What does spring slap sound like

[pliskin]

Hi, can anyone tell me what what spring slap on a GS sounds like? I picked up a 06 GS500F a few weeks ago and it's been great so far. It does however make a solid knocking sound (not a springy/twang sound) when going over small bumps like manholes and ripples in the road at slow speed. Kind of sounds like the faring rattling. But, I can give the faring a good whack with my hand and I can't hear the sound, everything feels tight. Also, I can't make the sound sitting still working the front or pushing it over bumps. Only happens on small slow speed bumps.

Also, I want to fix this soft front suspension. Will I get results just adding some nylon spacers at the top like it's documented here on this site. Or, should I go the spring upgrade route? if I do the new springs do I need to do anything with the oil if I don't plan on changing it. Can I just drop the new springs in and go? Because I'm just looking to stiffen them up a little and not so much "improve" them. I'm thinking the cheap spacer trick would work for me.

Thanks in advance. I look forward to learning a lot about this bike here.

[The Buddha]

I'm betting its not springs in the forks slapping, that metallic clunk noise I believe is the brake pads or wheel bearing spacer.
I have heard it on some of my bikes, could not ever pin point it, however had a few bikes that didn;t ever make that noise.
Cool.
Buddha.

[adidasguy]

Suzi always had a "clunk" when going over a small driveway curb, pothole or bump.
Ended up being the forks bottoming out!  After I out in 0.85 Sonic springs, it went away.

Replacing springs: If oil not really stinky, you can suck out some old oil and replace with new. Being an 06, it might be OK (but most would say change it). Partly depends on your work space. You can change springs without removing the forks. You need to take the weight off of the front so a strap to raise it up or weight on the tail end.

[pliskin]

Thanks for the reply
I'm not so sure it's bottoming. I take bigger slow speed bumps with no sound. And, I can push down on the front a lot further than it gets pushed with little sharp washboard type bumps in the road with no noise.  I think I'll end up putting new springs in at some point anyway. It's more like a solid plastic bumping sound. Is there anything inside the hollowed part of the faring on the right or left side that could be knocking around inside? I guess I'll need to take it apart and see.

Thanks again

[adidasguy]

Could be fairing noise. Check all the screws and brackets. Check the bolts for the inner rear fender, too. I had one missing.
All I can say is I had that noise until I replaced the springs.
maybe a mystery where the noise is, but all I can say is I don't have it now after springs replaced.

[speedfreek]

like a "pimp slap" with a boing at the end..

I keed, I keed..



TJ

[X-ray]

Doubtfull but could it be the steering stem bearings are loose/shot?

[Funderb]

check your tail light, the rubbers on mine are flat and it bounces all around making a whacking noise.

[slipperymongoose]

Doesn't sound like this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOTkxCMqVcs&sns=em

[Kerry]

Could it be your sidestand ... or centerstand?     Check the tension on the springs maybe?

[adam89]

go the cheap route....add the homemade nylon spacers and im sure it will eliminate your noise u keep hearing! and if not then that narrows it down just one more step!!!

[adam89]

oh and one more thing...does anyone know how long those spacers should be???

[MVent03]

Check chain tension as well. I was all over my bike everyday for a week before I figured that one out.

It kept making a clunk and a rattle sound that I could never reproduce while the bike was stopped.

[adidasguy]

Spacers: Generally even with to an inch higher than the top of the fork tube. You get your pre-load because the cap screws in and gives an inch and a half of pre-load if even with top of fork tube. More if higher.

[ohgood]

if the front fender has a hairline crack it will rattle like a paint can over bumps.

your clutch/brake levers will too.

is your rear brake arm tight ?

rocks in the fairing ?

[BockinBboy]

I have what sounds like the same as the OP, and to me it sounds like rattle of plastic when I go over bumps at slow speeds.. I looked all over my bike to figure out what might be loose, hanging, etc.. and turned up nothing so I wrote it off as fairing or fender noise.  So I would definately be interested if anything turns up here.

-Bboy

[adidasguy]

Some sound makers when going over bumps:

Battery bouncing. When going over bumps, the battery can bounce around if the bumpers in the box are old. It can hit the underside of the seat.

Another one is the rear plastic inner fender. Held on with 5 bolts. If one missing, it can rattle over bumps.

Tool kit can bounce if the rubber strap is gone.

Tail light can hit the frame and plastics if mounts are bad.

Newer bikes have all the connectors under the tank. If the harness is loose, the plastic connectors can bang the frame, making a tinking sound, when going over bumps.

Forks can bottom out if older springs. That's more of a front end bang or thud. Put a zip tie on your forks at the dust caps. See how high it gets pushed up. 4" or more and you're bottoming out.

Side plastics can slap if tabs broken or screws missing.

Front fender has bumpers between it and the fork (on the side). If missing, fender can flop and bang the fork, giving a plastic slap sound.

A spring missing from the side or center stand can make them bounce over a bump. They each have 2 springs. If one gone, not enough force to keep them tight to the frame.

Dry rubber cushions around the gauges allow them to bounce and rattle. New rubbers are about $14 OEM. Tightening the bolts keeps them tight - but the rubber dampens the noise from even the slightest movement of them.

[pliskin]

BockinBboy, do you have a faring what year?
-I never found the source of my noise but I'm sure it's not in the faring/plastics.
-Also not the gauges ( I took them of).
-Not bottoming out either.
-At one point I thought it was the foam bumper on the the front fender because it kinda sounds like someone knocking on the fender. Took the fender off and still had sound.
-I've been over the bike with a fine tooth comb and nothing out of place.

I'm still thinking it's something in the forks. I had the springs/spacer/washers out to change the fork oil. The springs, washer, and spacer are all smaller diameter than the fork tube. I think they are rattling around inside metal on metal. But it does not sound like metal because 1. they are sealed inside the tube and 2. there coated in oil which will dampen the sound. In fact mine does it most at the start of a ride. I'm starting to think it's the spacer. After sitting the oil drains from the inner wall of the tube and spacers which are at the top and not fully immersed in oil. Once shock get moving and the oil splashes about, the sound is much quieter if not gone.

Could be the spring slapping the side of the tube as well. They are much smaller diameter than the tube and will not stay straight when compressed. 

Only thing that's certain is it is coming from the front end and if you heard it you'd swear it was the gauge cluster. I'm just living with it until I get new springs installed.

[BockinBboy]

BockinBboy, do you have a faring what year?
-I never found the source of my noise but I'm sure it's not in the faring/plastics.
-Also not the gauges ( I took them of).
-Not bottoming out either.
-At one point I thought it was the foam bumper on the the front fender because it kinda sounds like someone knocking on the fender. Took the fender off and still had sound.
-I've been over the bike with a fine tooth comb and nothing out of place.

I'm still thinking it's something in the forks. I had the springs/spacer/washers out to change the fork oil. The springs, washer, and spacer are all smaller diameter than the fork tube. I think they are rattling around inside metal on metal. But it does not sound like metal because 1. they are sealed inside the tube and 2. there coated in oil which will dampen the sound. In fact mine does it most at the start of a ride. I'm starting to think it's the spacer. After sitting the oil drains from the inner wall of the tube and spacers which are at the top and not fully immersed in oil. Once shock get moving and the oil splashes about, the sound is much quieter if not gone.

Could be the spring slapping the side of the tube as well. They are much smaller diameter than the tube and will not stay straight when compressed. 

Only thing that's certain is it is coming from the front end and if you heard it you'd swear it was the gauge cluster. I'm just living with it until I get new springs installed.

I have an '04 w/full fairings.  But definately as you said, I notice its louder when i start a ride.. but couple miles later some bumps after a stop, and I barely hear anything from it.  It is definately from the front end area, but nothing I can pin it to...

- Bboy

[bombsquad83]

I think I'm having the same or similar noise.  I have progressive springs and I recently had my forks apart to replace fork oil and one bad seal.  It happens when the spring is compressed slightly, and then again on release of the spring.  Sometimes over a serious of bumps it kind of "rattles" around.  It feels kinda like the spring is slopping around inside the fork.  I can feel it if I hold the brake and compress the spring with the bike not running, but I can't quite pinpoint it.  I'm thinking of taking my springs out and making sure the spacers aren't rattling around somehow.

edit: I think I need to check that steering stem is tight as well.  How do you go about checking the steering stem bearings and whatnot?