Sorry to post this on the 14 site but my ZX-6R is making an annoying front end clanking sound over any bump and at any speed, you have one and the ZX-6R site has been no help thus far. You're also a good 20 lbs heavier than I am so if it's a soft fork issue you would probably know...like hitting a 1 inch bump at 5 mph and it goes "clunk". The only way it could be bottoming the fork at those speeds is if they left out the fork springs and compression dampers. It's driving me nuts on a brand new bike(1200 miles) to be having these kinds of issues . I've checked the obvious things like loose fender mount etc. and everything in the front end seems tight. Seems to be getting noisier with time. I'm going to try winding the preload to the max on the fork and see if it stops. I don't know what else it could be at this point.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 9/7/2010 @ 1:20 PM *

I just stopped by the Kawi dealer to pick up a couple of oil filters and they want $75 an hour to look at it (the bike, not the filters). If they can find an issue, then Kawi will pay for it. No thanks, I'll play with it myself until I find what's making the racket.

What's interesting is nobody has ever heard of this issue on any of the ZX-6R sites and there's a couple of guys my size that have them. It doesn't sound like a design defect so much as something specific to just my bike...figures!

Kruz was on the scale this morning at 233lbs, No Gear. The only noise I have out of the front is those dame Hid Ballasts. They must not be tied down that well. I am going out now. I will listen closely. Lose rad bolts maybe, can't be those shocks, can it ? Will be back in one hour.

Sorry Bro, I can find nothing. We have a street here with pot holes every couple hundred feet. I made sure to hit every one at all diff speeds coasting with engine off. I can hear Nothing unusual. Chain slap, ballast clunk. The Shocks sound sweet.

Your brake calipers are tight ? Nothing lose in the nose ? Rad fluid tank lose. Grasping at straws. Sorry. This one of those things you almost need two people for. I find all my noises on those pot holes in N with engine off. Try it on one of your streets, you may get lucky.(Or go mad thinking about it)Stuff like this makes me crazy also. To allot of us noises spell impending doom and must be found stat. I know you'll get it. Keep us posted.

* Last updated by: Romans on 9/7/2010 @ 6:51 PM *

The only way it could be bottoming the fork at those speeds is if they left out the fork springs and compression dampers. It's driving me nuts on a brand new bike(1200 miles) to be having these kinds of issues

I'm going to try winding the preload to the max on the fork and see if it stops. I don't know what else it could be at this point.

Before you do all that, zip on a couple of tie wraps around the fork tubes. Take a tape measure see what you have while just sitting on the bike. U know get on then back off(static) Now get back on and go 4 a ride, the very first time she goes clunk stop and remeasure. Can't be a no oil in the shock issue,,,,, Can it ?

* Last updated by: Romans on 9/7/2010 @ 6:53 PM *

on the scale this morning at 233lbs, No Gear.

This is my good friend Jay on the yellow gsxr1000- he's 6'5 @ 245 lbs. unsuited and he hauls @ss big time!

Your text to link here...

* Last updated by: masszx14 on 9/7/2010 @ 7:56 PM *

Thanks Romans, I am convinced that this issue is limited to my bike, no other '09 owner seems to have the same problem. I guess I should start with whatever the dealership bolted on when the bike came out of the shipping crate? Anyone know what they bolt on? If I remember correctly, the forks are already on there and they just have to bolt on the front wheel and add fluids. Next is a disassembly of the entire front end, all the plastics and take a good long look at everything. It could turn out ot be something benign but you never know and I was planning a long ride out in the twisties for the weekend on this machine.

Kruz was on the scale this morning at 233lbs

219 lbs here so if it's a soft fork issue, you would have had it too. BTW, did you dial up the preload or compression damping on your front end?

I'm going to go off on a tangent here and describe my thoughts on suspension. The factory spends a lot of money getting the stock bits to work as well as possible for the widest range of riders as possible. So the stock settings while not ideal for everybody should be at least liveable for most. Unfortunately, you and I fall on the extreme edge of the bell distribution curve so we are going to have to do a little work most likely. I know it is very easy to mess up your suspension, even experienced suspension tuners can go off down the wrong road on occasion so I tread carefully here. First thing is to ride the bike and decide what it's doing that you don't like, then think really, really hard about what changes will get the desired results without introducing others i.e. Law of Unintended Consequences. I've always believed that if you cannot accurately describe what the machine is doing, then you have no business messing with it.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 9/8/2010 @ 8:41 AM *

Check steering head bearing play. Alot of times you can feel it by moving it up and down, sometimes you can't. Find out factory torque setting and retorque it.

* Last updated by: scottfarm on 9/8/2010 @ 11:19 AM *

It's driving me nuts on a brand new bike(1200 miles) to be having these kinds of issues

my ZX-6R is making an annoying front end clanking sound over any bump and at any speed

INSTEAD OF ASKING ON A FORUM.. WHY NOT TAKE IT TO THE DEALER YOU PURCHASED IT FROM TO FIX IT ..

* Last updated by: Badzx14r on 9/8/2010 @ 11:20 AM *

Read my earlier post, $75 an hour to look at it and then determine if Kawasaki will pay for it....no thanks! The general consensus on the ZX-6R forum is steering head bearings are loose so I'll go there next.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 9/8/2010 @ 11:28 AM *

Read my earlier post, $75 an hour to look at it and then determine if Kawasaki will pay for it....no thanks! The general consensus on the ZX-6R forum is steering head bearings are loose so I'll go there next.

i guess that warranty ain't worth the paper its printed on .. but i been saying that for years .but nobody believed me

needless if the bearings have been getting hammered by you riding it ..then they are junk too..

* Last updated by: Badzx14r on 9/8/2010 @ 11:33 AM *

That's what I'm worried about, if they are that loose they're probably junk. I found this, apparently other year 6R's having same issue:

http://www.kawiforums.com/2007-2008-zx-6r/136251-loose-steering-stem-bearings.html

May have to go back to the stealer afterall and try the warranty route. If they're that noisy they're most likely trashed even though only a little over 1000 miles on the bike.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 9/8/2010 @ 12:31 PM *

Read my earlier post, $75 an hour to look at it and then determine if Kawasaki will pay for it....no thanks! The general consensus on the ZX-6R forum is steering head bearings are loose so I'll go there next.

Couldn't the shop just get you to sit on the bike and apply the front brake while a tech grabs the clip ons while in front of the bike and jerks backwards really hard. If the bearings are loose you should get some movement and or hear the same clunking sound. Once you do that take it to the dealer and tell them what you found. I bet those bearings are the same onces they use in the zx10 I can't see them going bad that fast unless they were not tq right to start with which would be inline Kaw build quality issues

* Last updated by: willidx4 on 9/8/2010 @ 12:42 PM *

I am convinced that this issue is limited to my bike, no other '09 owner seems to have the same problem. I guess I should start with whatever the dealership bolted on when the bike came out of the shipping crate?

Checking the steering head torque is supposed to be done at the 600 mile service because they are seating in.

Yea, I saw that in the 6R's OM last night. That means Kawasaki is not going to pay for it if the steering head bearings are thrashed, shoulda done it at the 600 they'll say and they'll be right. I didn't check yet but the 10r and 14 are probably the same way. How many owners have re-torqued them? I know I haven't touched either of them and no noise yet.

Anybody know where I can pick up one of those pin spanners for torquing those puppies?? I'm figuring it's going to be a Kawasaki special tool available only on special order from the dealer. I figure I might as well buy it now and check all the bikes, the 10 and 14 are way overdue.

Any luck ?

No, I can't find anything Romans, the front end does not "click" when I get on the front brake hard which is a classic symptom of a loose steering head bearing. I put a fingertip of my left hand on the steering stem nut and proceeded to ride slowly over a railroad track. I heard the noise but felt no movement at all in the stem. The suspension is not bottoming out, if anything it's stiff. It almost sounds like the front fork is "topping" out so I'm at a loss here. I couldnt find the problem so I took it out and did 290 miles in the twisties yesterday and ignored it. Really enjoying the bike though, you can read my write up in Kruz' Toy Box.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 9/13/2010 @ 2:10 PM *