Handlebar Knocking Sound

[astroscope]

Hi Guys,
It's been almost a week now that my handlebars on my CG125 seem to give off a slight knocking sound when i turn them.
When I'm trying to park up, moving the handlebar left-right seem to be giving off this sound. It's not terrible loud but definitely noticeable.

I took this to a mechanic and he thinks it's wheel bearings need to be replaced. He wants £45 labour and each wheel bearing costs around £7. It's far too much so I'm thinking of doing this myself.

Shall I order new bearings and have a go myself? Is this quite easy to fix?

Many thanks
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2010 Honda FES S Wing 125

[CaNsA]

Either wheel bearings, or more likely to be the headstock bearings.

[astroscope]

thanks,
I think i'll order wheel bearings from ebay. going for 7 quid for the pair.

I've also printer out the haynes manual. something i will attempt myself.

Headstock bearings?
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2010 Honda FES S Wing 125

[DrDonnyBrago]

Headstock bearings are the ones between the forks and the frame (the forks are mounted at the headstock) they are the ones that let you turn the bars easily.

To check, stick it on its centre stand and pull the front wheel back and forth, there shouldnt be any movement of the forks. Turn the bars full lock left to right and listen for grinding and check that it turns smooth.

[astroscope]

hi,yes, the mechanic did that. We stood the bike on it's centre stand and were rotating the handle bars left and right and no noise was coming.
As soon as i got on the bike, the front wheel was on the ground, it started making the noise when we rotated the wheel left/right.

I think it might be the wheel bearings but not 100% sure.
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2010 Honda FES S Wing 125

[DrDonnyBrago]

Sounds like it could be the wheel bearings, get someone else to turn the bars and listen to see where it is coming from. Your headstock could be loose or something and only making the noise when loaded.

For the sake of £7 you may as well give the wheel bearings a shot, to get the front wheel off if you dont have a suitable front stand then stick it on its centre stand and hang a backpack full of dumbells, books etc etc from the rear to lift the front wheel up.

[CaNsA]

I still reckon its the headstock, the bottom headrace to be precise, as it only happens when there is force compressing the the yokes upwards.

[Vincent]

Take the front wheel out and examine the bearings. Just put a finger on the inner race and turn it. If theres is any play or you can feel that the bearing isn't perfectly smooth, new bearings it is. You only need to feel the slightest er.........abnormality?,(struggling for the right word here)..........but when you turn the inner race with your finger, you shouldn't be able to feel anything, it should be perfectly smooth 100%.

[astroscope]

I'm hoping it's the wheel bearings as they're only 7 quid. The headstock ones are 35quid ...

But if i let the bike go as it is, will it do any damage? Can I just ignore the noise and let it be...?
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2010 Honda FES S Wing 125

[Vincent]

[astroscope]

OK Guys!!!

Latest news!

I have removed the wheel and the wheel bearings. Mind you, it was incorrect in the Haynes manual. Haynes say that you can knock one side of the wheel bearing with a large nut as a "drift"allowing the other side to fall out. That was incorrect. I did that to no joy. I took the wheel to a mechanic and he took it out by tapping a screwdriver on one side allowing it to be pulled out the other.

Anyway, the new bearings were fit in and i assembled the wheel back.
But the sad news is it still makes the sound

Someone did mention headstock bearings.
Any other suggestions?
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2010 Honda FES S Wing 125

[CaNsA]

Yes i mentioned heastock bearings.....

The only way to sort it is to replace them......

ffs