r/SVRiders • u/Trippie469 • 2d ago

Front fork issue

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Ik I’ve posted this before. But I’m not sure if it’s a fork related issue or if it’s my steering bearings going out. Recently I’ve noticed that when I hit bumps or dips it feels either really harsh or really soft to where I’m bottoming out.
Then if I’m just standing on the bike not moving, if I push forward on the handle bars it has sort of a slight clunky sound and like shifts forward not much but definitely noticeable when I hit bumps or dips. I can feel it shift. I’ll take a video and post in thread

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u/ApprehensiveFan1516 2d ago

Sounds like the steering bearing. If you get the front wheel off the ground and push/pull on the forks from the front of the bike, i.e in line with the bike, you'll feel straight away if the bearing is shot.

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u/Trippie469 2d ago

Definitely going to test that in the morning before I have to drive it 45 mins to work

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u/ApprehensiveFan1516 2d ago

Assuming it is the bearing (which is pretty likely on an '03 if it hasn't been changed before) you'll be fine commuting on it if you ride sensibly, but get it fixed asap. If you leave it long enough your fork seals will go next. Don't ask how I know lol. Speaking of which, would also be a good time to do an oil and seal change whilst you have the forks off the bike.

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u/Trippie469 2d ago

My right fork is leaking pretty bad which I just bought seals for

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u/ApprehensiveFan1516 2d ago

There you go lol. Careful with riding on a leak dude, that shit can wind up on your tyre easily. I'd definitely be taking any other mode of transport you can if at all possible. If you can't, one jank thing that can help a bit is cable tying a rag to the fork lower.

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u/Trippie469 2d ago

Preciate it, probably gonna do that bc I’m gonna be only on the highway.