Steering head bearings.

[Elysium]

Right-O. What are people's opinions on after market steering head bearings as I need to replace the front steering head bearings on my VTR. Does it really matter if I use a non Honda part on my bike?

[Coldrider]

I purchased a set from ALL BALLS RACING and they did the job fine.
Come with both top & bottom and seals. Also a nice sticker to put on your workbench.

[F5 Dave]

You will surely die. Soichiro Honda will rise from the grave and defile your corpse.


or it might be ok

[Elysium]

I purchased a set from ALL BALLS RACING and they did the job fine.
Come with both top & bottom and seals. Also a nice sticker to put on your workbench.

You got a sticker? .......hmmmm gotta make sure I get myself set that comes with a sticker.

Well I'm emailing a few bike shops and one has quoted $69 for a set and it looks like most of the cost is going to be labour. How much should a desent set cost?

You will surely die. Soichiro Honda will rise from the grave and defile your corpse.


or it might be ok

Well City Honda quoted about $400 or more to do the job

[Coldrider]

Don't know about labour, I did mine myself but I have access to a induction bearing heater, so i could slide the bearing straight on. The existing bottom bearing was difficult to remove to say the least, I think i ended cutting the inner ring off.

[YellowDog]

So long as you get really good quality components, preferrably not out of China I wouldn't worry.

[F5 Dave]

There are a few threads about this do a search for ideas if doing yourself. If you can borrow a MIG it makes it easy to remove the bottom race.

Just as an aside a mate's VTR tried to kill itself recently. Springs in front cam chain tensioner break in time (his had done 38k), bending valves etc. Best to replace every so often or do as he did & buy APE manual ones (after buying new valves etc). Should be info on this on web.

[The Stranger:Me]

Right-O. What are people's opinions on after market steering head bearings as I need to replace the front steering head bearings on my VTR. Does it really matter if I use a non Honda part on my bike?

Genuine?
Do Honda really make bearings?
Bike manufacturers use after market bearings in my experience. But they will gladly repackage them for you for an additional $100.00 or more.

[vifferman]

Use whatever you like, as long as they're the right dimensions. My VTR had the bearings replaced with roller bearings, as has the VFR.
As for the camchain tensioners, Honda have been crap at camchains and tensioners since... well - forever, really. My VTR had lunched a couple of valves before I bought it, and had new valves, camchains and tensioners. So I threw the brand new tensioners away and fitted APE ones.
I've owned 7 or 8 Hondas, and the only ones that didn't have crap cam drives were the two VFRs and the two smoke.

As for "OEM" - be aware that many OEM parts come from other sources: the electrical components, brakes, mufflers, wheels, bearings, rubber thingies, etc etc. Many may be designed (or at least, spec'd) by the marque, but are made elsewhere. Even a lot of genuine parts are actualy made by small family businesses contracted to the company. Apart from being assured the "genuine" parts fit, there's generally little advantage to buying "OEM", and especially not to your wallet.
I know some Mrkns on bike forums who buy everything OEM, including Honda branded chains, sprockets, oil, coolant, clothes and cleaners. Sounds almost like the HD club, dunnit?
Having said that, some of the Honda stuff is pretty good quality, so it's a shame the dealers here haven't cottoned on to it. Be a nice extra income source for them.

[Elysium]

There are a few threads about this do a search for ideas if doing yourself. If you can borrow a MIG it makes it easy to remove the bottom race.

Just as an aside a mate's VTR tried to kill itself recently. Springs in front cam chain tensioner break in time (his had done 38k), bending valves etc. Best to replace every so often or do as he did & buy APE manual ones (after buying new valves etc). Should be info on this on web.

Curious, was the VTR in question an ealy model?

Right I will enquire with these bike shops on what bearing sets they will use and maybe see who does they cheapest labour.

[Coldrider]

Don't get too wound up about it, bearings are made to a standard.
I tried to source mine through saeco, but couldn't match up one of them.
So I ended up with the all balls kit.
If you are reasonably mechanically minded, take out your steering stem, the top bearing should be easy. You don't know till you start what probs the bottom bearing shell will present or not. Cutting or grinding off the bottom bearing shell is not a biggy if you have too, minimise shaft damage though.
You could enquire if a local electric motor rewinder can heat the bottom bearing and put it on the steering sahft for you, electric motor rewinders have all the gear for heating and fitting bearings (this i know from a former life). You will have to pay him of course. The top bearing will be a piece of piss, tighten up and you have saved mega.

[Yankee Doodle Dandy]

I like to install a tapered roller on the bottom and the stock ball bearing at the top.

You can use a coffee cup warmer to heat the bearing so it is easier to install.

[Robert Taylor]

Use whatever you like, as long as they're the right dimensions. My VTR had the bearings replaced with roller bearings, as has the VFR.
As for the camchain tensioners, Honda have been crap at camchains and tensioners since... well - forever, really. My VTR had lunched a couple of valves before I bought it, and had new valves, camchains and tensioners. So I threw the brand new tensioners away and fitted APE ones.
I've owned 7 or 8 Hondas, and the only ones that didn't have crap cam drives were the two VFRs and the two smoke.

As for "OEM" - be aware that many OEM parts come from other sources: the electrical components, brakes, mufflers, wheels, bearings, rubber thingies, etc etc. Many may be designed (or at least, spec'd) by the marque, but are made elsewhere. Even a lot of genuine parts are actualy made by small family businesses contracted to the company. Apart from being assured the "genuine" parts fit, there's generally little advantage to buying "OEM", and especially not to your wallet.
I know some Mrkns on bike forums who buy everything OEM, including Honda branded chains, sprockets, oil, coolant, clothes and cleaners. Sounds almost like the HD club, dunnit?
Having said that, some of the Honda stuff is pretty good quality, so it's a shame the dealers here haven't cottoned on to it. Be a nice extra income source for them.

I dont entirely agree, many aftermarket parts such as ''cheap'' bearings may look the same. But all too often often the material choices are of lower quality and have a significantly shorter lifespan. Cheapness often costs!!
For the most part the Japanese and European manufacturers have some ethics about minimum standards of quality. I doubt the same can be said about a good many products coming from the Asian mainland.

[Shaun]

I dont entirely agree, many aftermarket parts such as ''cheap'' bearings may look the same. But all too often often the material choices are of lower quality and have a significantly shorter lifespan. Cheapness often costs!!
For the most part the Japanese and European manufacturers have some ethics about minimum standards of quality. I doubt the same can be said about a good many products coming from the Asian mainland.

I doubt the same can be said about a good many products coming from the Asian mainland.

I know a GUY WHO JUST GOT A GREAT WIFE FROM THERE, SHE ARRIVED IN THE POST YESTERDAY

[BASS-TREBLE]

I just got a set for the FZR off www.bits4bikes.com
ALL BALLS RACING and came with the magical sticker too