hi all, i got an '02 R1 about a week ago, and just last night i noticed that when i get on the front brake decently hard, or even if i hold the brake and push back and forth pretty hard (compressing the forks), or roll backwards and nail the front brake, i hear a little clicking sound coming from somewhere in the front end. it almost sounds like a little pebble or sand or something is rattling around some plastic, but that's not what it is... just that kind of little clicking noise though... it didn't do it the first few days i had it, just the last couple.

does the steering head need to be tighened, is that what would cause that noise or is it something worse (more $$$)?
thanks!

The brakes have fully floating pucks and make a clicking noise. It's normal. However, it is a good idea to check your steeing bearings every 10k miles or so...

jack

 

thanks jack... i hope the clicking noise from the pucks is what i'm hearing. the bike did just turn 10k miles last night, so i'll get those bearings checked soon.

thanks!
robb

ps - up until this week, i thought the brakes on my yzf600r were awesome... damn have i been missing out

 

update.... last night i was pulling in the drive way, which has a nice little curb-like bump at the entry and that clicking noise happened.. i wasn't even on the brakes...

anything else it could be?

thanks!

 

I have the same problem and can't figure it out

have checked everything..

????

to me its like the fork legs are clicking but not really!!!!

 

Sounds like stearing head bearings to me.
If the previous owner was a wheely fiiend then chances are they are toast.

Get them checked first.

 

what do new steering head bearings cost? :-(

 

I've got an 03 with 3,800 miles. It's been making this noise for the past 1,500 or so, and i've been up and down the front end and can't find it either. Every thing feels solid. The only thing i could think of is, I have my turn signals off and, the clips might be shaking around inside the fairing or, i might not have put the the plastics back on perfectly somewhere on my last oil change. It is somewhat nerve racking but(don't quote me) i'm not to worried.........

 

check the brake pads, Mine float a little in the caliper , and make a clicking noise, do a slow roll and listen for it with brakes off , if you apply the brakes and it goes away it the brake pads, . or Put the bike on a front stand rotate the wheel and look closely at the brake pads for movement in the caliper. AD.

 

what do new steering head bearings cost? :-(

try tightening the steering head first and see what happens, also tighten the aluminium bolts on the triple tree, bearings may still be in working order so may not have to buy those.

 

Definitly expect some noise from the brake pads, like everyone else has said. They float, and rattle like a mo-fo. If you can feel this noise in your hands, "like i can" definitly check your nut on top of your neck. If it's never been checked, you can bet it's backed off.

My 04 only has like 3500 miles on it, and it's already backed off a 1/4 turn.

 

i can definitely "feel" the noise on my handlebars and hands. I'd better tighten the steering nut soon.

 

front end click

ok, so my 2010 R1 (3000 miles) also started misbehaving in this way. I also feel the "click" when pushing the bike, or when sitting on it, front brake pulled in and slightly tilting the bike from side to side.
its driving me mad!!!
I've had the dealership check the headraces/bearings. Dealer said its fine so tried it myself, bike on stand,front raised...no play whatsover.
I've noticed the steering damper has a click when you quickly jerk it from left to right, so I've unbolted it to rule it out.
I've also tightened to bottom nut on the steering stem by 1/8 of a turn clockwise, re-assembled top yolk but still feel the damn click.
I feel it especially when riding over reflectors on the road at slow speed.

What may have triggered this?
1.) had to brake really hard to avoid crashing into an a55h0le! (surely R1's are designed to cope with this)
2.) new indicators on the fairings (have ensured its all snug and taped onto existing wiring
3.) installed crash bungs on frame and front forks (all torqued correctly)

Anyone else on a 09- R1 with same issues?

 

Gentlemen! You have answered your own question over and over, its the steering head bearings! Strip, clean and re-grease your standard head bearings, they do a reasonable job. Download the WSM to get the correct tightening/torque specs and keep checking them on a regular basis i.e. six months if riding hard/ every day esp. if you wheelie a lot. These bearings are mounted in an aluminium frame remember, so something has to give, marginally. If you want, as I do, fit taper roller bearings in there instead of the standard bearings, these can be tightened up slightly more than the standard bearings and improve front end feel.
A word on the brake discs, they are not full floating discs, they are semi floating discs, I'm not splitting hairs here, there is a distinct difference between the two.
Do a search on here for the proper method of adjusting the steering head bearings and then on how to align your forks properly, you will notice/feel the difference!

 

Check your forks. I had the same problem with mine twice on two different R1's and it's because the springs weren't seated properly.


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floating rotors !