Tapered steering head bearings -- worth it?

[TygerTung]

I wouldn't bother, just got for new stock ones. My CB has done about 54k and it seems fine, and before it became a race bike it was a farm bike.

Does yours shudder at the front end when cornering HARD? I dunno if it's the tire or forks on mine. You probably only get cornering this HARD on the track though.

[xwhatsit]

I wouldn't bother, just got for new stock ones. My CB has done about 54k and it seems fine, and before it became a race bike it was a farm bike.

Does yours shudder at the front end when cornering HARD? I dunno if it's the tire or forks on mine. You probably only get cornering this HARD on the track though.

Mine tends to wallow and scrape the pegs before it gets pushed hard enough to do that, I think.

Anyway I'm not worried about steering head bearings for a little while now, as it looks like my poor wee RS might be a write-off

[TygerTung]

What did you do to it?

I'm quite impressed with mine at the moment. While not having the performance to play with the faster riders on RD350LC's, it is quick enough to play with the big ducati's and big british bikes in the Pre'82 class. Maybe I need to make it a 350 or a 500 to get it going a bit harder!

[robinm]

Harking back to the original question, you can buy the kits in NZ, any 1/2 pye decent bike shop should be able to source them for you. You will find that it would work out cheaper and defiantly better than replacing with std ones. You shouldn't replace just the balls in the std setup, you MUST also replace the two races in the steering head and the two races on the steering stem, and there lies the expense. Go tapered rollers, you will not regret it.
If your local bike shop says they can not get them, tell them that R2 enterprises should have them.

[Shaun]

ALL BALLS TAPERED BEARINGS

They are supplied through W H WHITE whole salers

[Katman]

ALL BALLS TAPERED BEARINGS

They are supplied through W H WHITE whole salers

Except Whites don't have a listing for the CB250RS.

[FilthyLuka]

Except Whites don't have a listing for the CB250RS.

Surely you could fit tapered steering head bearings with the same dimensions as what would be necessary for the CB250RS? Perhaps honda used the same steering head dimensions on other bikes, who knows.

[FilthyLuka]

ALL BALLS TAPERED BEARINGS

These are sexy awesome

[Katman]

Surely you could fit tapered steering head bearings with the same dimensions as what would be necessary for the CB250RS? Perhaps honda used the same steering head dimensions on other bikes, who knows.

I think the problem you'd find is that ball bearings plus top and bottom races would be a lot less deep than tapered roller bearings. The dimensions of the steering head housing and the steering shaft would not be the issue.

However, I do know that Honda do a conversion kit for the CX500 so maybe there is one for the CB250RS.

[Crasherfromwayback]

Thanks for the advice. Can't make it handle too good, otherwise I might as well buy an RZ250.

Actually mate, an RZ250 has balls and races too, as do most if not ALL 'proper' road race bikes. For road racing application they are better.

[Shaun]

Except Whites don't have a listing for the CB250RS.

If they were givin all the dinensions of the current standard Bearings and Raises, I BET THEY HAVE ONE TO FIT, PARTS man, just needs to think outside the BOX

[Shaun]

Surely you could fit tapered steering head bearings with the same dimensions as what would be necessary for the CB250RS? Perhaps honda used the same steering head dimensions on other bikes, who knows.

To much logic mate

[bungbung]

For road racing application they are better.

Why would balls be better than tapered rollers?

less friction?

[Katman]

If they were givin all the dinensions of the current standard Bearings and Raises, I BET THEY HAVE ONE TO FIT, PARTS man, just needs to think outside the BOX

From my experience the ball bearing races that locate in the steering head housing are usually only about 5mm deep whereas tapered bearing races are usually about 10mm. If the steering head housing only allows a depth of 5mm before the race bottoms out how are you going to fit a 10mm deep race in there?

[Crasherfromwayback]

Why would balls be better than tapered rollers?

less friction?

You've got it. My RS250 Honda was balls/races, as are TZ Yamahas and I'm sure you'll find every Moto GP bike!