I think it's in my mind!

[Seetrout]

Have been wanting to take the bike back in to the shop to have a noise looked at.
Beautiful weather here today so I had the wife meet me there and took off.
This is the first time I've been up on the 4 lane since I wrecked in Aug. (On the 4 lane.)
I was more than a bit nervous, but sooner or later it had to be done. I went an extra exit on the side road to get on where it's been repaved within the last 4 months. Nice new asphalt.
Merged in behind a TT. Playing nice even though I could have beat him easy.
He's doing 70, so I pull into the left lane and start going faster. What's the B@#$%&d do? He drops the hammer.
I wasn't bent on being in front that bad, but there was dirt coming off his rig, so I keep picking it up.
I end up doing 90 till I can get in front, there's a 4 wheel following me like I'm holding him up, and my heart's in my throat.
I SWEAR I can feel a shimmy in the front end.
I get in front of the TT and merge back over to the right. Look in my rear view and he's dropping away. Prick just didn't want me to pass him.

So I pull into the shop and tell the tech what's up. He plops a helmet on his head and takes off.
a minute later....zzziiiiipppp....There goes my bike up the highway.
10 minutes later he's back. He says I ran it up and back at 100mph. I didn't feel anything.

Could it really be gunshyness and all in my mind, or should I have another shop check it out? This is the place that put all pieces back together again after I dumped it @ 65mph.

[BuzZz]

No harm in letting someone else ride it and getting a second opinion.

[Seetrout]

If I take it to another shop and ask them to test ride it should I expect to pay for 1/2 an hour labor.
I guess I have my own answer. I don't think that would be unreasonable since they didn't get paid for the original work.

[CentralOzzy]

Do you have any experienced Mates you trust to ride it?

You could go for a ride together & swap bikes, it's fun & perhaps you could eyeball your front end while you are riding beside your own bike??

[ejshotgun]

Do you have any experienced Mates you trust to ride it?

You could go for a ride together & swap bikes, it's fun & perhaps you could eyeball your front end while you are riding beside your own bike??

We used to do this quite often when I was riding with guys I trusted. Plus it gives you experience with other types of bikes.
Of course part of the trust was if we/they dropped the bike we paid to get it fixed.

[Keyoke]

Possible answers :- Could be a slightly loose/worn headstock bearing.

To test, put bike on centre-stand, get a friend to lean on the back to raise the front wheel off the floor.

Then, grab the bottoms of the fork legs and try pushing them back towards the bike, and pulling them towards you. There should be NO movement (it's usually only slight if there is any, so you have to be quite "gentle" to notice anything)

Beyond that, check the wear pattern of the front wheel....

[Seetrout]

Do you have any experienced Mates you trust to ride it?

No, my close friends still can't believe I got a bike. Let alone didn't give it up after the accident.

We used to do this quite often when I was riding with guys I trusted. Plus it gives you experience with other types of bikes.
Of course part of the trust was if we/they dropped the bike we paid to get it fixed.

Plus I'd rather not be responsible for someone else's bike (other than MSF) at my low experience level. Not to mention my track record so far.

Possible answers :- Could be a slightly loose/worn headstock bearing.

To test, put bike on centre-stand, get a friend to lean on the back to raise the front wheel off the floor.

Then, grab the bottoms of the fork legs and try pushing them back towards the bike, and pulling them towards you. There should be NO movement (it's usually only slight if there is any, so you have to be quite "gentle" to notice anything)

No stand. Can't even find one aftermarket. I'll figure out a way to check it though.

Thanks all.

[Sev]

Hit up e-bay for a paddock stand, they come in front and rear version for your bike. Failing that, a couple of ropes off the frame and over the roof'll do ya just fine.

[Nibblet99]

paddock stand won't do it... you need to unload the weight from the front end

[Seetrout]

Picked up the bike from the shop today.
Couldn't find any wobble in the front end on the way home. 18 mi.
There were some issues that I felt and ruled out.
Nerves. (and a death grip, just relax dude.)
Wind buffet on the helmet. (Not front end.)
Grooves in the pavement. (amplified by sport bike handling and tires.)
I'll still get a 2nd opinion, but I'm convinced it was all in my head.
Once I relaxed I had an enjoyable ride home.


Oh yeah. The noise.
Sev and anyone else with the 04 model 599.
FWIW.

Where the clutch cable runs down next to the gauge cluster there is a small wire clip.
This clip keeps the cables away from the gauge cluster.
They put the cables behind the clip next to the gauges making it rub and squeak.
They did this because there is a sharp edge on the other side that was eating into the cable cover.
The dealer went round and round with Honda for 5 days over this.
He finally slit a piece of hose and covered the sharp edge.
Problem solved except for a slight creak where the plastic cable cover rides over the hose.
Not nearly as loud as before, but preferable to the cover getting sliced off.
Probably wouldn't hear it if I didn't know it was there.
Might want to have your dealer check it out for you.