Front end 'clunk', headstock bearings? - SV650.org

14-01-12, 08:21 PM

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,

Biker Biggles · 14-01-12, 08:25 PM

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

14-01-12, 08:33 PM

I get the clunk too but everything's fine.

andrewsmith · 14-01-12, 08:41 PM

The clunk is normal

14-01-12, 08:55 PM

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,

johnnyrod · 14-01-12, 10:12 PM

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

17-01-12, 01:14 PM

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,

17-01-12, 01:45 PM

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

17-01-12, 01:57 PM

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,

17-01-12, 10:06 PM

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

14-01-12, 08:21 PM	#1
BoostFairy Guest Posts: n/a	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,

14-01-12, 08:25 PM	#2
Biker Biggles Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Barnet Herts Posts: 5,071	Re: Headstock bearings? That clunk is normal and nothing to worry about if you cant feel any play.They all do it. __________________ On a clear day we stand there and look further than the ordinary eye can see.

14-01-12, 08:33 PM	#3
Scythe92 Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Headstock bearings? I get the clunk too but everything's fine.

14-01-12, 08:41 PM	#4
andrewsmith Member Mega Poster Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, Just south of salad dodging country Posts: 7,750	Re: Headstock bearings? The clunk is normal __________________ RIP Reeder 20/07/1988 - 21/03/2012. Always missed squire!!! Every year we meet old friends, gain some new ones, lose old ones and you always remember them all. “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” Mahatma Gandhi

14-01-12, 08:55 PM	#5
BoostFairy Guest Posts: n/a	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,

14-01-12, 10:12 PM	#6
johnnyrod Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Doncaster, oop norf Posts: 2,128	Re: Headstock bearings? I thikn it's the fork internals slapping against the insides, it's normal

17-01-12, 01:14 PM	#7
BoostFairy Guest Posts: n/a	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,

17-01-12, 01:45 PM	#8
JON69 Guest Posts: n/a	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!!!

17-01-12, 01:57 PM	#9
BoostFairy Guest Posts: n/a	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,

17-01-12, 10:06 PM	#10
chrisinflight Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Front end 'clunk', headstock bearings? Umm, I too have a clonk when going over speedbumps and potholes. 2001 curvy.

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