[R1slowflyer]

My 06 R1 is making a rattling noise in the front end when i hit the stops! Also when i hit bumps the suspension makes a slamming noise like it is extending all the way out.

My questions,

Does this sound like a common thing that i shouldn't worry about?

Is this maybe something that an adjustment to the suspesion could fix?

Anyone know of anything i should worry about with this bike?

[akira700]

steering head loose?
be careful.

[R1slowflyer]

It sounds like something loose.

The kicker is i just brought it in for a minor service and on the receipt it "claims" they check that for the correct torque.

should i bring it to another shop and have them check it out?

If i do and they find that there is something wrong is there any way i can address this with the previous shop and get my money back?

[bergs]

I have an idea....let's meet up again and I'll take your R1 and you can take my FZ1.

Seriously, I can road-diagnose that for ya no prob.

[R1slowflyer]

Alright bud you name the time and place!

[bergs]

^^
Whenever...You sure you can handle the Fizzy?

Sending PM...

[FireFly]

GRAB Your Front Brakes And Push Forward& pull back Real hard a couple of times, Listen and feel for a clicking noise from the head area. OR Put the bike on a Front stand( One that goes up into the stem. the front needs to be freely hanging. Then Grab the Front Wheel and Carefully, but forcefully Push and pull hard to feel for any play in the head bearings/stem area. Maybe check the front fender. hAHAH It could be rattling . Check your Calipers in the front and your disc (proper Torque specs)

[R1slowflyer]

i thought it might be the fender, also i don't have a stand so i cant really shake the front wheel without it being on the ground!

if i grab the front brake and push forward and pull back the suspension seems to make quite a bit of noise.

[FireFly]

Grab the front brake and do the push pull shake HARD. Try to focus on the feel and sound from the stem area. Dont listen to the suspension.

[OreoGitorio]

or just roll forward slowly then snatch at the brakes if you hear a click or two, it's the stem.

[R1slowflyer]

I just tried it again. i hear clicks, but it sounds more like the suspension.

[OreoGitorio]

www.computrackboston.com

[bergs]

Originally Posted by FireFly

Grab the front brake and do the push pull shake HARD. Try to focus on the feel and sound from the stem area. Dont listen to the suspension.

Okay...that's fine for the top bearings but the bottom bearings are still loaded and more-so when you are mashing the brakes.
The front end should ultimately come off the ground, IMO.

[RyanNicholson]

sounds like a loose stem to me, i had the same issue....easy fix

[Josephd14]

Your not shaking your head when you hear this rattling right?

[bergs]

Can I insert "ZING!" here?

[union]

Id be willing to take a look at it over the weekend if you can get here and we can fit it into my schedule. Or better yet you can call Pete and see if you can bring the bike by the shop in Bellingham and squeeze it in for a peek but its pretty busy right now.

[trickphoto]

Why don't you try dropping it?

[ChR1s]

Put the bike on a rear stand. Take the lower fairing off. Use a floor jack beneath the header to raise the front wheel off the ground -- use a piece of 2x6 or whatever between the jack and the header. Have someone hold the bike steady while you give the front wheel a tug fore & aft, feeling for any discernable movement -- I've found it much easier to feel any slop in the steering head bearings while holding a clip-on with one hand and giving the wheel a tug with the other.

If there's any play, you'll need to break out the tools.

[catch2otwo]

Originally Posted by ChR1s

Put the bike on a rear stand. Take the lower fairing off. Use a floor jack beneath the header to raise the front wheel off the ground -- use a piece of 2x6 or whatever between the jack and the header. Have someone hold the bike steady while you give the front wheel a tug fore & aft, feeling for any discernable movement -- I've found it much easier to feel any slop in the steering head bearings while holding a clip-on with one hand and giving the wheel a tug with the other.

If there's any play, you'll need to break out the tools.

are you acutally jacking up the bike with the headers? if so i dont know if its a good idea for the headers to support the weight of the bike.......

[ChR1s]

Originally Posted by catch2otwo

are you acutally jacking up the bike with the headers? if so i dont know if its a good idea for the headers to support the weight of the bike.......

Yes. I do.

[ChR1s]

Originally Posted by catch2otwo

are you acutally jacking up the bike with the headers? if so i dont know if its a good idea for the headers to support the weight of the bike.......

Here's a page out of a service manual:

[Josephd14]

I have jacked bikes i've owned under the headers many times, never had a problem.. I mean unless you have a bling bling bike and don't want the scratches to show, But I am willing to bet most of our headers look about the same, brown and discolored..

[JeffL]

Jacking the bikes up by the headers is fine.

[mmracer37]

There could be a bunch of things causing your issues. Loose steering bearings is definately a possibility. Another, which is very likely, is the springs in the forks. Your bike doesn't have spring guides, so when the forks compress, the springs bow out and hit the inside wall of the fork tubes. Very annoying, but not a huge deal. I don't know where you are, but I'd be more than happy to tell you exactly what it is. I'm sure Peter at GMD Boston can check it out for you too, if he is closer.