Front end shaking when coming to a stop

[viperclaw]

Not sure about a "shake" but I know what the clicking is you are talking about.

The rotors are "floating" to compensate for slight imperfections in the disc and or rim in lateral runout. If you grab the rotor and twist it back and forth around the axle (wheel rotation and counter rotation) you will feel the little bit of give in the rotor. When braking the clicking is from the calipers pulling on the rotor around this "float". Imagine rolling the wheel off of the bike by the rotors and not by the wheel axis. Now put weight on the wheel through the axis or axle. It is going to start clunking (clicking) as the weight distributes to different points in the 5 point mounting of the discs. This is pretty much the same as the calipers pulling on the discs, while the axle is holding the wheel, causing the disc to click around the axis of the wheel. You can simulate it by grasping the disc at two ends and rolling it around the wheel axis. You should feel the "clicking".

Not sure if the "shake" you are speaking of is the related to this but possibly. Is it actually shaking the bars in your hands? or does it just seem like it is shaking because of the "clicking" noise?

[cwcary]

All things considered, I believe ViperClaw is correct!

Curtis

[EBruner]

IMHO it's the floating rotors. They make a ratcheting clicking sound sometimes at the end of a stop. Nothing to worry about.

-Eddie

[HULK]

Sounds like the steering head bearing. Happens sometimes to me as well (2012 s1k). Also happened on my 2007 cbr1000rr. With both bikes the mechanics torqued everything to spec but it would still occasionally happen. Maybe torque it 1nm more and see if that helps? It seems to only happen with short stop hard breaking.

[Slim]

if it were the rotors wouldnt all bikes do it? haha. mine surely doesnt.

[sbs]

I know some people have said its NOT the ABS, but I disagree. 43k miles into owning mine and I have noticed this exact same thing, only when at low speeds and only on occasion. Mostly it happens to me on my commute when either there are damp patches and I'm coming to a stop, OR I hit some painted areas, OR I hit some slight dirt/gravel, or metal, or oil, all of these scenarios while coming to a slow stop.

It's never consistent and it almost always happens with cold tyres and cold brakes in town, never at high speeds

[AMPforE]

FWIW,

Check the pinch bolts at the bottom of the forks. Ask me why.

[viperclaw]

I'll bite.

Why?

[AMPforE]

Had the wheel off and forgot to tighten the right side. When stopping I had a shake. Got home checked again and was happy the bolts didn't back all the way out. Tightened them up and the shake went away. It's a long shot but I would check them anyway for those with this problem.