Steering Stem Bearings.....{ Life After Death}

[eddie lane]

Only for you man. Ok and others like you.

others like me? you mean those of us that refuse to be a puppet and accept what we're told, without question? people that want a reason for what you and others like you take as law because someone you feel inferior to, said so?
i have ability to think and reason. excuse the hell out of me for doing so!!

carry on, Pinocchio.

[Kawi Vandal]

others like me? you mean those of us that refuse to be a puppet and accept what we're told, without question? people that want a reason for what you and others like you take as law because someone you feel inferior to, said so?
i have ability to think and reason. excuse the hell out of me for doing so!!

carry on, Pinocchio.

Attachment 165200

Yeah, those people.

[eddie lane]

Yeah, those people.

well at least you admit that you're just another sheep following the herder. you get a 1/2 point for that.

[Kawi Vandal]

well at least you admit that you're just another sheep following the herder. you get a 1/2 point for that.

Wow an Eddie Lane 1/2 point. Wonder if they'll take it at the corner market for another can of sarcasm

[eddie lane]

Wow an Eddie Lane 1/2 point. Wonder if they'll take it at the corner market for another can of sarcasm

no but they are humbly accepted at ELS.com.

[Kawi Vandal]

no but they are humbly accepted at ELS.com.

I'm pretty sure they don't accept them there either. Also, why would I want to study english abroad?

[John T]

I must refrain from posting......this upcoming bearing failure may prove be the solution to my one issue with this board.

Are you sure you only have ONE issue?

[SILVER-Z]

i've read and i believe that the steering should be tested with the front end and the full weight on the ground. place two sheets of waxed paper, one on top of the other, in front of the front wheel. then roll the bike forward until the wheel is centered on them. with the bike in the upright position, slowly turn the bars from full lock left to full lock right and back again several times, checking for stiffness or any kind of catch or notchiness. i have also read that it is better to do this while standing off to the side of the bike, rather than sitting on it.
you might want to consider pulling the triples for a visual inspection and a repack, since the bearings are notorious for being dry anyhow.

as for my bike wanting to fall into the turns; i feel it was due to the very noticeable notch in the center of the steering, before the cleaning and repack. the notch was so stiff that the bars didn't want to come off center as fast as the lean in did. something else i noticed after the repack was that before, the bike wanted to wander if i took my hands off the bars and it was difficult to body steer it but after the repack i could easily body steer it, like you're supposed to be able to.

Eddie, I did what you suggested, and it feels very smooth easy to turn but smooth, no notchyness (< is that a word?) no tight spots, no gritty feeling nothing. I guess I'm looking for a problem in the neck that does'nt exist there, Thanks for the help, Troy.

[KWICK]

Eddie, I did what you suggested, and it feels very smooth easy to turn but smooth, no notchyness (< is that a word?) no tight spots, no gritty feeling nothing. I guess I'm looking for a problem in the neck that does'nt exist there, Thanks for the help, Troy.

You need to put a bit of preload on the bearings to feel the notchy-ness. If the are loose, they'll have to be real bad to feel it.

[SILVER-Z]

Silver-z, check your front tire pressure and see if it's cupped

isaac, I'm anal about tire pressure. I keep recomended 36/36 psi. The tire, according to records has about 1,000 miles on it, And the stamp on the tire reads [3009]=30 weeks into 2009 July, 2009-July, 2012=Three years old and it is a Dunlop sportsman W/no visible cupping.

[Kawi Vandal]

isaac, I'm anal about tire pressure. I keep recomended 36/36 psi. The tire, according to records has about 1,000 miles on it, And the stamp on the tire reads [3009]=30 weeks into 2009 July, 2009-July, 2012=Three years old and it is a Dunlop sportsman W/no visible cupping.

Is that 36 front, 36 rear? If so you may let a little out of the rear. Others may run theirs differently but I've found running the rear a few pounds less than the front (larger contact patch needs less pressure to equal same load on road as front tire does with higher psi and smaller contact patch) helps with the traction. Too high in the rear may lead to wheel spin.

If it's not the bearings causing the bad steering and not the tire, where are your eccentrics positioned and are the forks slid up at all in the triples?

[SILVER-Z]

You need to put a bit of preload on the bearings to feel the notchy-ness. If the are loose, they'll have to be real bad to feel it.

I may not have wrote this earlyer but about 3 weeks ago I had the bike supported with front end off of the ground I pulled the forks and wheel, front to back, left to right I tried to move it in every way posible to find any play in steering neck bearings. I could'nt find anything wrong one week later my dad and I went through the whole process again with same results no problem found. so thats when i tried what eddie suggested. Another member suggested to change the front tire, the rear is already ordered so i thought getting a pair (new) is probobly a good idea.

[SILVER-Z]

Is that 36 front, 36 rear? If so you may let a little out of the rear. Others may run theirs differently but I've found running the rear a few pounds less than the front (larger contact patch needs less pressure to equal same load on road as front tire does with higher psi and smaller contact patch) helps with the traction. Too high in the rear may lead to wheel spin.

If it's not the bearings causing the bad steering and not the tire, where are your eccentrics positioned and are the forks slid up at all in the triples?

I don't have a traction problem, not unless I want to I have been running 36psi. front and 36psi. rear only because that is what kawasaki recammends. The forks are at the factory possition or real close to it. The eccentrics are on the high side, factory possition to keep the bike as low as possible.

[texrick]

I must refrain from posting......this upcoming bearing failure may prove be the solution to my one issue with this board.

I've skimmed this thread, and gathered next to nothing from it.
I happened to see John T quote you above, Tom, and went back to make sure that it had been quoted correctly.
I don't like a lot of people. As a matter of fact, I probably hold a secret hatred for more folks than one could imagine. Justified or not. In spite of all of this, I never recall thinking, speaking, typing, or alluding to the death or serious bodily injury of a fellow member, as ever being a "solution" to any beef I may have with another human being.
That's just plain fecking sad. Seriously.

[Kawi Vandal]

I don't have a traction problem, not unless I want to I have been running 36psi. front and 36psi. rear only because that is what kawasaki recammends. The forks are at the factory possition or real close to it. The eccentrics are on the high side, factory possition to keep the bike as low as possible.

Back to tires or bearings as most likely then.

Anyone know if a bent stem would be possible and cause this problem? Not sure how you would bend one, but if you've ruled out bearings, tire, and now suspension setup that seems next unless the frame is way out of wack.


I'm going to go back though and put my money on tires. It is IMO the safest bet offered in the house. Sure the payout isn't great, but only the poor or soon to be poor play for the money.

[eddie lane]

SILVER-Z, not to confuse you any further but my steering inspection/test reveals the same as yours. zero outward sign of being bad, yet there are at least two people here that insist they are and should be replaced immediately before i wind up riding it into a tree. at least i know mine are well lubricated. for all they know, yours could have worse dented races than mine did and no grease. our tests prove nothing.'i think you should try to hook up with someone close by ( like jethro) for a bike swap, to compare how each one feels to the other. it could prove to be enlightening.

[SILVER-Z]

SILVER-Z, not to confuse you any further but my steering inspection/test reveals the same as yours. zero outward sign of being bad, yet there are at least two people here that insist they are and should be replaced immediately before i wind up riding it into a tree. at least i know mine are well lubricated. for all they know, yours could have worse dented races than mine did and no grease. our tests prove nothing.'i think you should try to hook up with someone close by ( like jethro) for a bike swap, to compare how each one feels to the other. it could prove to be enlightening.

Thats a good idea eddie, I may just do that. My dad has ridden my bike and he thinks i'm chasing a ghost, he thinks that because the degrees of rake is so much less than my other moto's, more like a sport bike I just need to get used to it. But pulling the triples apart for a visable inspection, and then re-packing the bearings is probobly a good idea, If for nothing else but for good maintenance, Since I've only had it for about three and half months, and two owners before me. And two new tires instead of just a rear is prob. a good starting point also, Then take it from there. I like to think I know alot about motorcycles, but truth be known if i took my Dad, and everyone here on this forum out of the equation, I'd be screwed, Thanks everyone.

[Kawi Vandal]

Thats a good idea eddie, I may just do that. My dad has ridden my bike and he thinks i'm chasing a ghost, he thinks that because the degrees of rake is so much less than my other moto's, more like a sport bike I just need to get used to it. But pulling the triples apart for a visable inspection, and then re-packing the bearings is probobly a good idea, If for nothing else but for good maintenance, Since I've only had it for about three and half months, and two owners before me. And two new tires instead of just a rear is prob. a good starting point also, Then take it from there. I like to think I know alot about motorcycles, but truth be known if i took my Dad, and everyone here on this forum out of the equation, I'd be screwed, Thanks everyone.

Try the fixes one at a time. No need to put on a new tire until you totally rule out the bearings.

If it is the bearings, check your tire for the weathering cracks on the sidewalls. They often get over looked but if the front is 3.5 years old with only 1k miles on it it is something to watch out for. Better to be safe than tell how you survived a flat tire on the front end.

[SILVER-Z]

Try the fixes one at a time. No need to put on a new tire until you totally rule out the bearings.

If it is the bearings, check your tire for the weathering cracks on the sidewalls. They often get over looked but if the front is 3.5 years old with only 1k miles on it it is something to watch out for. Better to be safe than tell how you survived a flat tire on the front end.

Point taken, that is if you survive a front flat, never had one, don't want one sounds nasty.

[Barnyard]

Point taken, that is if you survive a front flat, never had one, don't want one sounds nasty.

Flats are on these low, thick side wall radials are not near as bad as a flat on a bias ply. Potentially dangerous yes, but depends how you're riding at the time too.

[zrx24]

Thats a good idea eddie, I may just do that. My dad has ridden my bike and he thinks i'm chasing a ghost, he thinks that because the degrees of rake is so much less than my other moto's, more like a sport bike I just need to get used to it.

That sheds quite a bit more light on the subject in your case. The Rex is a top heavy bike and does tend to fall in requiring you to "catch it" by reverse pressure on the bars, especially at low speeds. Not so much though at normal riding speeds, depending on the tire you're running. I suspect you're feeling most of this at lower speeds.

Front tire profile makes a huge difference in this regard. Most sport oriented tires have a somewhat triangular profile that allows for a quick fall in, which is generally desirable for the track or spirited riding on the street. Around town though it can be quite a nuisance. You might find a more rounded profile more to your liking. Most sport touring tires fit that bill, offering a much more gradual roll-in.


What tires are you currently running, by the way? Sorry if you've already stated and I've missed it.

[SILVER-Z]

That sheds quite a bit more light on the subject in your case. The Rex is a top heavy bike and does tend to fall in requiring you to "catch it" by reverse pressure on the bars, especially at low speeds. Not so much though at normal riding speeds, depending on the tire you're running. I suspect you're feeling most of this at lower speeds.

Front tire profile makes a huge difference in this regard. Most sport oriented tires have a somewhat triangular profile that allows for a quick fall in, which is generally desirable for the track or spirited riding on the street. Around town though it can be quite a nuisance. You might find a more rounded profile more to your liking. Most sport touring tires fit that bill, offering a much more gradual roll-in.


What tires are you currently running, by the way? Sorry if you've already stated and I've missed it.

Front is a dunlop sportmax qualifier 2 1/2 years old from markings on tire (3009) about 1,000 miles,just removed O.E. rear ( I think it was OE) bridgestone battlax 023 or 028 can't remember anyway put on Michelin Pilot Road. I've had the bike about 3 1/2 months and i probobly should have ordered a front at the time but i prolly will now

[ZRX Mitch]

If it's a Pilot Road, not a PR2 or PR3, that rear tire has a very flat profile in the center of the tire and doesn't match the profile of your front.

[SILVER-Z]

If it's a Pilot Road, not a PR2 or PR3, that rear tire has a very flat profile in the center of the tire and doesn't match the profile of your front.

It is a pilot road, and i see what you are talking about it being broad and flat I think they are discontinued I have been looking and can't find a match for front any suggestions?

[ZRX Mitch]

It is a pilot road, and i see what you are talking about it being broad and flat I think they are discontinued I have been looking and can't find a match for front any suggestions?

Call Discount Motorcycle Tire in Pasadena, they will be as likely as anyone to have one. They used to M&B for free, wheel off the bike, if you bought the tire from them. SE corner of Spencer and Shaver.

[eddie lane]

I must refrain from posting......this upcoming bearing failure may prove be the solution to my one issue with this board.

Tom, do you believe in karma?

[zrxrob]

Tom, do you believe in karma?

Whether he does or not I do so I'm gonna sit and watch this unfold exactly like everyone in this thread with any common sense FWIW (in one ear and out the other for you Eddie I'm sure) If I find a bad or questionable bearing my bike is parked until its replaced.Its just ignorant to "see how much more I can get out of it" when its something as critical as a steering head bearing AND someone offered to send you a set.I'm glad I don't have anyone I ride with that has that mentality.MAYBE you'll be lucky and not take anyone else out when you do find out how much more you can get out of it....

[eddie lane]

Whether he does or not I do so I'm gonna sit and watch this unfold exactly like everyone in this thread with any common sense FWIW (in one ear and out the other for you Eddie I'm sure) If I find a bad or questionable bearing my bike is parked until its replaced.Its just ignorant to "see how much more I can get out of it" when its something as critical as a steering head bearing AND someone offered to send you a set.I'm glad I don't have anyone I ride with that has that mentality.MAYBE you'll be lucky and not take anyone else out when you do find out how much more you can get out of it....

Rob, i'm glad you spoke up. there have been a few, and now you, that think a bearing failure is immanent. the indention's from the bearings needles were minimal and only four or so. they were barely detectable to the thumb nail. the bearings were all but dry, having never been repacked from the factory. now they are clean and packed full of grease. they perform just as an all but new set of bearings, with no detectable stiffness, catches or notches.
so will you PLEASE tell me how it is you and the other non ignorant people think my bearings are going to go from their current level of performance to a complete seizure, lock my steering and run me into a tree, fence, pole, car, canyon, truck, building, other rider or anything else you fortune tellers can think of?
although there is sarcasm in my question, i am dead serious about wanting to know how you or anyone else can be that sure my bearings are anymore at risk than the countless others that neglect their stem bearings.
someone, anyone, that thinks i am in danger for doing this, please share your thoughts as to how, specifically?

FTR, i'm at 1600 miles and all is fine.

[zrxrob]

Rob, i'm glad you spoke up. there have been a few, and now you, that think a bearing failure is immanent. the indention's from the bearings needles were minimal and only four or so. they were barely detectable to the thumb nail. the bearings were all but dry, having never been repacked from the factory. now they are clean and packed full of grease. they perform just as an all but new set of bearings, with no detectable stiffness, catches or notches.
so will you PLEASE tell me how it is you and the other non ignorant people think my bearings are going to go from their current level of performance to a complete seizure, lock my steering and run me into a tree, fence, pole, car, canyon, truck, building, other rider or anything else you fortune tellers can think of?
although there is sarcasm in my question, i am dead serious about wanting to know how you or anyone else can be that sure my bearings are anymore at risk than the countless others that neglect their stem bearings.
someone, anyone, that thinks i am in danger for doing this, please share your thoughts as to how, specifically?

FTR, i'm at 1600 miles and all is fine.

I'll respond when I'm home.I typed out a full response and my phone ate it and damn if I'll do that again

[Barnyard]

I'll respond when I'm home.I typed out a full response and my phone ate it and damn if I'll do that again

Time for an eye phone ya cheap bastid!