors and Im not getting a linear feel resulting in feedback thru the handlebars when braking. it depends on how hard I brake. If I brake hard I dont feel it, its usually light braking when I do. I was watching the Dave Moss vid on brake cleaning and this is exactly what he was talking about. After I did the work on the calipers, its brakes way better, but there is still a slight bit of feedback under light braking. Could the seals be the issue for uneven piston movement?
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INTIMIDA2OR
Needs a life
RED rider!
Posts: 13081
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posted October 14, 2015 08:39 AM
quote: Here is something else I didnt mention. Right before this started I noticed my front wheel was a slight degree off from when my handlebars are centered. I figured my forks where a little tweeked from all the shitty roads here in NJ. The bike didnt exhibit any problems at all, but being OCD when it comes to this type of stuff I decided the fix the issue. I used this tutorial to re-align the forks in the clamps. Essentially I had the bike on a rear stand, loosened the following to where they are all turnable by hand: steering stem nut, the 4 bolts in the lower fork clamps, the lower fork pinch bolts, the calipers, the front fender and the front axel. Then gave the top clamp a few good pushes straight down before torquing all the loose parts to spec. The front wheel was aligned again with the handlebars, however this problem arose right after I did the work. I just went over all the bolts again with a torque wrench tonight and they are all in spec. I noticed when I brake hard or soft I can really feel the problem. Its like a loose clunk feeling in the handlebars but ever so slightly. I checked the top clamp bolt tolerances as well all is in spec. Also checked the upper fairing stay bolts.
The clunk you hear when braking is most likely the steering head bearing spanner nuts are loose.
The spanner nuts are under the top tripple clamp . The front end needs to be off the ground with no weight from the bike on the front end to work on it and level too. The best way imho to adjust the steering bearings is1st remove the tip clamp, loosen the top spanner nut , tighten the lower spanner just to the point that ot stops turning. Then partially install the top clamp with the handle bars off to the side as to not interfere with the movement with the steering moving fom stop to stop.
The goal now is to see if the steering will turn left and right smoothly and without bouncing off the stops when you let go of the steering. Now if the steering turns but doesen't quite make it to the stops when you let go of the steering then the spanner nut is too tight. The steering must be able to fall freely to the steering stops but not bounce off the stops. That bounce indicates loose.
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'06 Passion Red ZX-14
*Lee*
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JGIG73
Novice Class
Posts: 39
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posted October 14, 2015 02:47 PM
Edited By: JGIG73 on 14 Oct 2015 18:01
Going to have to get a steering nut wrench.
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JGIG73
Novice Class
Posts: 39
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posted October 20, 2015 08:10 AM
Any way to adjust these spanners other than using the OEM steering wrench? I dont want to destroy them with a screwdriver and hammer, and I dont want to wait 2 weeks to get one from Partszilla.
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INTIMIDA2OR
Needs a life
RED rider!
Posts: 13081
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posted October 20, 2015 09:31 AM
quote: Any way to adjust these spanners other than using the OEM steering wrench? I dont want to destroy them with a screwdriver and hammer, and I dont want to wait 2 weeks to get one from Partszilla.
A small pipe wrench can do it if you are careful with it.
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'06 Passion Red ZX-14
*Lee*
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