Karoo Rider
Race Dog
- Joined
- Sep 1, 2012
- Messages
- 1,964
- Reaction score
- 1,185
- Location
- Ladismith WC
- Bike
- Honda CRF-1100L Africa Twin
Good day, I need some advice please:
For quite some time now I've heard a very audible "thwack" sound from the front area when riding and hitting a pothole or rock with the GSA's front wheel. This only happens at a reasonable speed and only when hitting “sharp” edged objects like tar potholes. After numerous investigations I suspect that the oil cooler is hitting against the backside of the front "beak". A very small abrasive spot is visible as well. I had a look at a friend of mine's GS and on his bike the distance is approximately 15mm, where as the oil cooler is only about 2mm from the beak on my bike.
It appears that the oil cooler is mounted with rubber mountings at its top, leaving it with some play at its bottom near where the flexible oil hoses enter and exit. In the meantime I have attached a cable tie through each end of the oil cooler and very slightly tightened it backwards in order to keep the oil cooler about 4mm away from the peak, but I still hear the sound, so not so sure if it’s the oil cooler after all.
Also suspected the head light/oil cooler protector since it can swivel slightly if not tightened securely, but even after adding temporary cable ties there as well the noise is still audible. It’s probably nothing but I tend to remain worried about these things. Have notified my dealer who kindly requested that I bring the bike in for an inspection since they’re not familiar with any oil-cooler-touching-the-beak issues, but since it’s an almost 2 hour ride it’ll still be some time before I can get away. Perhaps a fellow GS or GSA owner has experinced this little irritation?
For quite some time now I've heard a very audible "thwack" sound from the front area when riding and hitting a pothole or rock with the GSA's front wheel. This only happens at a reasonable speed and only when hitting “sharp” edged objects like tar potholes. After numerous investigations I suspect that the oil cooler is hitting against the backside of the front "beak". A very small abrasive spot is visible as well. I had a look at a friend of mine's GS and on his bike the distance is approximately 15mm, where as the oil cooler is only about 2mm from the beak on my bike.
It appears that the oil cooler is mounted with rubber mountings at its top, leaving it with some play at its bottom near where the flexible oil hoses enter and exit. In the meantime I have attached a cable tie through each end of the oil cooler and very slightly tightened it backwards in order to keep the oil cooler about 4mm away from the peak, but I still hear the sound, so not so sure if it’s the oil cooler after all.
Also suspected the head light/oil cooler protector since it can swivel slightly if not tightened securely, but even after adding temporary cable ties there as well the noise is still audible. It’s probably nothing but I tend to remain worried about these things. Have notified my dealer who kindly requested that I bring the bike in for an inspection since they’re not familiar with any oil-cooler-touching-the-beak issues, but since it’s an almost 2 hour ride it’ll still be some time before I can get away. Perhaps a fellow GS or GSA owner has experinced this little irritation?
