ROADSTER FRONT FORKS

[Rocket Scientist]

Sounds like my bed every morning...

Mine too ! It's really noisy if there are two of us in there

 

[Rocket Scientist]

I try to use the the ole' Hardley wisdom an worry about it when it quits making noise...........

 

[Steel]

You sleep with your bike?!?

She said it was either "her or the bike". Easy choice!

 

[1olbull]

Sounds like my bed every morning...

Thanks a lot, Andy!
Me thinks I am good to go!

 

[1olbull]

I believe what you are hearing is the brake discs. They are floaters and will "clunk" when you apply the brakes when rocking the bike or even moving it slowly. No worries; just the gap at the retainers being taken up.

What spring rate are the new Progressive fork springs? The stock ones are way, way too soft.

@Boog ,
It actually confuses me a little given the R3T we ran across with the same noise was under 10,000 miles as well. Thanks for your response.

@Speedy,
I do not know the spring rate. I know they are stiffer and superior to the stockers as I have used them in other motors. That's good enough for me, at least until I can have a complete cartridge, emulator system designed and made.

 

[Mittzy]

We just finished installing Progressive fork springs and 15w fork oil in my 2012 Roadster. Everything went great (especially with the special tool). When everything was back together and ready to ride, I was sitting on the bike holding the front brake, and pumping the front suspension. We noticed a clunking noise from the forks, so we checked the steering head and it was loose. Snugged up the steering head bearings; but, the clunking remained. I took it for a ride and everything felt great, the clunking is only noticeable at a stop.

We were gonna tear back into the forks to see what might have gone wrong when we decided to get lunch . . . wonder of wonders, we passed a parked Rocket 3 touring (yea, I know different forks). We found the owner, he pumped on the forks and found the same clunking as ours!

I would appreciate if a few of you would sit on your bikes, hold on the front brakes, and pump the forks up & down to see if this is a normal/common sound.
Thanks,
1olbull

Do you have pics of the process?
Which springs did you get?
What special tool?
Details MAN!!!!!!!
Well done by the way.

 

[CanberraR3]

Thanks a lot, Andy!
Me thinks I am good to go!

Steve, I was worried about the same noise and was sure it was in the forks. I could even feel it if I put my hand on the fork leg; led me to changing fork seals and put Progressive springs in while I was at it. But of course the noise was still there. Then I realised it was the floating disc moving on the retainers. Mine had quite a bit of play in them, both front to back and side to side, which I found was abnormal even for a bike with a lot more miles on it than mine. I had about 60,000km on mine at the time - about 40,000 miles.

I managed to get hold of some almost new discs from Trev's Spare Parts Emporium for a good price and swapped them out when I did the next tyre change. Problem fixed, although there is still some noise when I hold the brake on and work the forks up an down. Perfectly normal. If the clunking gets really loud, check the play in your discs for excessive movement - excessive being that it's really loose and wiggles easily.

 

[1olbull]

Steve, I was worried about the same noise and was sure it was in the forks. I could even feel it if I put my hand on the fork leg; led me to changing fork seals and put Progressive springs in while I was at it. But of course the noise was still there. Then I realised it was the floating disc moving on the retainers. Mine had quite a bit of play in them, both front to back and side to side, which I found was abnormal even for a bike with a lot more miles on it than mine. I had about 60,000km on mine at the time - about 40,000 miles.

I managed to get hold of some almost new discs from Trev's Spare Parts Emporium for a good price and swapped them out when I did the next tyre change. Problem fixed, although there is still some noise when I hold the brake on and work the forks up an down. Perfectly normal. If the clunking gets really loud, check the play in your discs for excessive movement - excessive being that it's really loose and wiggles easily.

Thanks Mate! After tightening up the steer bearings and finding it still there, I decided to keep an eye on it and not be concerned as my V2k has a similar clunk as well. Anxious to give the Progressive spring a run before heading off to RAA IX in Colorado in a week or so.

 

[1olbull]

Do you have pics of the process?
Which springs did you get?
What special tool?
Details MAN!!!!!!!
Well done by the way.

@Mittzy
Mate, It's called "FORK SPRING COMPRESSOR" and cost me $41.19 at "BikeBandit.com"
It is necessary to do the job on these upside down forks. Easy to use and works pretty cool.
I installed the Progressive springs and used 10# fork oil. Sorry, no pix, my friend - my hands and brains were in full use.

 

[Idaho Red Rocket 3]

Hi Steve,

I purchased the fork tool and I'm doing my seals today. Got some uprate springs from Patriot Suspension to try. Changing seals because left side tube has a sweaty leak. What do I need to know ? I was thinking about using 7.5 fork oil as some have said 10 was a little to stiff.

Bill.