Knocking noise and front headlights
 

I own an 04 SV650s and I get a sharp metallic knocking noise from the front if I hit a small hole in the road at low/high speed.

I thought it was head or front wheel bearings but they seem to be tight, is it possible that the front discs are hitting the calipers because that's now what it sounds like? I bought the bike last summer with just 600 miles on the clock and even now it's only done 2.5k. I had it in the shop under warranty but, unsurprisingly, the mechanic said he couldn't find anything (they just can't be bothered with 'minor' problems).

Also, is it usual for high beam to come on if accelerating hard in first gear? (I also asked the mechanic to look at this but you know the response...)

BonzoDog

re front end thumping - "they all do that sir"
re headlight - new one on me

new fork springs and thicker oil will help the front, probably not completely eradicate it.

Yep, my fornt end does it, no worries, they all do.

I had the indicator light of mine flicker slightly at very high speed, I think there may just be some electrical-overloading-doowagy-McProblem. No worries!


Ok, ok, I don't know :oops:

I wondered if the headlights was an overload - I'm running a fairly crappy non-descript battery type, but it still seeems odd.

I'm familiar with the front end thud on most bikes but this is a proper 'crack', real metal on metal. Someone said it might be the fork internals though it still sounds like it's coming from the brakes. What's inside the forks on SVs, is it just springs or is there a cartridge? (the suggestion was that there may be a cartridge in their rattling about but that sounds a bit 80s to me)

Cheers

The knocking is definitely your forks I cured mine with Progressive springs. :thumbsup:

As all pretty much all have said. The knocking noise is normal for a standard set up at the front. This is due to crap springs. It's nothing to worry about, but if you want to be rid of it, change the springs and oil.

The headlight, I would hazard a guess that you have a shorting wire somewhere. Trace the wires from the headlight through to the switch gear, I would not be surprised if you had a loose or shorting wire somewhere along the line somewhere.

Check the plug socket that attaches to the headlight, that is a usual suspect and worth checking out first.

That's funny the Progressives didn't get rid of mine. :o
The discs and calipers are both floating so they clunk as well