Bullet fork shrouds - Hitchcocks Forum

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Bullet fork shrouds#6029

By Deanobats - Sat Mar 12, 2016 8:52 am

- Sat Mar 12, 2016 8:52 am #6029

Hi all,
can anyone tell me how to drop the fork shrouds/covers on a 2015 B5 bullet? The front suspension does make some strange noises on going over bumps. It may be just the forks rubbing on the inside of the fork shrouds but I wanted to check that all is well down there in case there are any rats or poppadums trapped inside. Also, when I wheel the bike there is a strange 'clunk' at a certain position on both left and right hand turns. I thought this was the headstock bearings, or perhaps a cable that snaps back and forth as I turn the handlebars, but if I do this with my hand on the fork shroud it feels like it's coming from in there. Once I've removed the brace that connects the two covers do they just unscrew? Also, will our host's manual (part number 597451) tell me all I need to know?

Ta!

Dean

Bullet fork shrouds#56141

By papasmurf - Sat Mar 12, 2016 9:18 am

- Sat Mar 12, 2016 9:18 am #56141

Personally, I would put the bike on the centre stand put enough weight over the back wheel to keep the front wheel off of the ground, and spin the front wheel and turn the handle bars lock to lock slowly to determine where the noise is coming from. I would do that before taking anything to bits.

Bullet fork shrouds#56142

By Deanobats - Sat Mar 12, 2016 9:43 am

- Sat Mar 12, 2016 9:43 am #56142

Ah, that's the odd part, on the centre-stand there is no 'clunk' when moving the steering side to side, it only happens when there is load on the front forks.

Bullet fork shrouds#56145

By Les - Sat Mar 12, 2016 10:53 am

- Sat Mar 12, 2016 10:53 am #56145

How about standing in front of the bike gripping the wheel between the knees and pulling and pushing the handle bars, but docent a 2015 bullet have a warranty before you get to involved taking it apart

Bullet fork shrouds#56153

By Deanobats - Sat Mar 12, 2016 2:39 pm

- Sat Mar 12, 2016 2:39 pm #56153

Hi Les,
yes, it's still under warranty and they've had a look at it during a service but can't find anything 'obviously wrong' (read into that what you will). To be honest, it's not a big issue, doesn't affect handling, it just annoys me that I don't know what it is. If it was just a case of an easy five minute job to drop the fork cover tubes and have a look, then I'd do it, even if was to eliminate a problem there. I'd quite like to know if it's a problem waiting to happen while it's still under warranty as sod's law predicts that the day after the warranty expires, the forks drop off. I've tried gripping the front wheel and turning and pushing back and forth, much to my neighbours amusement, but there is no slack or give. It's just odd, about 30 degrees to each side of straight ahead it goes 'clunk' when the front wheel is loaded.

Dean