There's a Clacking noise coming from the right front wheel of my Ryker - any ideas?

[Lee Borden]

I have a 2024 Ryker Ace 900 sport with 1600 miles on it and just developed a clacking sound in the right front wheel. It makes no sound when the wheel is spun when off the ground, but makes the sound every few feet when on the ground. Anybody have any ideas??

 

[nightfalcon]

I have a 2024 Ryker Ace 900 sport with 1600 miles on it and just developed a clacking sound in the right front wheel . It makes no sound when the wheel is spun when off the ground, but makes the sound every few feet when on the ground. Anybody have any ideas

If I recall correctly... and that's a big if... there was some discussion about a minor adjustment to the front guard (or 'the fender' in the USA) which sorts it; it may have even been a loose cable tie or some other minor issue. Someone here will be able to zero in on it, but have a good poke around the fender mounts and cabling for anything obvious.

 

[Mikey]

It could also be a loose sway bar bushing. Do you have an aftermarket bar?

 

[Snowbelt Spyder]

I have a 2024 Ryker Ace 900 sport with 1600 miles on it and just developed a clacking sound in the right front wheel. It makes no sound when the wheel is spun when off the ground, but makes the sound every few feet when on the ground. Anybody have any ideas?

A clacking sound. Well, Lee. If it only happens with the wheel/tire on the ground, check lug nut torque. And if it occurs once every revolution, not knowing what you’ve already checked I would start by inspecting the tire to see if there is something imbedded in the tread that shouldn’t be there. Stone, nail, etc etc.

 

[BajaRon]

Really not enough information to come to any sound (no pun intended) conclusion. I can't think of something that would cause a clank sound just by rolling the tire on a smooth, flat surface. A clank is usually created by a metal on metal contact.

However, the circumference of the front tires on a Ryker is about 6 feet. Is your sound occurring every 6 feet? Snowbelt Spyder may have your answer if this is the case, though the sound this would produce would be more of a click than a clank. Sound description is critical when diagnosing an issue.

 

[Lee Borden]

Pulled both front wheels. The clacking on the right side was caused by a loose rotor on the right wheel. Both wheels were loose on the axles with almost no torque on the wheel nuts. Luckily, the snap rings were on, or I might have lost a wheel.

 

[Raven]

I would be having a very serious talk with the dealer and his service manager.

 

[gbyoung2]

I would be having a very serious talk with the dealer and his service manager.

Unfortunately, in today's world that'd be like pissin' in the wind. Exactly why I do all the work on my machines.

 

[Mikey]

I would be having a very serious talk with the dealer and his service manager.

Really not many people do it but when you put wheels on anything you should get in the habit to retorque your wheels after about 100 miles! Yes, they should have done it at the dealership when put together, but it would be up to us to do it after a good ride from there! This is just another of life's lessons!

 

[gbyoung2]

Amen to that. I always check and retorque the wheels to spec. on my 4-wheelers after getting their annual safety inspections. They typically pull 2 wheels to check the brake pads/drums/rotors and always tighten the lug nuts with an air impact wrench when putting wheels back on. PIT butt, but better than having a loose wheel or preventing a warped rotor later.

 

[Raven]

I am going to agree to disagree guys.
It is a BRAND NEW machine that left the dealership in an unsafe condition.
I would say something just so they know what type work is coming out their shop.
If I was the owner of the dealership the service manager would be getting ripped a new one.
I try and do my own wrenching, but can't do things like I used to.
But when I get something serviced I go over afterward, just to check.
Rant over Bruce/Raven

 

[mecsw500]

I am going to agree to disagree guys.
It is a BRAND NEW machine that left the dealership in an unsafe condition.
I would say something just so they know what type work is coming out their shop.
If I was the owner of the dealership the service manager would be getting ripped a new one.
I try and do my own wrenching, but can't do things like I used to.
But when I get something serviced I go over afterward, just to check.
Rant over Bruce/Raven

You would be surprised at how many motorcycle dealers leave parts of the assembly and PDI to their sales staff. Pulling techs off revenue work (like PDI's aren't paid for by us - lol) is what some try to avoid if workshops are backed up. I bet that if parts of that process are left to sales staff, it's probably delegated to the most junior of employees who may not even know what a torque wrench is or how it works. I have a friend who worked at a name brand motorcycle dealership and he had some real horror stories.

 

[Peter Aawen]

You would be surprised at how many motorcycle dealers leave parts of the assembly and PDI to their sales staff floor sweeper! Pulling techs off revenue work (like PDI's aren't paid for by us - lol) is what some try to avoid if workshops are backed up. I bet that if parts of that process are left to sales staff floor sweepers, it's probably delegated to the most junior of employees who may not even know what a torque wrench is or how it works. I have a friend who worked at a name brand motorcycle dealership and he had some real horror stories.

Fixed that bit for you @mecsw500

 

[mecsw500]

Fixed that bit for you @mecsw500

Thank you Peter.

I'm just lucky that my dealer seem to have some integrity and PDI-ed my bike just fine.

Of course, many dealers are far from as reliable.