Bandit 600 front-end clunk sound

[chris_hu_cheng]

Got my first big bike on Monday spent the last few few days riding it around. Is a Bandit 600 Mk1 with stupidly low mileage (which may be a factor) has had a bit of action in the last year or so (a few thousand miles). An rides really well (based on my limited experience).

There is however a noticeable 'clunk' from the front-end that seems to happen when the forks are compressed a little (they will happily compress further after the clunk. Sounds a bit like the clunk you get when you pop it into first but only about half as load.

If I bounce the front suddenly (using my not inconsiderable weight or pushing the bike and pulling front brake hard, I don't seem to get it.

Steering is smooth riding slow or fast and during slow speed manoeuvres.

If I take the weight off the front, bars move freely from lock to lock,

Brakes work well including a couple of practiced emergency stops.

If I brace front wheel with my legs there is no free play when I put pressure on the bars.

There is no free-play in the wheel, brake calipers or discs and I have gone through every nut and bolt on the front-end looking for something missing or loose, there isn't anything, and nothing else loose or knocking that I can find.

I don't have a lot of experience with bikes yet, should I be worried? Best I can make out from searching is a change of fork oil might be called for.

It is a bit annoying when going slow on slight bumpy surfaces (very bumpy surfaces aren't an issue as the forks appear to have to uncompress fully before you can get another 'clunk') but once you get up any speed or revs there the noise is drowned out.

[jaffa90]

May be the front brake pads are rattling /moving? (anti rattle springs)

[chris_hu_cheng]

[wr6133]

Might be the brake disk, is there lots of movement on the bobbins?

[chris_hu_cheng]

[chris_hu_cheng]

[Baffler186]

I had the same on my SV, particularly noticeable over humps and potholes. Turned out to be new discs required. Fitted new discs and the problem went away. There was pretty much no movement in the discs before this, I can only assume that when still and in situ one can't generate enough force with one's hands to replicate the clunk
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Current: 2009 SV650 S, 1990 Kawasaki GT550
Previous: 2009 CBF125, 1998 GSF600, 2004 FZ6 Fazer, 1978 CB400a Hondamatic

[chris_hu_cheng]

[doggone]

You might check for steering head bearing wear.
Jack up the front and see if the bars have the feel of dropping into a slight notch roughly straight ahead.
I'd go for brakes though, it might sort itself with more use.

[talkToTheHat]

I'd be checking the head bearings, catch it early and it's an easy adjustment. Late and it's new bearings.
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Bandit. does. everything.