Have a Stumpy comp 07?

Question

something is creaking on the frame, should i be worried? what could it be? a bearing on the pivot?

Answer 1

Don't worry, just try to isolate it so you can fix it!   :o)

It could be lots of things...you just have to start listening carefully and examining things to rule them out.  First try to figure out if the noise happens under pedaling pressure only, or if you can make it happen while the bike is stationary.

It's common to have the seatpost creak, so take it out, grease it, and see if it still happens.  While you're there, carefully examine the paint around the seat tube for any cracks, especially at the bottom of the slot cutout.   Wiggle your cable housing ends to see if they're making noise where they seat in the fittings on the frame.  Look very carefully at all frame tubing the the vicinity of the bottom bracket, especially where the chainstays meet the chainrings near the bb shell.....very common place to crack.   If you can't see it, you may be able to feel it with a fingernail or see it open up when a friend sits on the bike.  The bottom bracket cups or crankarms could be loose or damaged, too, and they can make it sound and feel as if the noise is coming from the frame somewhere.   Loose chainring bolts can creak and crackle loudly sometimes, so check their torque and put a light smear of grease where the rings mate with the crankarm spider and around the outside of the female part of the bolt.  Even silly things like saddle rails/seatpost clamps can make those noise appear to be in the frame.  

The most obvious thing is creaky shock mounts or suspension pivots.  Check those if you have them, maybe by removing the shock and working the linkage with no load, or by disassembling them for inspection.  Most bushing pivots shouldn't be greased (grease can actually accelerate their wear), but if yours are worn out and creaking you can lightly grease them to shut them up while you wait on new parts to come in.  Check with a specialized dealer to see what they recommend for the pivots on your model year.

Hope this helps some....just work systematically and examine parts on your frame and components and you should be able to locate the noise or at least narrow it down.  Sometimes it helps to have a friend look and listen with you while you ride slowly or sit on the bike and apply pressure or rock it back and forth with the brakes locked.  Good luck....post back with more if you need to.    :o)