Noise coming from the front

LordShaftesbu... · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Sep 2008 Karma :

I've recently noticed a noise coming from the front of my Street Triple.

Trouble is, it's kind of hard to describe, and I can't remember if it was there before! It's not a clicking or a thumping, kind of a grinding noise I suppose. It sounds exactly like ball bearings running round a ballrace, which leads me to suspect the front wheel bearings.

I can't tell if I'm just being paranoid or if it's genuinely getting worse. With my visor open it's quite loud. It starts at around 20mph and gets louder with speed.

It's even easier to hear if I shut the throttle and pull the clutch in, although I haven't noticed any difference in the way the bike coasts. There's no vibrations or anything through the handlebars.

I don't have a front paddock stand otherwise I'd lift the wheel and see if it's spinning freely.

I had a minor off a few months ago, if the front wheel locked up again I'd have the exact same accident which I'd never be able to live down, I think that's contributing to my paranoia:
https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=220912

Any ideas? The bike will be garaged for the winter at some point, is it safe to ride until then or should I really get it checked out?

MarkJ · World Chat Champion Joined: 11 Apr 2006 Karma :

If you could get someone to help you, you could lift the front wheel up using the sidestand. You just pull the handlebars back and pull the bike onto the sidestand and rear wheel which lifts the front.

spyuggy · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 29 Aug 2011 Karma :

When you had your off, I noticed there was a bit of front end damage, it is possible that the bearings were damaged then, if you find it is the bearings rumbling, then, as you probably know, replace them and have the wheel alignment checked.
Best of luck mate.
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Walloper · Super Spammer Joined: 24 Feb 2005 Karma :

Clean the brakes?
Wear an iPod?
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Ichy · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Jul 2005 Karma :

You'll not be happy unless someone checks its out. Try to find a friend and lean the bike over on the sidestand. Lean it enough and the front wheel will lift off the ground. Get friend to spin the wheel and see what happens.

My experience is that dodgy wheel bearing tend to whine at speed.
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LordShaftesbu... · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Sep 2008 Karma :

Well I swung by my Triumph dealer on the way home and they agreed to take a quick look there and then. They lifted the front wheel and tried to move it side-to-side, and spun it (rather slowly). I told them that the noise doesn't start till about 20mph but they said that's the way they usually check the bearings and there's nothing wrong that they can see. I think they thought I was a bit mental. Oh god, am I mental? Sad

Walloper · Super Spammer Joined: 24 Feb 2005 Karma :

Howling TerrorOutOfOffice · Super Spammer Joined: 05 Dec 2008 Karma :

£30 paddock stands. Thumbs Up

FWIW when the front wheel bearing went on my bike there were no noises. I was questioning myself on rideouts...not all the time but through certain corners it didn't feel right. Best described as riding on overbanding. Didn't weave or make the bike run wide...just sometimes felt different.
On the stand and i could feel less than a mill of movement.
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LordShaftesbu... · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Sep 2008 Karma :

Howling TerrorOutOfOffice · Super Spammer Joined: 05 Dec 2008 Karma :

Sorry didn't fully explain.

It didn't collapse. Thank eff. No it had a very slight movement. I pushed the brake pistons back in and spun the wheel. Looked and sounded fine. When i wiggled the wheel that was when i could feel and see the play around the spindle.
It may of lasted many more miles. For £13 i changed them.
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MickC · Spanner Monkey Joined: 27 May 2011 Karma :

Have you inspected the calipers, are they catching on the disks?

I had a wheel bearing start to go last year. When the wheel was off the ground and spun by hand it was fine, above 30/40 the wheel made a noise I suppose a bit like you described but quit high pitched. when i took the wheel off and checked the bearings one turned smoothly the other was slightly jerky. But i could only tell when i moved them with my finger.
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LordShaftesbu... · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Sep 2008 Karma :

Well that's annoying. I was hoping to go on a ride out tomorrow but there's no way I'm riding the bike with it making the noise it is. It's got worse since I took it into the Triumph garage last Thursday.

I called them but they said they can't do the work till Monday.

I thought maybe I could buy new bearings from Triumph then take the bike somewhere else to get them changed, but after calling round other garages they said they can't help either as apparently you need a special tool that's the right size.

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