Front end

[icekiwi]

Hi guys,
Have a 05 ZX6RR and have noticed a light click/knock when the susp starts to travel. Does it rocking stationary on front end and can feel/hear it over sharp bumps when going slow (yeah I know don't go slow then!!).Seems to disapear when things warm up a little.
Still handles like a dream.....any ideas?:

[HDTboy]

It sounds like play in the steering head bearings from your descrption. Do you do many wheelies?

[icekiwi]

Hmmm should I answer that truthfully,
Have to admit it did seem to start after doing a few bunny hops with the front end,not easy keeping it down even for an ole bugger like me.
If it is that whats the fix, new bearings? ,tighten it up a little?

[HDTboy]

You may be able to get away with tightening them up a bit if they're a tapered roller bearing. If they're a ball bearing you're stuck with replacing them.

[vifferman]

Whether or not you can get away with just tightening them depends on whether how they've worn. Usually when the head bearings are worn enough to start clicking, they've also worn a bit of a notch in the race in the 'straight ahead' position, which gives you a slight hesitation on turn-in when there's a bit of resistance for the steering stem to move slightly out of the notch.

It's easy to check if it's the head bearings: get the front wheel of the bike off the ground, and check two things: the amount of play when you hold the fork legs and pull/push the forks back and forth, and whether there's notchiness when you turn the front wheel side-to-side.