newbie here with a question about my Bandit

[tazmaniac1]

Hi everyone I am not new to riding but am new to here, anyway i just purchased a 07 Bandit 3000 miles very clean well my second day with the bike I got a little carried away with a start and lifted the front end about 3 feet which is not a big deal but more than I thought so I came down a little hard but not unreasonable but ever since that I have had a noise coming from the front end, the noise happens only when I hit a pot hole or hard bump, so for the last few days I have been trying to identify this solid noise and pretty eliminated the fairing, I cant not see it but I can feel it in the grips or in the triple forks area could it be a broken spring or the nut between the handlebar riser need tightening.. it is odd  
thank you

[Papa Lazarou]

Ignore the negative reps-it's just the way STNers play with each other.

This could be a variety of different things. If you feel able, strip the forks yourself and take a look. If not, take it to a garage.

[tazmaniac1]

what would i look for, it almost feels like the steering stem area is there anything in that area that would cause the issue is there a torque spec??

[Papa Lazarou]

what would i look for, it almost feels like the steering stem area is there anything in that area that would cause the issue is there a torque spec??

headbearings. be careful when riding if these are bust. not a hugely difficult job to replace.

[veefer800canuck]

Check the steering head bearing for play. With only 3,000 miles, I would not expect them to be worn, but they may be loose.
Since the bike is 6 years old, regardless of mileage, I would personally remove, inspect, clean and regrease the bearings, then install and torque them to the spec in the manual.

[Orson]

wheelies (or rather the hard landings from wheelies) really put a stress on steering head bearings, so if the previous owner was a wheelie nut, they could be nattered.

[tazmaniac1]

that does about right next question is the a site or a "how to" type deal for specs and what to look for

thanks

[Mr.Black]

Try starting here.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/6547790/Suzuki-GSF1250K7-Bandit-Workshop-Manual

[vulcanbill]

that does about right next question is the a site or a "how to" type deal for specs and what to look for

thanks

What you want to look for is a nice soft landing.  You need to leave enough RPMs available to bring the front down slowly or, at the very least, make sure you whack it back open right before the wheel lands.  This will mitigate some of the force of gravity's unkindness.

I installed an aftermarket horn and realized, way too late, that the fender was whacking it when I was landing wheelies.  Look for stupid obvious stuff before hunting down internal ghouls.  Make sure your calipers are torq'd correctly too.  Same with the front axle nut.  

[Mr.Black]

The only front end noise I have encountered in mine was the fan shroud would knock about causing a slight racket.

[scottzilla]

Check for play in the front end as others have suggested.  Also, check to make sure you didn't bend the front rim or knock a wheel weight off.

[tazmaniac1]

Found it.....well about 99% sure I did, the spanner on the top stem finger tight at best and the nut on the top of the triple had about 5 ftlb of torque, put it back except forgot to back off the spanner 1/2 turn

thanks for everything i hope