Two issues st1100

[BillSteff]

Guys and Gals
I have just completed a2500 km trip and have encountered a noise in the front area of my 95 st1100. I pulled up for petrol and as I was leaving servo I could hear what sounded like a scraping sound coming from up front. I got off and inspected the front area and found nothing. Mounted up and travelled home the last43 km not hearing any thing. Slowed up to enter front gates and heard the noise again. I have replaced my brake pads tonight and test rode and when I slowed to turn right the sound appeared again. It sounds very much like grinding metal. So,straight line no noise, slight right turn sound appears.
Second issue, riding along lights put up to high beam and darkness. Blackness going into a corner is terrifying. This is the second time in three months this has happened to me. I pulled the switch apart and cleaned, sprayed and it occurred again tonight.
I know the bike is getting older but these are my first worries with it.128000km. New tyres were fitted for Middleton trip
Any ideas those mechanically minded
Bilby

[Streak]

Guys and Gals
I have just completed a2500 km trip and have encountered a noise in the front area of my 95 st1100. I pulled up for petrol and as I was leaving servo I could hear what sounded like a scraping sound coming from up front. I got off and inspected the front area and found nothing. Mounted up and travelled home the last43 km not hearing any thing. Slowed up to enter front gates and heard the noise again. I have replaced my brake pads tonight and test rode and when I slowed to turn right the sound appeared again. It sounds very much like grinding metal. So,straight line no noise, slight right turn sound appears.
Second issue, riding along lights put up to high beam and darkness. Blackness going into a corner is terrifying. This is the second time in three months this has happened to me. I pulled the switch apart and cleaned, sprayed and it occurred again tonight.
I know the bike is getting older but these are my first worries with it.128000km. New tyres were fitted for Middleton trip
Any ideas those mechanically minded
Bilby

I am not that mechanically minded, but bearings maybe?

As for the light the sounds like something loose in the headlight connection?

But I could also be very wrong...

[Biggles]

High beam failure sounds like a dead relay.

I vaguely recall that front end noise but it was 6 years ago.  Wait for saaz to get out of bed late tomorrow morning and he'll be able to tell you.   

[saaz]

Classic problem with the ST11 is dirty contacts in the headlight hi/lo switch.  After that could be the relays playing up, but far less common.  There are separate relays for high and low beam.  Most of the disappearing headlight problems are solved by a really good clean of the hi/lo switch.

Grinding noise on brakes is harder to identify.  Have the anti rattle shims been fitted properly? Very easy to leave them out or not install them properly.  Turning should not change a brake noise, so checking the wheel bearings is one issue. Also, the pins on which the brake calipers slide can get gummed up, so cleaning and regreasing them can make a difference.  Also if the brake pistons/seals  have not been cleaned before being pushed back in the fit new pads, they can start sticking a bit and lead to some dragging.  All of these issues can build up over time, so if you rush fitting pads and don't check, clean and lubricate things it can come back to bite you.

[kappy5003]

Just a thought what's your tyre wear like.

I had been experiencing some noises especially in right handers that sounded like a dodgy bearing quite metallic.

I took bike off the road and pulled every thing apart for other reasons, checked wheel bearing and ok, but I did notice very odd wear pattern on front tyre, the way it was scalloped on right, the tyre expert say would create odd noise, like I explained.

Maybe maybe not.

[saaz]

Forgot to mention checking the anti-dive setup or play.

[Biggles]

Forgot to mention checking the anti-dive setup or play.

That reminds me.  That was the source of the noise on mine.  It's more annoying than dangerous.

[BillSteff]

Forgot to mention checking the anti-dive setup or play.

Saaz
I am not familiar with this . How is it checked

[saaz]

The anti-dive may have some play in it, which is normal.  There is a bush in the smaller allen bolt that sometimes may go missing if you are not careful in removing that caliper , so worth checking if it is there.  Nothing much else you can check really.  The main problems from my experience are making sure the anti rattle clips are installed properly (they hold the brake pads in position) and that the pistons/brake calipers slide smoothly - if they are sticking a bit that can cause dragging.

Forgot to mention checking the anti-dive setup or play.

Saaz
I am not familiar with this . How is it checked

[BillSteff]

Thanks for all the comments. It turned out to be stuffed front wheel bearings