Front bearings

[MoFunthanmost]

Hey all,

Just had my bike in the shop, and was told the front bearings were loose and a danger. fair enough, had thought that myself, hence the shop visit, and
got it fixed.

Now. maybe I was just used to riding on dodgey bearings, but the bike feels less controlable now than it did before the work. best way I can explain it is when i'm cornering, i get a feeling through the bars like I do when you ride over a grove in the road thats the same direction youre traveling, it feels like the tire is either flat, or moving and pulling to one side briefly.

I've put the bike on the centre stand, checked whether the wheel moves in it's bearings at all. checked tire presure, and looked for anythign that might be stuck in the tire (like a nail or something). All's come up nada and looks to be fine.

Anyone got any ideas as to what may be the probelm (other than me)
is it likely i just have to get used to the new feel, or could it be somethign else (shocks?)

thanks in advance,

Mo

[DEATH_INC.]

Mate,in all seriousness DON'T ride the thing again untill you've stripped the steering head bearings and eyballed 'em,I'll betcha they're shot.Draco got spat off her bike a while back because of this and ended up in intensive care for a bit.
If in doubt replace them.

[MoFunthanmost]

Cheers mate. taking it back to the shop 2moro AM.

Mo

[Rhino]

A couple of suggestions for you. Both need the bike on the centre stand and the front wheel off the ground.

1. Hold the front forks at the axle and attempt to move the axle backwards and forwards. Any movement here can indicate either:

a) Loose steering head bearings
b) Worn front fork staunchion bushes
c) Loose triple clamps

2. Very gently turn the front wheel full lock from centre to left and then to right and back again. This is best carried out while still holding the forks. If you try this via the bars, the leverage may mask any problems. Any graunching or change of pressure required to do this indicates that the steering head bearing races are pitted (have indentations.) While these may not be felt by carrying out test 1, it means that they need to be replaced.

I have had experience of mechanics tightening steering head bearings found via test 1, but the bike still feeling quite wierd to ride. The problem occurs when you start to turn in to a corner. If the races are pitted, it takes quite an effort to turn the bars the slight amount needed for the corner. The usual effect is that nothing happens until the bearings move out of the indentations, and then the bike seems to almost "fall in" to the corner.

[R1madness]

Yep i agree with both the guys above. They definitly sound like they are shot. Replace them asap. If you are worried about the cost install tapered roller bearings from a bearing shop rather than the genuine ones. Yea yea i know all the arguments for and against but i dont care. They work fine. And its not that hard to work out what size you need.

[MoFunthanmost]

right, took it back and one of the mechanics looked at it. He did Rhino's #2 option, said it seemed fine. I'm gonna take it back (again) with a booking to have it ridden around a bit to feel the problem 1st hand early next week.

Or should i take it to a different place for another opinion?

thanks for your help so far guys!

[Brett]

My bike does that over grooves in the road, i just put it down to tramlining...cause i have searched the bike over, and it feels ok. I will check the steering head bearings as well. i certainly dont want to get spat out of a corner...

[Sketchy_Racer]

yea i get the same on my bike..... kinda feels like the bike is following a rail kinda thing...but i dont get the 'falling' into a cornerthing. As suggested above, Pull the headset bearings out and inspect, and the races

[R1madness]

right, took it back and one of the mechanics looked at it. He did Rhino's #2 option, said it seemed fine. I'm gonna take it back (again) with a booking to have it ridden around a bit to feel the problem 1st hand early next week.

Or should i take it to a different place for another opinion?

thanks for your help so far guys!

Yea it could be tramlining but if in doubt get another opinion. Get them to take it for a ride. Its a bit hard to diagnose without feeling it for myself. Tell ya what though if ya do replace them it will be the best $250 you ever spent on the handling if it has more than 20000k on the clock. It should only take about an hour for a good service dept to replace them regardless of the type of bike.