major bar jerks and general front-end problems

Last week I posted about my wobbly front-end. After checking the headrace bearing, cleaning breaks, tyre condition and pressures, chain, wheel alinment etc, nothing has really worked.

I've still got the small wave happening at anything over walking pace and now I've got more frequent clunking noise which is happening ever 2 or 3 seconds. I've already described the noise as a clunk mixed with a farting noise but its now more of a shlunk noise. I'm sure it's coming from either the calipers or the hub of the front wheel. Also this morning, it descended into a full blow squeeling noise, almost as if I were in a car with a loose fan-belt! I pulled the clutch in and coasted to a stop and it didn't happen again, I thought I front tyre was about to explode or something.

Today the roads are lovely and dry for once but instead of toe-down action, I'm reduced to riding like a learner again, scared incase I'm about to loose the front-end on even the slightest bend.

I'm almost thinking of putting it into a garage I'm that lost, and it being christmas and all I don't really want to (christmas money is for a new lid not a bloody spanner bill)! Advise would be most gratefully received as always.

Do you know the history of the bike? has it been smashed up and repaired? Are the folks straight?
Does the Front Wheel spin freely?

I bought new at the start of 2004. My only spill was a 10mph lowside at knockhill and the R&Gs saved the day, forks are perfect and no visable leaks or anything.

I've not been able to get the wheel put to spin it but I guess that's the next thing to do.

Check if the front wheel is straight and spins true. It could have twisted in the crash or in the folks...if it's wonky...there you go.
If the SV had a main stand then doing this would be easy. A front wheel paddock stand or plenty of pals and beer crates...

I'll try and borrow a big jack of my dad.

I came off way back in September or October 2004, seems unlikely that it would take more than a year for bent forks or wonky front wheel symptoms to manifest?

Thanks.

Mmmm Yes you are right but other things can come into play....Tyre wear, tyre pressure, even the weight of the rider.
It could be the wheel bearings...It could be the sticky brakes...Spin the wheel and see...Can take it to nice motorcycle tyre place and they may let you borrow a stand. But doubtful.
Be careful with the jack. Dont go through the engine casing or drop it. Xmas would really be no fun then and it would cost more than fixing the wheel!

I'm not really a mech but I do like interfering in the problems of others.

appreciate the help.

I'll get it up on the rear stand and use the jack to get the front off the ground just a smidge. I've heard a block of wood will help stop any damage. Will rope a few friends into helping with the promise of eggnog.

thanks again.

few things to try.

push down on the bars so the forks go up and down c if there still the noice.

take the top of the oil seal off c if there air gettin in and out via the down push

check the head that holds your headlights etc is don up tight and not lose

all bolts all over the bike all there and tight

if it is the forks change the springs and oil and seals

may aswell as it is there

Have you checked that your forks are tight in the yokes? They might also have twisted shightly in the yokes when you came off.

Just speculating, but it's best checking simple stuff before overhauling your forks, when it might not even be them!

You could get a friend to gently pull bike towards nearside with sidestand down which lifts front wheel off the ground, you could then spin it and try top & bottom shake of wheel to test if wheel bearings are okay.
Quick and easy to try !