Odd new problem when hitting bumps and dips in the road

novax · September 2nd, 2011, 07:24 PM

Kowie

Ok so a new oddish problem has developed with the front wheel / fork / handle bar portion of my 2010 Kawasaki ninja with 8400 miles on it.

I noticed the change a day later after I happened to ride on a really really unusually bumpy stretch of road for a short distance like 50 ft.

Now when my kowie rides over bumps or Holes In the road I can feel that the suspension or whatever is handling it differently and definitely feels like something is a little loose and now moves a little when bumps n dips are hit. *

Never ever felt the kowie like this before in the front. *Tire pressure is Confirmed OK at 32 front and 34 rear

Any ideas? It does not seem to b getting worse yet but am only 2 days in to this new issue.

Any new riding risks I may need to b aware of with whatever is wrong with it ?

Thanks all.

-mike

alex.s · September 2nd, 2011, 07:29 PM

sounds like your steering stem nut is loose

novax · September 2nd, 2011, 07:46 PM

Hmm ok is it possible to tighten it back up without removing anything ?

Can someone provide a picture of it ?

Thx much

Alex · September 2nd, 2011, 07:51 PM

/moved to new-gen tech

novax · September 2nd, 2011, 09:27 PM

Wow it is loose so I hand tightened it but that won't be enough I bet

leed · September 3rd, 2011, 05:36 AM

You shouldn't have to take anything apart to tighten it. Purchase yourself a torque wrench or borrow one and tighten that sucker up!

BobsPT · September 4th, 2011, 11:55 AM

Mike,

Have you gotten it fixed yet? Just curious, since i may have the same problem too.

novax · September 5th, 2011, 02:12 PM

yeah, it is totally fixed. steering Stem nut was it.

my bro helped me tighten it a lot while i was holding the handle bars to keep em from moving.

alex.s · September 5th, 2011, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leed

You shouldn't have to take anything apart to tighten it. Purchase yourself a torque wrench or borrow one and tighten that sucker up!

the main stem bolt is below the top triple clamp which is bolted on. to tighten things up well enough you need to have the top triple off, tighten the stem bolt (some bikes have two, the main and a second to lock it, and sometimes a fold lock washer to keep it in place) then put the top triple back on and tighten the top triple nut to help lock the stem nut in.

September 2nd, 2011, 07:24 PM	#1
novax ninjette.org newbie Name: Mike Location: michigan Join Date: Jun 2011 Motorcycle(s): kawasaki ninja 250 2010 &upgrades Posts: 6	Odd new problem when hitting bumps and dips in the road Kowie Ok so a new oddish problem has developed with the front wheel / fork / handle bar portion of my 2010 Kawasaki ninja with 8400 miles on it. I noticed the change a day later after I happened to ride on a really really unusually bumpy stretch of road for a short distance like 50 ft. Now when my kowie rides over bumps or Holes In the road I can feel that the suspension or whatever is handling it differently and definitely feels like something is a little loose and now moves a little when bumps n dips are hit. * Never ever felt the kowie like this before in the front. *Tire pressure is Confirmed OK at 32 front and 34 rear Any ideas? It does not seem to b getting worse yet but am only 2 days in to this new issue. Any new riding risks I may need to b aware of with whatever is wrong with it ? Thanks all. -mike

September 2nd, 2011, 07:29 PM	#2
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	sounds like your steering stem nut is loose __________________________________________________

September 2nd, 2011, 07:51 PM	#4
Alex ninjette.org dude Name: 1 guess :-) Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 7	/moved to new-gen tech __________________________________________________ Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered)

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September 2nd, 2011, 07:46 PM	#3
novax ninjette.org newbie Name: Mike Location: michigan Join Date: Jun 2011 Motorcycle(s): kawasaki ninja 250 2010 &upgrades Posts: 6	Hmm ok is it possible to tighten it back up without removing anything ? Can someone provide a picture of it ? Thx much

September 2nd, 2011, 09:27 PM	#5
novax ninjette.org newbie Name: Mike Location: michigan Join Date: Jun 2011 Motorcycle(s): kawasaki ninja 250 2010 &upgrades Posts: 6	Wow it is loose so I hand tightened it but that won't be enough I bet

September 3rd, 2011, 05:36 AM	#6
leed ninjette.org sage Name: David Location: Loves Park, IL Join Date: Feb 2011 Motorcycle(s): Time will tell Posts: 969	You shouldn't have to take anything apart to tighten it. Purchase yourself a torque wrench or borrow one and tighten that sucker up!

September 4th, 2011, 11:55 AM	#7
BobsPT ninjette.org guru Name: Bobby Location: Michiana Join Date: Sep 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2001 Kawasaki Ninja 250R Posts: 271	Mike, Have you gotten it fixed yet? Just curious, since i may have the same problem too.

September 5th, 2011, 02:12 PM	#8
novax ninjette.org newbie Name: Mike Location: michigan Join Date: Jun 2011 Motorcycle(s): kawasaki ninja 250 2010 &upgrades Posts: 6	yeah, it is totally fixed. steering Stem nut was it. my bro helped me tighten it a lot while i was holding the handle bars to keep em from moving.