Strange popping/cracking sound from front

[78Wingman]

I was riding my Valk on Saturday and after about 25 minutes on the road I was going through some slow corners (10 mph) and heard two or three "cracks/pops" from the front of the bike. It almost sounded like the sound I would think of if your visor cracked suddenly. I pulled over and inspected the front tire, brakes, etc. and didn't see anything. As this bike is an IS I also looked at the fairing and windshield and lights. I couldn't see anything wrong, so I got back on the road and proceeded home. I heard the sound once more in a turn, only slightly deadened this time and it was accompanied by the feeling of having run over something like a rock/pinecone but there wasn't anything in the road that I could see. I pulled over again after that and re-inspected the bike. Again I found nothing wrong so I continued on. I never heard the sound again and there was no strange issue like shimmying or unsteady ride. I went through more slow tight corners and travelled at 60-70mph on the way home without any issues. Upon arriving home I looked over the bike again, but could not find anything wrong.

So does anyone have any ideas/experience to share that might point me in the right direction to solve this mystery?

[Rat]

Check your wheel bearing(s) ...

Gord

[78Wingman]

Thanks for the reply Gord.

I thought about that, but wouldn't there be a sound/feel if was the wheel bearing, especially with the popping sound?

[Earl43P]

There are rubber mats glued to the inner front fender, if loose, they slap.

I had a rear bearing go bad years ago. Here's the thread but the photo and video links are dead, sorry.

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index. ... #msg717416

[78Wingman]

Thanks.

I’ll have to get a proper jack and adapter plate do I can get the beast off the ground safely so I can check it out. I guess my riding season just ended... let the winter maintenance projects commence!

[Sidecar Bob]

I've occasionally had something make a sound like something plastic breaking at the front of the bike. The first time it happened I got off and examined the bike but couldn't find anything wrong. After it happened a few times and almost always near corners where people that don't know how to drive run off the edge of the asphalt so their tires pick up gravel and deposit it on the road I figured out it has to be the front tire picking something up and throwing it forcefully against the inside of the front fender. It has happened on just about every bike I've had and I've never seen any sign of damage but it still startles me.

[78Wingman]

Now there’s something I hadn’t thought of...

Thanks!