[PalmStateCrawler]

This has been an issue since I bought it brand new. Even the smallest bump makes a loud clunk noise from around the instrument panel. I have tried shimming the speedo and rerouting cables to no avail. I may just have to take it back to the dealer and have them figure it out. Has anyone had a similar problem?

 

[lizrdbrth]

Check your steering bearings if you can't solve it.

 

[PalmStateCrawler]

I had not thought about that but I would think it was a non-issue since it has been a problem since I drove it out of the showroom. I will ask them about that since whatever it is should be under warranty.

 

[lizrdbrth]

You trust the folks who put clutch springs on backward?



The bikes ship to the dealer 2 to a crate, complete minus the wheels, which sit next to them on the pallet. Most dealers do little more than slap them on, put gas in the tank and shove them out on the floor.



"New" don't guaranty much other than they can charge you up to an extra 700 bucks and call it "setup".



Assume nuttin'.

 

[PalmStateCrawler]

Touche'. I will take it in on wednesday and see what they have to say. And it really is hard to believe they charged me $500+ to throw some wheels on there.

They told me that if I bought another bike from them, they wouldnt charge me for "set-up" again. Lol.

 

[FortPayne]

My '94 makes the same clunk. I think it come from the cable rubbing and rattling in the loop on the front fender. That was my best guess after moving things around while in the garage. If you find its something different make sure to post so I can look at the same thing.

 

[qwerty]

The "tech" who sets up bikes is generally the same guy who cleans the bathroom.



Set up takes anywhere from a few minutes to a couple hours depending on make, model, and how closely the instructions are followed. $500? Would you like some Vaseline with that?

 

[TW_in_BC]

This has been an issue since I bought it brand new. Even the smallest bump makes a loud clunk noise from around the instrument panel. I have tried shimming the speedo and rerouting cables to no avail. I may just have to take it back to the dealer and have them figure it out. Has anyone had a similar problem?

I have had this same problem since I bought mine 6 years ago.

I thought that replacing the shock oil might fix it - didn't!

Thought maybe replacing the steering head bearings might fix it - didn't!



So the only thing left in that vicinity, is the clump of wiring behind the headlight, slapping around over the bumps. But like most "noises" this critter makes, this one hasn't caused any problems, so it must be nothing!

 

[Gerry]

Sign me up for the "clunk" sound as well (2006 purchased new). Seemed to go away as the front suspension 'warmed up'. I had since moved away from the stock fork and control panel. No sound now. Gerry

 

[PalmStateCrawler]

It sounds like this is a normal thing with the TWs. I will try to mess with the wiring this afternoon and see if I can figure out a way to get rid of this noise. I'm sure heavier fork oil and stiffer springs would help but i'd rather not go that route. I will be changing to 15w fork oil to avoid the nose dive when braking but I dont want to stiffen it too much. I know the noise is not hurting anything, it just really bugs me! I will be sure to take pictures if I can find a way to stop it.

 

[lizrdbrth]

Get someone to buy you a ride bell. It's sposeta cure gremlins.

 

[peter]

I have the same problem with my new 2010, bought in July '11. It started shortly after and hasn't stopped yet. Put 4,700 miles on it since July. I went to two mechanics, no motorcycle mechanics on island, and both had no idea. I can hear the noise also if I turn the bike off, hold the front brake and let it "dive" (push forward). Anybody comes up with an explanation, please let me know.

 

[lizrdbrth]

Stiction, or bearings. I almost guaranty it.



But there may be something more specific to TW's that others have noticed as well. Stay tuned.

 

[PalmStateCrawler]

I took everything apart and checked it with everything off andthe the noise is still there! So is the stiction issue something that will last forever? I see that TW_in_BC changed his steering bearings and it still continued to make the noise. MrGizmow said that on his 06' it lessens as the suspension "warms up"? I assume that means, many years down the road it will be lessened until gone.

 

[lizrdbrth]

Absolutely no real science to this, but I mix Slick50 into my fork oil out of superstition.



The other possibility is that you've lost one of your stanchion sliders, which is pretty hard to do if you've never had them apart. That would cause a "clunk" similar in sound to the click of a torque wrench, but then again, so would bearings. Spacers and/or springs could be banging the inside of the tubes.



I'm schtumpt.

 

[Beewerks]

Got the same problem on my '05 with 11,000 on it. I've had it since 7,000 and the noise hasn't gotten any worse. It only happens to me when letting off of bigger bumps.

 

[Gerry]

I took everything apart and checked it with everything off andthe the noise is still there! So is the stiction issue something that will last forever? I see that TW_in_BC changed his steering bearings and it still continued to make the noise. MrGizmow said that on his 06' it lessens as the suspension "warms up"? I assume that means, many years down the road it will be lessened until gone.

My 'clunk' seemed to go away after a couple of miles of rough surface then return at the beginning of my next adventure. When I said warmed-up I ment it literally. When I had my sub-tank, I noticed the fork tube pressure would increase after the suspension got a good workout. Either something warmed up and the clunking faded until the beginning of the next ride, or the pressure increase in the fork tubes help mute the clunk in some way. Gerry

 

[dmathia]

Add my '07 to the list of "clunkers". Hasn't changed since I got the bike with 2500 miles (now has 7K).

 

[tba02]

Hi, I'm a 2008 TW w/ 10K+ miles.

I have a clunk. I have had a clunk since I first hit the pavement. I don't know why I have a clunk, but I do. I finally resigned myself to the fact that if I am clunking, I am riding. I have accepted my clunk and am pleased to know I am not alone

 

[lizrdbrth]

Dat dere wuz funny.