When I first bought my bike the ride felt smooth and not very much vibration on the palms..

Now whenever I hit a bump on the road or something there's this thunk sound around the triple and neck of the frame area. Plus I can almost feel all vibrations from the engine on the palm of my hand. It feels like the front end is loose or stiff making it a hard ride. What do you guys think this could be and do you think a steering stabilizer would help. I know the left fork side leaks a bit when compressed and uncompressed, but I know there is fluid still inside. I've tried the softest and hardest settings on the forks and rear but it doesnt make a difference.

 

How's the front tire tread? Evenly worn? TP okay?

Check the stem bearing torque. Could be lose or worn bearings. Fork fluid levels ok? Damping set the same on both sides?

Gotta be careful with a loose stem. You can get a tank slapper going if you hit a ridge or something to excite it. At speed, those can be ugly.

Have a shop check it out if you're not sure.

--Paul

 

id say have a shop look at it. you should get your forks worked on to fix your seal. that can be indicative of a crash or wreck. could have damaged your steeting stem. Hell, the frame could be cracked and you wouldnt even be able to tell unless you looked.

 

your steering stem is loose. Nothing major. Take the top tripple off and there are 2 thin nuts (if you want to call them that). Take a hammer and flatblade screwdriver and tighten the bottom nut. All it did was work its way lose. same thing happpened to my bike. I only felt it when I was braking or hit a bump. After you tighten the botton nut, tighten up the top nut, this acts as a locknut. If there are lose, you feel the bumps more and there is play in the berrings and steering stem. Just tighten back up and you will be fine. There is no need for a steering stabilizer either on this bike

 

THanks man thats exactly wat it was.. After i removed the top triple, the 2 nuts were so loose you could loosen it by hand so i unbent the tabs and tighted the 2 nuts, bent the tabs back on and everything is back to normal.. Thanks a bunch

 

No problem. Glad to help. Iwas clueless too on mine till my mechanic buddy told me what to look at and sure enough it was loose as a goose.

 

Anyone have a picture of what this looks like or some step by step directions (I'm not trying to sound ignorant xtremef4i, because your directions do seem clear and easy, but I am just wondering if I have the same problem because I can feel the vibrations too on my 04 F4i and I am just trying to figure out what comes off and what stays on). I looked at the manual and a part fiche picture but still can't seem to see what you are talking about.

If I try this myself, do I just take off the steering stem nut (main central nut), unloosen the two bolts for the suspension tubes and then will I see these thin nuts?

Thanks.

 

I just picked up an 02 F4i a few weeks ago and after reading this thread I really want to check my steering stem bolts.

I've been getting weird palm vibrations and strange noises when I'm turning or braking and low speeds.

Any pictures available of these "thin bolts" so I know what to look for?

 

Okay, so I took the bike out for a little 5 minute ride (I think I am back in the sattle, hopefully, since I haven't been on the bike since I went down) and I did feel the looseness of the steering stem/neck of the front of the bike. It wasn't really bad, but I can feel a little movement when I squeeze my brakes and jerk the bike a little. Does that mean I have the same or similar problem?

Any extra help would be great as I don't want anything to get any worse off.

Thanks.

 

just take the big nut off the center of the top tripple and lossen the bolt on each side of the tripple that is clamped to the fork tubes. Take the clip ons off to which is only a pinch bolt on each side. Slide the top tripple off, and you will see the nuts I am talking about on the steering stem. There is a lock washer type thing with tabs on it. bent the tabs up and tighten the bottem nut, then jam the top nut onto that and push the lock tabs back in place. it sounde goofey, but once you take the top tripple off you will be able to see them clear as day. Hope this helps