Front end 'clunk', headstock bearings?
 

Hi all,

I picked up a curvy sv650 today and after some good advice off here have started to service the bike.

TBH it runs really nicely, although not having another carb sv to compare it to within the bike/friend circle it might not be as nice as i think...

It rides well, its my first bike so haven't pushed it plus the tyres are new. However when i go over a pothole/bump i can hear a clunk from the front end, i can also feel this through the steering (slightly). I had a friend pick the font end up so i could shake the forks but i didn't feel any play (might not have been shaking hard enough!).

Any suggestions? does this sound like head stock bearings?

Thanks very much

Rob,

Re: Headstock bearings?
 

That clunk is normal and nothing to worry about if you cant feel any play.They all do it.

Re: Headstock bearings?
 

I get the clunk too but everything's fine.

Re: Headstock bearings?
 

The clunk is normal

Re: Headstock bearings?
 

Lol the perfect answer! had a ride of a friends pointy, it had a slight clunk but it wasn't as bad as mine. Is the curvy more clonky so to speak?

Also its normal to feel it through the grips slightly?

Rob,

Re: Headstock bearings?
 

I thikn it's the fork internals slapping against the insides, it's normal

Re: Front end 'clunk', headstock bearings?
 

Had a really good look at it at the weekend, as you all say its not the headstock bearings, but the actual forks. Its pretty bad tbh and nothing like the clonk of my friends SV.... after a really good search it looks like fork bushes are worn.

A good excuse to rebuild the forks with emulators and thicker oil.


Rob,

Re: Front end 'clunk', headstock bearings?
 

It's your soft standard fork springs bottoming out, you'll need to put stiffer springs and thicker oil in to stop it!!!

Re: Front end 'clunk', headstock bearings?
 

I wish, but this isn't at the bottom of travel, the clonk is there before mid travel, it does it stationary if i rock the bike.

but it will be getting thicker oil and stiffer springs when it gets rebuilt.

Rob,

Re: Front end 'clunk', headstock bearings?
 

Umm, I too have a clonk when going over speedbumps and potholes.
2001 curvy.