Notchy feeling head bearings

[H2 Dude]

Well better know as ...Self Center Steering ...lol

A post on the KTW site had me thinking about this .

My 83 BMW 800 had about 120,000 miles on it and the steering was feeling well self centering..even with tapered bearings .
New set ordered and once dismantled to my surprise all the grease had gone hard . Clean and re-grease they felt just like new .
My H2B had the same feeling . Again once dismantled I find the grease is Hard .
Clean and re-grease and all is good .

When I worked at the Honda shop we had a lot of bikes in with Notchy feeling bearings . We would slightly loosen the adjuster to get a smoother feel without making any Play.

I had a Yamaha 500 V twin come in for a tune up . It was soo bad I could not ride it . Solution ..loosen the bearings slightly .
Made note on service sheet.
Owner came back and was amazed how well his bike handled .
His bike was now a joy to ride.
Self Centered Steering slowly creeps up on you ...and before you know it ...And that's why US TRIPLE OWNERS are always giving our bikes a once over ..right?

[Soupdragon1957]

Errr...
Right..

SoupD.

[JA-Moo]

It was "kinda" funny last year at the Gap. I sat on 2 of the guys bikes just shooting the shit and both had bad "click stop" steering, neither guy had noticed.......

[zambia]

Rick told me I had my bearings too tight on the H2. Shade tree mechanics worry about stuff coming loose, so we "crank her down". He showed me how to get it snug without play. I put only a small amount of grease in head bearings..they don't turn much.

[reprodecals]

I have pulled apart some steering head bearings with grease so old and hard that it was cracked.

I use lots of grease when installing tapered rollers, I put a big glob in the palm of one hand and push it into the cage of the bearing with the other hand. Smearing the outside lightly with grease isn't enough. After you put on a few miles, it's always wise to check and they often need a small adjustment.

An old mechanic once told me that you can pop the lower bearing races out and rotate them 180 degrees to get rid of the spot that binds. I tried it once to see if it would solve the problem. It worked but I don't recommend it.

[H2 Dude]

An old mechanic once told me that you can pop the lower bearing races out and rotate them 180 degrees to get rid of the spot that binds. I tried it once to see if it would solve the problem. It worked but I don't recommend it.

That works well Andre if your in a pinch or just plain Cheap...lol
But it does work .

[wabalaba]

So this is a common problem? I did some snooping around online for new bearing races and haven't had much luck. I tried to find the parts number too but no luck. Anyone know of a good source for replacements?

I've got a 75 S1, by the way.

Thanks.

[Jim]

Jan 10, 2010 12:46:24 GMT -5 zambia said:

I put only a small amount of grease in head bearings..they don't turn much.

And the other end of the spectrum, I installed a grease fitting in my head tube, and squirt some in once a year. ;D

[bababa3wheeeeeeee]

Jan 23, 2012 14:26:12 GMT -5 wabalaba said:

So this is a common problem? I did some snooping around online for new bearing races and haven't had much luck. I tried to find the parts number too but no luck. Anyone know of a good source for replacements?

I've got a 75 S1, by the way.

Thanks.

Interchanges same pattern for all of our street triples, lots of sources, many of these guys have upgraded to these



try this number for the stock races, Kaw calls them cone and race it looks like ;D

Part # = 92047-006
Part Description = STEERING STEM BEARING CONE
Model Count = 56
Model Name Year Size Description Type
A1 N/A 250 SAMURAI DUAL PURPOSE
A1R N/A 250 A1R STREET
A1SS N/A 250 SAMURAI SS DUAL PURPOSE
KH250-A5 76 250 KH250 STREET
S1B 74 250 S1B STREET
S1C 75 250 S1 STREET
EX305-B1 83 305 GPz 305 BELT SPORTBIKE
KZ305-A1 81 305 305 CSR STREET CRUISER
KZ305-A2 82 305 305 CSR STREET CRUISER
KZ305-B1 82 305 305 CSR BELT STREET CRUISER
KZ305-B2 87 305 305 CSR BELT STREET CRUISER
KZ305-B2L 87 305 305 CSR BELT (CAL) STREET CRUISER
KZ305-B3 88 305 305 CSR BELT STREET CRUISER
KZ305-B3L 88 305 305 CSR BELT (CAL) STREET CRUISER
A7 N/A 350 AVENGER DUAL PURPOSE
A7SS N/A 350 AVENGER SS DUAL PURPOSE
S2 72 350 S2 STREET
KH400-A3 76 400 KH400 STREET
KH400-A4 77 400 KH400 STREET
KH400-A5 78 400 KH400 STREET
KZ400 74 400 KZ400 STREET
KZ400-A1 77 400 KZ400 DELUXE STREET
KZ400-A2 78 400 KZ400 DELUXE STREET
KZ400-B1 78 400 KZ400 STANDARD STREET
KZ400-B2 79 400 KZ400 STREET
KZ400-C1 78 400 KZ400 SPECIAL STREET
KZ400D 75 400 KZ400D STREET
KZ400-D3 76 400 KZ400 STANDARD STREET
KZ400-D4 77 400 KZ400 STANDARD STREET
KZ400-H1 79 400 400 LTD LTD STREET
KZ400S 75 400 KZ400S STREET
KZ400-S2 76 400 KZ400 SPECIAL STREET
KZ400-S3 77 400 KZ400 SPECIAL STREET
S3 74 400 S3 STREET
S3A 75 400 S3 STREET
KZ440-A1 80 440 440 LTD LTD STREET
KZ440-A2 81 440 440 LTD LTD STREET
KZ440-A3 82 440 440 LTD LTD STREET
KZ440-B1 80 440 KZ440 STANDARD STREET
KZ440-B2 81 440 KZ440 STANDARD STREET
KZ440-D1 80 440 KZ440 BELT STREET
KZ440-D2 81 440 KZ440 BELT STREET
KZ440-D4 82 440 KZ440 BELT STREET
KZ440-D5 83 440 KZ440 BELT STREET
KZ440-G1 82 440 KZ440 SPORTS BELT STREET
H1 N/A 500 H1 MACH III STREET
H1B 72 500 H1 MACH III STREET
H1C 72 500 H1 MACH III STREET
H1D 73 500 H1 MACH III STREET
H1E 74 500 H1 MACH III STREET
H1F 75 500 H1 MACH III STREET
H1R N/A 500 H1R MACH III STREET
KH500-A8 76 500 KH500 STREET
H2 72 750 H2 MACH IV STREET
H2B 74 750 H2 MACH IV STREET
H2C 75 750 H2 MACH IV STREET

Part # = 92048-006
Part Description = STEERING STEM BEARING RACE
Model Count = 181
Model Name Year Size Description Type
A1 N/A 250 SAMURAI DUAL PURPOSE
A1R N/A 250 A1R STREET
A1SS N/A 250 SAMURAI SS DUAL PURPOSE
EL250-B2 88 250 ELIMINATOR 250 STREET
EL250-B2L 88 250 ELIMINATOR 250 (CAL) STREET
EL250-B3 89 250 ELIMINATOR 250 STREET
EL250-B3L 89 250 ELIMINATOR 250 (CAL) STREET
EL250-E1 91 250 250 HS STREET
EL250-E1L 91 250 250 HS (CAL) STREET
EX250-E1 86 250 NINJA 250R SPORTBIKE
EX250-E1L 86 250 NINJA 250R (CAL) SPORTBIKE
EX250-E2 87 250 NINJA 250R SPORTBIKE
EX250-E2L 87 250 NINJA 250R (CAL) SPORTBIKE
EX250-F10 96 250 NINJA 250R SPORTBIKE
EX250-F10L 96 250 NINJA 250R (CAL) SPORTBIKE
EX250-F11 97 250 NINJA 250R SPORTBIKE
EX250-F11L 97 250 NINJA 250R (CAL) SPORTBIKE
EX250-F12 98 250 NINJA 250R SPORTBIKE
EX250-F12L 98 250 NINJA 250R (CAL) SPORTBIKE
EX250-F13 99 250 NINJA 250R SPORTBIKE
EX250-F13L 99 250 NINJA 250R (CAL) SPORTBIKE
EX250-F14 2000 250 NINJA 250R SPORTBIKE
EX250-F14L 2000 250 NINJA 250R (CAL) SPORTBIKE
EX250-F2 88 250 NINJA 250R SPORTBIKE
EX250-F2L 88 250 NINJA 250R (CAL) SPORTBIKE
EX250-F3 89 250 NINJA 250R SPORTBIKE
EX250-F3L 89 250 NINJA 250R (CAL) SPORTBIKE
EX250-F4 90 250 NINJA 250R SPORTBIKE
EX250-F4L 90 250 NINJA 250R (CAL) SPORTBIKE
EX250-F6 92 250 NINJA 250R SPORTBIKE
EX250-F6L 92 250 NINJA 250R (CAL) SPORTBIKE
EX250-F7 93 250 NINJA 250R SPORTBIKE
EX250-F7L 93 250 NINJA 250R (CAL) SPORTBIKE
EX250-F8 94 250 NINJA 250R SPORTBIKE
EX250-F8L 94 250 NINJA 250R (CAL) SPORTBIKE
EX250-F9 95 250 NINJA SPORTBIKE
EX250-F9L 95 250 NINJA 250R (CAL) SPORTBIKE
KH250-A5 76 250 KH250 STREET
S1B 74 250 S1B STREET
S1C 75 250 S1 STREET
EX305-B1 83 305 GPz 305 BELT SPORTBIKE
KZ305-A1 81 305 305 CSR STREET CRUISER
KZ305-A2 82 305 305 CSR STREET CRUISER
KZ305-B1 82 305 305 CSR BELT STREET CRUISER
KZ305-B2 87 305 305 CSR BELT STREET CRUISER
KZ305-B2L 87 305 305 CSR BELT (CAL) STREET CRUISER
KZ305-B3 88 305 305 CSR BELT STREET CRUISER
KZ305-B3L 88 305 305 CSR BELT (CAL) STREET CRUISER
A7 N/A 350 AVENGER DUAL PURPOSE
A7SS N/A 350 AVENGER SS DUAL PURPOSE
S2 72 350 S2 STREET
KH400-A3 76 400 KH400 STREET
KH400-A4 77 400 KH400 STREET
KH400-A5 78 400 KH400 STREET
KZ400 74 400 KZ400 STREET
KZ400-A1 77 400 KZ400 DELUXE STREET
KZ400-A2 78 400 KZ400 DELUXE STREET
KZ400-B1 78 400 KZ400 STANDARD STREET
KZ400-B2 79 400 KZ400 STREET
KZ400-C1 78 400 KZ400 SPECIAL STREET
KZ400D 75 400 KZ400D STREET
KZ400-D3 76 400 KZ400 STANDARD STREET
KZ400-D4 77 400 KZ400 STANDARD STREET
KZ400-H1 79 400 400 LTD LTD STREET
KZ400S 75 400 KZ400S STREET
KZ400-S2 76 400 KZ400 SPECIAL STREET
KZ400-S3 77 400 KZ400 SPECIAL STREET
S3 74 400 S3 STREET
S3A 75 400 S3 STREET
KZ440-A1 80 440 440 LTD LTD STREET
KZ440-A2 81 440 440 LTD LTD STREET
KZ440-A3 82 440 440 LTD LTD STREET
KZ440-B1 80 440 KZ440 STANDARD STREET
KZ440-B2 81 440 KZ440 STANDARD STREET
KZ440-D1 80 440 KZ440 BELT STREET
KZ440-D2 81 440 KZ440 BELT STREET
KZ440-D4 82 440 KZ440 BELT STREET
KZ440-D5 83 440 KZ440 BELT STREET
KZ440-G1 82 440 KZ440 SPORTS BELT STREET
EX500-A1 87 500 EX500 SPORTBIKE
EX500-A1L 87 500 EX500 (CAL) SPORTBIKE
EX500-A2 88 500 EX500 SPORTBIKE
EX500-A2L 88 500 EX500 (CAL) SPORTBIKE
EX500-A3 89 500 EX500 SPORTBIKE
EX500-A3L 89 500 EX500 (CAL) SPORTBIKE
EX500-A4 90 500 EX500 SPORTBIKE
EX500-A4L 90 500 EX500 (CAL) SPORTBIKE
EX500-A5 91 500 EX500 SPORTBIKE
EX500-A5L 91 500 EX500 (CAL) SPORTBIKE
EX500-A6 92 500 EX500 SPORTBIKE
EX500-A6L 92 500 EX500 (CAL) SPORTBIKE
EX500-A7 93 500 EX500 SPORTBIKE
EX500-A7L 93 500 EX500 (CAL) SPORTBIKE
EX500-D1 94 500 NINJA 500 SPORTBIKE
EX500-D1L 94 500 NINJA 500 (CAL) SPORTBIKE
EX500-D2 95 500 NINJA 500 SPORTBIKE
EX500-D2L 95 500 NINJA 500 (CAL) SPORTBIKE
EX500-D3 96 500 NINJA 500 SPORTBIKE
EX500-D3L 96 500 NINJA 500 (CAL) SPORTBIKE
EX500-D4 97 500 NINJA 500R SPORTBIKE
EX500-D4L 97 500 NINJA 500R (CAL) SPORTBIKE
EX500-D5 98 500 NINJA 500R SPORTBIKE
EX500-D5L 98 500 NINJA 500R (CAL) SPORTBIKE
EX500-D6 99 500 NINJA 500R SPORTBIKE
EX500-D6L 99 500 NINJA 500R (CAL) SPORTBIKE
EX500-D7 2000 500 NINJA 500R SPORTBIKE
EX500-D7L 2000 500 NINJA 500R (CAL) SPORTBIKE
H1 N/A 500 H1 MACH III STREET
H1B 72 500 H1 MACH III STREET
H1C 72 500 H1 MACH III STREET
H1D 73 500 H1 MACH III STREET
H1E 74 500 H1 MACH III STREET
H1F 75 500 H1 MACH III STREET
H1R N/A 500 H1R MACH III STREET
KH500-A8 76 500 KH500 STREET
KZ550-A1 80 550 KZ550 STANDARD STREET
KZ550-A2 81 550 KZ550 STANDARD STREET
KZ550-A3 82 550 KZ550 STANDARD STREET
KZ550-A4 83 550 KZ550 STANDARD STREET
KZ550-C1 80 550 550 LTD LTD STREET
KZ550-C2 81 550 550 LTD LTD STREET
KZ550-C3 82 550 550 LTD LTD STREET
KZ550-C4 83 550 550 LTD LTD STREET
KZ550-D1 81 550 550 GP SUPERBIKE
KZ650-B1 77 650 KZ650 STREET
KZ650-B2 78 650 KZ650 STREET
KZ650-B2A 78 650 KZ650 STREET
KZ650-B3 79 650 KZ650 STREET
KZ650-C1 77 650 650 CUSTOM STREET
KZ650-C2 78 650 650 CUSTOM STREET
KZ650-C3 79 650 650 CUSTOM STREET
KZ650-D1 78 650 650 SR STREET
KZ650-D1A 78 650 650 SR STREET
KZ650-D2 79 650 650 SR STREET
KZ650-E1 80 650 650 LTD LTD STREET
KZ650-F1 80 650 650 CUSTOM STREET
KZ650-H1 81 650 650 CSR STREET
KZ650-H2 82 650 650 CSR STREET
KZ650-H3 83 650 650 CSR STREET
KZ750-E1 80 750 750 STANDARD-4 STREET
KZ750-E2 81 750 750 STANDARD-4 STREET
KZ750-H1 80 750 750 LTD-4 LTD STREET
KZ750-H2 81 750 750 LTD-4 LTD STREET
H2 72 750 H2 MACH IV STREET
H2B 74 750 H2 MACH IV STREET
H2C 75 750 H2 MACH IV STREET
KZ750-B1 76 750 750 LTD TWIN LTD STREET
KZ750-B2 77 750 750 LTD TWIN LTD STREET
KZ750-B3 78 750 750 LTD TWIN LTD STREET
KZ750-B4 79 750 750 LTD TWIN LTD STREET
KZ750-E3 82 750 750 STANDARD-4 STREET
KZ750-G1 80 750 750 LTD-2 LTD STREET
KZ750-H3 82 750 750 LTD-4 LTD STREET
KZ750-H4 83 750 750 LTD-4 LTD STREET
KZ750-K1 83 750 750 LTD BELT LTD STREET
KZ750-M1 82 750 750 CSR TWIN STREET
KZ900-A4 76 900 KZ900 SPORTBIKE
KZ900-A5 77 900 KZ900 STREET
KZ900-B1 76 900 900 LTD LTD STREET
KZ900-C2 76 900 900 POLICE POLICE
Z1 73 900 Z1 SUPERBIKE
Z1A 74 900 Z1 SUPERBIKE
Z1B 75 900 Z1 SUPERBIKE
Z1P 75 900 POLICE 900 POLICE
KZ1000-C4A 81 1000 POLICE 1000 POLICE
KZ1000-A1 77 1000 KZ1000 STREET
KZ1000-A2 78 1000 KZ1000 STREET
KZ1000-A2A 78 1000 KZ1000 STREET
KZ1000-A3A 79 1000 KZ1000 MKII STREET
KZ1000-A4 80 1000 KZ1000 MKII STREET
KZ1000-B1 77 1000 KZ1000 LTD SPORTBIKE
KZ1000-B2 78 1000 KZ1000 LTD SPORTBIKE
KZ1000-B3 79 1000 KZ1000 LTD LTD STREET
KZ1000-B4 80 1000 KZ1000 LTD LTD STREET
KZ1000-C1 78 1000 POLICE 1000 POLICE
KZ1000-C1A 78 1000 POLICE 1000 POLICE
KZ1000-C2 79 1000 POLICE 1000 POLICE
KZ1000-C3 80 1000 POLICE 1000 POLICE
KZ1000-D1 78 1000 Z1-R STREET
KZ1000-D3 80 1000 Z1-R STREET
KZ1000-G1 80 1000 Z1 CLASSIC STREET

[wheeliehappy]

I just got some last week from reproduction decals for my S2 I bet they are the same bearings

[wheeliehappy]

I just check reproduction decals same bearings as I orderd the item number is AB22-1012 and found on this page

www.reproductiondecals.com/default_frameset.html?content.html~main