"thunk" when braking hard?

heylookitsfranco · October 20th, 2011, 08:02 PM

So sometimes, when I'm braking a little harder than normal (or, say, making an emergency stop) I feel like something on the bike clicks funny under me. It's hard for me to describe. There's a minor vibration, as if I clicked down a gear, even though my foot's on the peg and nowhere near the shifter. Has anyone ever felt this before??

k-os · October 20th, 2011, 08:07 PM

It's probably your steering stem nuts.

http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showt...ing+stem+loose
http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showt...ing+stem+loose
http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showt...ing+stem+loose

Scattcatt · October 20th, 2011, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heylookitsfranco

So sometimes, when I'm braking a little harder than normal (or, say, making an emergency stop) I feel like something on the bike clicks funny under me. It's hard for me to describe. There's a minor vibration, as if I clicked down a gear, even though my foot's on the peg and nowhere near the shifter. Has anyone ever felt this before??

happens to me when I purposely brake super hard, but it sounds and feels like it's coming from the forks or something for me.

cuz · October 20th, 2011, 08:09 PM

have you ever locked up your tires(too much brake) if so pls compare to a lock up

oblivion007 · October 20th, 2011, 08:18 PM

Yeah... I've gotten this before... I don't think I get it so much though anymore after a friend tightened my steering stem. But then I also get a similar thunk as if a gear changed and heck I'm pretty sure a gear changes some times.

heylookitsfranco · October 20th, 2011, 08:56 PM

@cuz I'm more and more familiar (urgh) with the rear tire lockup, and it's nothing like that... When i lock up, it's a smooth sliding sensation. with this, though, it's almost like the little gnomes that make my engine work dropped something. (I know, I know. I'll dumb down the technical-speak to make it easier for y'all to understand

)

@[everyone else] never would have guessed the steering stem.... I'll check out the related threads. as always, thanks for the quick and helpful input!

Lvr · October 25th, 2011, 07:28 AM

I have the same thing happen. I never would've thought the steering stem. I'll have to check that out.

alex.s · October 25th, 2011, 09:58 AM

it sounds like its the usual suspect, the stem nut (the one under the top triple) but i can also mean your fork internals are completely f***ed. you would hear lots of other fun crunching noises when you compressed your forks if that was the case though. certain configurations of brakes rotate around the axle when the suspension is compressed (almost exclusively rear brakes...) and if there is damage on the mounting point of the brake mount it can make horrible noises on heavy compression

October 20th, 2011, 08:02 PM	#1
heylookitsfranco ninjette.org member Name: Franco Location: Fairfax, VA Join Date: Oct 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250r, 2006 Ninja 636 Posts: 175	"thunk" when braking hard? So sometimes, when I'm braking a little harder than normal (or, say, making an emergency stop) I feel like something on the bike clicks funny under me. It's hard for me to describe. There's a minor vibration, as if I clicked down a gear, even though my foot's on the peg and nowhere near the shifter. Has anyone ever felt this before?? __________________________________________________

October 20th, 2011, 08:09 PM	#4
cuz cuz Name: Israel Location: Houston (me) Galveston Join Date: Jul 2011 Motorcycle(s): 09 ninja 250r Posts: A lot.	have you ever locked up your tires(too much brake) if so pls compare to a lock up __________________________________________________ THE GOOD LIFE

October 20th, 2011, 08:56 PM	#6
heylookitsfranco ninjette.org member Name: Franco Location: Fairfax, VA Join Date: Oct 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250r, 2006 Ninja 636 Posts: 175	@cuz I'm more and more familiar (urgh) with the rear tire lockup, and it's nothing like that... When i lock up, it's a smooth sliding sensation. with this, though, it's almost like the little gnomes that make my engine work dropped something. (I know, I know. I'll dumb down the technical-speak to make it easier for y'all to understand ) @[everyone else] never would have guessed the steering stem.... I'll check out the related threads. as always, thanks for the quick and helpful input! __________________________________________________

October 25th, 2011, 09:58 AM	#8
alex.s wat Name: wat Location: tustin/long beach Join Date: Sep 2009 Motorcycle(s): wat Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 5 MOTM - Oct '12, Feb '14	it sounds like its the usual suspect, the stem nut (the one under the top triple) but i can also mean your fork internals are completely f***ed. you would hear lots of other fun crunching noises when you compressed your forks if that was the case though. certain configurations of brakes rotate around the axle when the suspension is compressed (almost exclusively rear brakes...) and if there is damage on the mounting point of the brake mount it can make horrible noises on heavy compression __________________________________________________

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October 20th, 2011, 08:07 PM	#2
k-os ninjette.org sage Name: Andy Location: Sheboygan, WI Join Date: Dec 2008 Motorcycle(s): 1988 Honda Hawk NT650, 1989 Honda Hawk NT650, 1997 GSXR750 Track Bike Posts: 890	It's probably your steering stem nuts. http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showt...ing+stem+loose http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showt...ing+stem+loose http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showt...ing+stem+loose

October 20th, 2011, 08:18 PM	#5
oblivion007 "scandal!" Name: Adan Location: Somewhere Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2011 250R(Crashed 2/26/2014), 09 ER6n Posts: 660	Yeah... I've gotten this before... I don't think I get it so much though anymore after a friend tightened my steering stem. But then I also get a similar thunk as if a gear changed and heck I'm pretty sure a gear changes some times.

October 25th, 2011, 07:28 AM	#7
Lvr ninjette.org member Name: Levi Location: Ny Join Date: Oct 2010 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250 Posts: 136	I have the same thing happen. I never would've thought the steering stem. I'll have to check that out.