Xtremespeed
Expert Class
Posts: 415
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posted May 19, 2007 01:20 PM
Loud clack when hitting bumps?
I have always had this loud clack sound in the front when I hit the lip of my driveway, or other sharp bumps in the road. I've also noticed the noise if I grab the front brake hard and dip the front end suddenly while rolling. I had this same noise on my 12 and never found the cause. I checked everything I could think of when I changed wheels and tires recently, but didn't find anything loose. Anyone else experience this? What can I check?
  
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blackbullet76
Pro
Posts: 1134
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posted May 19, 2007 01:47 PM
I hear it too on my 07 14. I too have checked every bolt. The only thing I can think of is it might be the brake pads jarring around a little. Sounds crazy, but that's all I can think of.
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2007 ZX-14 black
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icdumpeple
Novice Class
Posts: 46
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posted May 19, 2007 01:57 PM
I have heard the same thing a time or two but never found anything. It sounds to me as if something inside the fairing is slapping the plastic, wireing harness connector maybe?
Not sure.
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cjbrown
Parking Attendant
Posts: 7
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posted May 19, 2007 02:02 PM
Did you lower your bike any? I lowered mine and thats when I noticed the noise. It had to be a certain type of bump though. A sharp dip rather than a progressive. I lowered mine about 1 1/2 inches. I investigated the noise by pulling the front fender off. There was a small dimple in the top of the fender where the brake line mounts had been hitting it. I raised the bike up a about 3/4 of an inch, and it helped a lot. Now it rarely does it. I like it lowered so, I guess I'll stiffen up the shocks.
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Xtremespeed
Expert Class
Posts: 415
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posted May 19, 2007 02:06 PM
No, it's not lowered. Mine is the same. Has to be a sharp type bump. Sounds like it comes from the front fender area, but hard to tell.
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cjbrown
Parking Attendant
Posts: 7
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posted May 19, 2007 02:16 PM
Check the top of your front fender to see if it has a small dimple under where your brake lines are mounted to the forks. I know mine hit hear from the impression it made. A stock bike may also do it if the bump is bad enough. Its worth checking. You may can feel it with your hand, but you will most likely have to take it off and look.
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stevewfl
Moderator
Posts: 27920
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posted May 19, 2007 02:31 PM
The only time i hear a loud clack is when the ultra-soft ZX14 suspension bottoms out which is often.
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2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
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Xtremespeed
Expert Class
Posts: 415
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posted May 19, 2007 02:40 PM
It's in the fender somewhere. I took it off a minute ago, and went for a ride up the block and back. Noise gone. Now, what to do to fix it. I don't see the dimple you are talking about. Everything looks ok, however, you can hold the fender in one hand and bump it with the other, and it makes all kinds of racket. Most of it seems to be in the louvers that are screwed to the sides.
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Xtremespeed
Expert Class
Posts: 415
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posted May 19, 2007 05:29 PM
Thought it was the louvers. It's not. Removed them and reinstalled the fender and the noise is still there. It's loud. The sound transmitts up through the forks and sounds like it's in the upper triple clamp, but when I remove the fender it goes away. This is driving me nuts.
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CrotchRocket
Moderator
Bracket Racing with Betsy
Posts: 8038
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posted May 19, 2007 05:35 PM
You guys need to tighten compression of the fork springs 1 to 2 full turns clockwise, along with the rebound and compression a couple clicks/turns clockwise...Try that and maybe another click/turn...
If that does not work, then check the steering neck, the head bolt and neck lock maybe loose enough to make the neck flex causing the sound your describing...
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*****DragRacers do it better, because they dont cut Corners*****
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Xtremespeed
Expert Class
Posts: 415
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posted May 19, 2007 09:34 PM
Nevermind. I'm a dumb ass. Hehe!
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bigdtd
Needs a job
Interceptors
Posts: 4209
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posted May 20, 2007 03:10 AM
 Edited By: bigdtd on 20 May 2007 07:11
definitely tighten up your front springs, i have the black nut on the top of the forks all the way in, but i'm a big guy
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himile14
Expert Class
Posts: 424
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posted May 20, 2007 05:21 AM
Tighten up the suspension, if that does not work (at the risk of sounding like a broken record ) change your front fork oil. The stuff they put in there at the factory well it's not the highest quality. I stick with what's the manual suggests but you can talk to one of the shop guys to see how a thicker/thinner fork oil will effect your suspension. I don't want to assume anything here.
Rob
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Old Guy
Expert Class
Posts: 470
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posted May 20, 2007 10:58 AM
1st; Make your steering stem bearings arent loose (common Prob.) and a must do to prevent BIGGER problems. Get the front end off the ground and pull forward on the forks. If there is any movement tighten immediately!!!!
Seeing how you got a picture of you wheeling on your post I wonder if its too late?
2nd; Dial up your dampening (both ends compression and rebound) as crotch rocket suggests. If nothing else it sure makes the bike more stable, period. ( Also fixed my "clack" over bumps as you describe.)
The stock settings are fine for Harley riders, but not canyon carving.
3rd,; Thanks I just found the rattle at 1,500 -2500 rpm that bugged me!! Double back tape by 3M fixed the fender/air foil thing.
4th; Then dial up your preload. Unless you are a big dude. Then you should do it with the dampening adjustment asap. I'm 185 lbs. and am now going to adjust my preload as the stock springs are settling too much after 5000 miles.
____________
Living the good life...,
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And a whole bunch of other stuff.
97 zx6r full race bike with all the
good stuff
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Xtremespeed
Expert Class
Posts: 415
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posted May 20, 2007 04:19 PM
See my last post!
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stevewfl
Moderator
Posts: 27920
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posted May 20, 2007 06:43 PM
quote:
Nevermind. I'm a dumb ass. Hehe!
naw you aren't but do tell the funny story mang!.....
____________
2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
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Xtremespeed
Expert Class
Posts: 415
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posted May 21, 2007 03:21 PM
Almost don't want to. I mounted my radar sensor under the nose. I was sure the fender wasn't moving up far enough to contact it. I was wrong. Oops! Seems like I heard the noise before I added the sensor though. Maybe some of it was in the louvers. I put some adhesive backed felt over the mounting tabs to snug them up when I had the fender off.
I wonder what the noise was on my 12 though. I didn't have that radar detector setup on it. I would swear it was the same sound.
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stevewfl
Moderator
Posts: 27920
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posted May 21, 2007 05:48 PM
thanks for sharing, thats something along the lines of what I'd do too
____________
2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
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icdumpeple
Novice Class
Posts: 46
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posted May 21, 2007 06:13 PM
No radar sensor under my nose. I will be getting the front end up this week.
Thanks!
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