How do you set the preload on steering stem bearings?Bike on centre stand, front wheel of the ground facing forward and you knoking the handlebars in either direction.The wheel must turn to the stop just barely or moove loose and sound BOOM?

huh?

read the Feb 04(vol 14, No. 2) issue of roadracing world....article from Melissa Berkoff
"All is Vanity- A racebikes Journey from Showroom to Dumpster"  part 3
page 44-49

Suzuki actually specs a break-out force (well, it is in kg, not Newtons, but anyway...) to start moving the bars. You use a spring scale at the outer end of the bars.

My manual is at home, and I can't rememebr what it is. I'll check tonight. It is tighter than just free movement to the stop, and if it is falling over hard, that is way too loose.

You will end up with a better result if you tighten it too much and back it off till the fall away is right. Don't crank the thing down too tight, but tight enough so that the steering movement is somewhat stiff, then loosen it a little bit at a time till you reach the desired point. Going from too loose to just right can be misleading as the bearings move around.

Most manuals should have a torque spec for the nut as well, or even two values. One to seat the bearing and a lighter range for the end result.

yup what wrencher said, btw wrencher, you still at mmi?, out yet?

just kinda curious

The Suzuki shop manual, paraphrased, says:

Tighten the stem nut to 40 - 50 Nm
Turn the lower triple back and forth 5 or six times to seat the bearing
Turn the stem nut back 1/4 to 1/2 turn - adjustment will vary.

Checking steering tension adjustment after installing top triple and bolt.

Lift front wheel 20 to 30 mm off floor
Check to make sure all cables and harnesses are properly routed.
With wheel straight ahead, attach spring scale at the end of the handlebar grip pulling back. The initial force to start movement should be 200 to 500 grams. Check other direction.

If adjustment is needed, you have to loosen the fork upper clamp pinch bolts, the upper triple mounting bolt, and then adjust the stem nut tighter or looser as required. Re-tighten everything, and re-check the initial force with the spring gauge.