Steering Head / Stem Bearings - All Balls Install

Heres a couple of links on how to change the 1300 bearings out and put in the 1800 bearings.

http://tech.vtxoa.com/index.php?action=artikel&cat=38&id=172&artlang=en

http://www.vtxoa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=215072&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=rake

http://www.vtxoa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=147665&highlight=steering+bearing+install

http://www.crapmods.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=932&highlight=bearings

http://www.motorcycleproject.com/motorcycle/text/shucking.html

Smokey, Sorry I didnt see your post sooner. The search function is your friend, at least on OB.

Is changeing the bearings on either, 1300, 1800 part of regular maintanence??? And If they are problematic what do you look for?? A flat spot when you turn the front wheel??? Curious minds would like to know!!!
Reaps

vtxreaper wrote:Is changeing the bearings on either, 1300, 1800 part of regular maintanence??? And If they are problematic what do you look for?? A flat spot when you turn the front wheel??? Curious minds would like to know!!!
Reaps

Reap,

The deal with the steering head bearings is this. On the 1300 they are cheaply made and on the light side of being beefy. The 1800's have a tougher cage to hold the bearings. The reason why the change is some guys reported wobbles while riding the bike. Some guys changed them and thus we now know of the cheap bearings. Guys like to have the insurance of heavier duty bearings. I just shut my eyes and ride so I wont think about it....... All kidding aside, I haven't noticed any wobbles or loose front end play on my 1300 yet! And NO I haven't changed mine.


...................bobby

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Reaps, to add to what Twin said the 1300 comes with cheesy ill fitting ball bearings and the 1800 comes with tapered roller bearings. But all the rest of the guts are the same. So to minimize the wobble the roller bearings give you a better fit stopping the wobble.

See you out there
Smokey

Thanks Bobby and Smokey!!! Understand now. Reaps

When I only had 3,000 miles on my bike, I complained about the fronend, said there is something wrong. To make a long story short. I had them changed out at about 8k, they put the OEM ones back in, that was before this mod was even thought of, the second set lasted about 9 or 10k before I was haveing cornnering issues again, I think it was Coolrunnings from here in OR. and PepsiX did the mod. first, and I heard about it and changed mine out, at about 20k (the 2nd set), they had pits and flat spots in them allready, and now I have over 55k on the bike and I havent touched them. I didnt want to change them every 8 or 10k. and the diff. in the handleing is something elese, you wouldnt beleave it,unless you try it, well worth the time and the $40. I didnt use any special tools, but I did make a driver to drive the lower bearring on. When I went to set the bearrings, I just went by feel. Its so easy, a caveman can do it.

Bumped for Hudi

thanks everyone, what a great group of people here. drive safely ....hudi