I am getting a banging noise in the front of my 96' Road King and I was poking around this morning and noticed the extra space by the spacer on the left side of the front axle. Is this normal?

Also, does this mounting bracket look right?






Thanks in advance from a motorcycle newbie

 

Looks fine to me.

 

Looks ok to me also. They have like a double shoulder on the spacer that makes it look like it's not all the way in the fork. As long as the cap space front and back is even and not to wide it is ok. If it was put on backwards I think it would have a wide space front and back. From what I can tell from your pictures it looks OK.

 

Do you have any wobble in turns?
What do you mean banging?

 

Thank you everybody for the quick answers.

The "banging" is a banging, popping sounds when I hit bumps, manhole covers or pot holes. I suspect the front end is bottoming out. The forks traveling about 3" or so when I bounce on the bike. I plan on changing the fork oil and adding heavier 15W and checking the air pressure in the forks. I am a bigger guy (275 pounds) so maybe that will help.

I have only had the bike for a week so I'm not sure what all has been done maintenance wise.

 

Yep it sounds like some maintenance is definitely in order.

Are your forks wet?
If so your seals are blown out and it is time for a rebuild.

 

Negative. Forks are dry. Weather finally cleared up after endless rain for days so I took her out for a ride today. May change the fork oil and up the air pressure sometime mid week.

 

It's been a long time since I owned my 96'RK, but I seem to recall that one had to maintain a minimum of 5 PSI in the front fork tubes, or you run the risk of pinching the air bladders.

Nice looking RK by the way.

 

Your steering neck bearings may need servicing. They can also cause the symptoms you describe.

 

Except for the 3 inches of travel when pushing on the handlebars.