Front Wheel bearings

[andybesy]

Hello Folks,

I have a knocking sound from the front of the bike.

Not a rhythmic sound in time with engine or wheel as discussed in other recent threads.

It's just occasional when I change speed or direction, or get on or off the throttle.

Sounds like it might be time to have my wheel bearings checked out? Am I on right track? Or maybe steering head bearings I guess.

I'm just about to speak with local dealership, any suggestions roughly what sort of price range should I be looking at for parts and labour?

Thanks, Andy

[His Dudeness]

Well you'll have to work out if it's the wheel bearing or the steering bearing before you'd get an accurate guess on the price. To check the steering bearing you could raise the front wheel up in the air and hold the bottom of the forks, then push and pull the forks back and forward towards the bike and see if there's any play. For the wheel bearings you take the wheel off and rotate the bearing with your finger. Check if it spins smoothly or if it feels rough and notchy

[darrsi]

Just hold the front brake and bounce the front of the bike up and down and see if you can feel/hear a knocking in the steering, it may just need nipping up a bit if you can't feel any roughness or grinding from the handlebars when turning.
 
Wheel bearings would be generally noticed through sound too at first, as in a mild grinding or horrible squeaking, rather than knocking.

[Liroka]

You can also check the front wheel bearings by holding the wheel at the top and seeing if there's any movement from side to side. 

[andybesy]

Ok thanks folks, will let you know how i get on.

Andy

[andybesy]

Hello Folks,

Just wanted to post the conclusion of this, for posterity as it were.

It was getting worse quite quickly so I decided to get this checked out by a mechanic.

It was indeed diagnosed as wheel bearings.

Now they've been changed the noise is gone and the bike feels a lot smoother.

Estimate was £90 for diagnosis, repair and parts (assuming it was bearings), actual cost was £86.

Sorted while I waited (parts in stock) so I'm happy.

Andy