Went out today and when i took off at a slow speed i could hear and feel an intermittant pop in the front end...i put the front end up on a stand and spun the wheel and there was no noise at all...i had even walked the bike and could hear it pop once every full wheel rotation...anything to worry about?

Noise with load...no load,no noise.Did you check your grease seals and axle for any sign of leakage?Sounds like a bearing.

I'm not knowledgeable on this but from previous threads I have read, I'd say Grn is right. Wheel bearing. My guess is that the weight of the bike puts enough pressure on the bearing to make the rough spot noticeable. With no weigh to push on that rough spot, you don't feel it. One solution would be to do wheelies all the time. Otherwise, I'd try putting some downforce on the wheel when you turn it static. A wheel stand would help but I suppose you could do it with the wheel on the bike. Another thing you could do is mark the wheel at 12 o'clock when you feel the pop. Assuming it's always in the same spot, you will know what spot to scrutinize when you try it static. Also, if you can identify one spot where it pops, if you then lift the front and turn the wheel 45 degrees or so, you'll know it is definitely the wheel if the pop is still in sync with the mark when you roll it loaded.

* Last updated by: Rook on 11/18/2017 @ 8:52 PM *

I took the wheel off but didnt take the grease seals off...didnt notice any grease leaking...i spun the bearings with my fingers and both fealt very smooth...tried to move them side to side and there wasnt any slack...what would the bearing look like if it was failing?

* Last updated by: morgstang on 11/18/2017 @ 9:51 PM *

Let me ask ya...have you been doing wheelies and hitting hard when coming down?OR,a hard jolt to the wheel like going over a driveway curb?I suppose it's possible only ONE ball bearing got a flat spot on it.Somehow.

I'm gonna ask this question.It may sound stupid and unrelated.Have you checked your front calipers?I mean,are the pistons moving back out from the disc okay?And the pads...are they free to slightly move a bit>This can cause a tick noise when moving the bike around like in the garage and applying front brake.Either forward or backwards...Doubt it could be heard while motor was running.
Lastly.Head bearings.Are they correctly tightened?Any play in the headstock?You can check those with the wheel off(or on)the bike.As per the manual.I think periodic maint.chapter.
I'd certainly find out what's going on.Before riding much longer.When it pops,can you stop the bike right there and check the rim?See if it looks damaged?Ceramic or steel bearings?

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 11/18/2017 @ 11:13 PM *

No wheelies or hitting anything...i took the calipers off and rolled the bike and it still popped...i checked torque on head nut and all bolts on the entire front end and they were correct...im guessing steel bearings probably stock OEM...

Okay,well you isolated it to the only moving part there...the front bearings.If it's only one,I'd replace both just in case.When you checked em,was there ANY feeling of binding in there?Or a notchy feel at any time?Even slightly?

"what would the bearing look like if it was failing?"...well,they're sealed.So the only way really is to just inspect the outer seal on the bearing visually,run your fingertip around the INSIDE of the bearing and see if grease is leaking on the INSIDE flange.It shouldn't be.Should be free of grease.

How many miles on the bike?And do you spray wash the axle and bearings in there without really thinking about it?It sounds like one ball bearing is damaged.Not the whole bearing. I've never heard of those cracking or anything,but I suppose one could in the right situation?Or if they got dried out from water entering.
Hub can most likely help here...oh HUB!!!!!!

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 11/19/2017 @ 1:01 AM *

Possible static. I can't see a click kind of noise with the calipers off. Thinking a warped disc could raise or drag the pad and make it click on the come around. You'd think even a single ball would snowball the other bearings if the one began to disintegrate. Since it sealed, the debris would skid the other balls in the cage sort of.

Grn14...both bearings spun very easily with no notchy feel at all...i didnt notice any oil anywhere...i have 30K miles on it and im the 3rd owner and have put 13K miles since ive had it and ive never power washed it or ridden in rain. I took the fender off to see if anything possibly was rubbing. Still popped when i pushed it. I checked all the torque on everything and it was fine. Steering head moved freely with no binding. I even removed the front wheel again and reinstalled it and bounced it up and down to set the axle before tightening the axle pinch bolts.

Sounds like you have eliminated most of the other possible causes and the "pop" is still there. 30K miles should not be end of life for a sealed bearing. But, not much else left, especially as you say it is referenced to the rotating tire also. Theses are mass produced and could be a possible cause. The are relatively cheap, ~$17 each, I would replace them.

R and R.I would.3rd owner...ya never really know how the bike was ridden or maintained.Odd...but bearings do fail sometimes.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 11/19/2017 @ 9:54 AM *

Went out today and when i took off at a slow speed i could hear and feel an intermittant pop in the front end...i put the front end up on a stand and spun the wheel and there was no noise at all...i had even walked the bike and could hear it pop once every full wheel rotation.....

.

I took the wheel off but didnt take the grease seals off...didnt notice any grease leaking...i spun the bearings with my fingers and both fealt very smooth...tried to move them side to side and there wasnt any slack.....

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i took the calipers off and rolled the bike and it still popped...i checked torque on head nut and all bolts on the entire front end and they were correct.....

.

both bearings spun very easily with no notchy feel at all...i didnt notice any oil anywhere...i have 30K miles on it and im the 3rd owner and have put 13K miles since ive had it and ive never power washed it or ridden in rain. I took the fender off to see if anything possibly was rubbing. Still popped when i pushed it. I checked all the torque on everything and it was fine. Steering head moved freely with no binding. I even removed the front wheel again and reinstalled it and bounced it up and down to set the axle before tightening the axle pinch bolts.....

.
Sometimes locating the precise source of some noises can be tricky, did you lift and spin the rear wheel? Did you check the chain?

* Last updated by: KoflaOlivieri on 11/19/2017 @ 10:23 AM *

Yessir...back wheel made no noise at all....i recently installed new chain and sprockets 1500 miles ago.

Yes, seems strange bearing issue with such low miles.

Change them out, not expensive or hard to do.

Bearings are very standardized. You can get almost anywhere.

Just stick with good Japan company like NSK, stay away from anything "all balls"

Part number 601B6005UU = 6005 bearing

I like to upgrade a little and at least get non-contact bearings like

NSK 6005vv can get on ebay for like $14 each

OR go full tilt and get ceramic bearings, probably around $100-150 each

I ordered OEM Kawasaki bearings just now...hope that solves it...

Are those wheels painted or powder coated? If coated they could have used cheap bearings.

Good point...they were powdercoated before i bought it...

Ummm...good call;)

Replaced the bearings and it stopped...thanks for eveyones input.

Now you know how to install ceramic bearing when you get them some day!

I'd give them a try because people usually rave about them. I wasn't especially impressed with the ceramic bearings in my upgraded EVO shift star detent arm. They did not spin as well as the steel bearings. BUT--the explanation was that they were not polished in, they have a wider plastic seal and they are much lighter in weight giving them less inertia. I still don't think they turned as smooth against my finger as the steel bearings but I would for once in my life give ceramic wheel bearings a try.

Can you loan me the huge amount they cost?...hehe

npe. not even if they're $5.