15 ES Forks

[Powerman]

Buddy just bought a clean 15 ES with 20K. Complains of front end looseness, shop checked stem bearings as OK. Front tire has some cupping. Looks like previous owner never leaned more than a couple of degrees.

Fork dives and rebounds a couple inches, makes little clunk noise when rebounding. No experience with ES, no adjustments? Sitting on it in the parking lot and pushing down on the bar it feels like it could use some preload and a little damping. The ES stuff not active in the parking lot?
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[Intech]

Clunk is not good. Something is loose. As long as the bike is running the ES is active. Did you try adjusting it through the settings? The bike has to be running and in neutral to access the full settings.

[Powerman]

He tried all the settings. It was dark and I didn't ride it after drinking.
Clunk may be a little over exaggerated, but it made a noise.

[ionbeam]

...Complains of front end looseness, shop checked stem bearings as OK...

Loose steering head bearings were not an uncommon issue with the '15 FJR. They make a clunking noise and sometimes even feel a little loose.

Put the clunking FJR on the center stand. Have a helper carefully push down on the back of the bike until the front wheel is off the ground. Sit on the ground with the front wheel between your legs (kneel down if you are young and your knees are good ). Grab the lower ends of the forks with both hands then push and pull the forks backwards and forwards with some force. There should be no noise or movement from the steering head.

[raYzerman]

All FJR's need their steering head bearings checked early in life... if never done, they could be loose. Other clunks include brake rotor noise (floating rivet design) and loose air deflector under bottom of triple tree. There shouldn't be anything rattling in the forks..... I doubt there really could be.

[ionbeam]

...Other clunks include brake rotor noise (floating rivet design)...There shouldn't be anything rattling in the forks..... I doubt there really could be.

+1 to the rotors.

[jwilly]

He tried all the settings. I rode it after drinking.

I found the problem..