I have a 1998 883

Have a noise from the front end when decelerating like coming to a stop or turning a corner. Can also feel the noise in my handlebars (vibration)

I thought it was the front wheel bearings so had an Indy shop replace them. They said they did a quick inspection and everything else looked good. Brakes are good. Only 8k miles on the bike.

Any other ideas it could be?
Sounds almost like a bearing noise. But I just replaced those. Used the Drag Specialty kit. Bearings. Race. Seals.

 

Update.

I found s long stretch of road. Got my bike up to 35. Put it in neutral and shut off the engine and coasted to a stop. Not touching the clutch or the brakes.

The noise happens briefly at 20 mph and 10 mph.

And I'm 90% sure it's coming from the front end. I felt around what I could reach to try to isolate the noise/vibration. But I'm still stumped.

I don't know what else it could be except the wheel bearing or the axle.

 

If you have a factory manual , I'd do a critical fastener check.
I had a wierd vibration after installing longer rear shocks , I even set the belt tension with a preload gauge.
Turns out with the belt set at the tighter spec for a '48 , with 13" shocks , the tension got tighter after a few miles (everything warm).
I eventually set the spec to a looser spec (like a Roadster) and it was fine.
Actually felt the vibes in the handlebars more than anything.
Vibes and noise can result from the darndest things , even an odd wear pattern on the tires can cause noise at certain speeds.
Did you change brands of tires?
I assume the bike doesn't have the stock tires , they would be too old to be running safe at this time.
Good idea with the engine-off rolling decell , hope you find this.
Mick

 

Motor mount...??

 

I cant find it using search but I read on here (or possibly xlforums) about a guy with a clunk coming from his front end and someone replied saying to loosen off and re-torque the head nut steering bearing thing (?) which apparently cured it?

I'll try searching again as I think I have a slight knock from the front end at low speeds too.

 

Iarecobra did you find out the cause of yours? As I suspected I definitely have a clunk from my front end. I noticed it when moving the bike around in my yard. As I shunted it back and forth turning the handlebars there is a very definite clunk from what I think is the head stock area and i can feel it in the bars too?

I'll get it up on a stand tonight and check the wheel bearings and head bearings for play...

 

I figured out my problem. It wasn't a clunk. More of a vibration noise.

Jacked up the front wheel and noticed a little play in the bearing. Checked torque that was good. Ended up using a smaller shim and re-torqued and the noise went away.

Not sure why the original shims were too big. I used drag specialty bearings. But oh well. All is well now.

 

Thanks.Glad you got it sorted. I think mind was the bar mounts? They seemed a little loose and certainly benefited from a tighten.