- Joined
- Feb 7, 2009
- Messages
- 12,920
- Reaction score
- 1,725
- Points
- 113
- Location
- Cape Coral, Florida, USA
Just as an FYI, the brake rotors are NOT FULL FLOATERS, their "semi floaters". Full floaters are generally used on full race bikes and are very noisey...
Another way to check the head bearings:
Put the bike on the center stand, jack up the front end (I use a sizzor jack under the header witha a 2x4). With the wheel forward, pull and push forward and back on the front wheel. You should not be able to feel/hear ANY PLAY. The steering should also turn very smoothly in both directions.. It should also NOT BE "notchy" when the steering is centered.
As noted above the stock bearings (round)are known to fail fairly early in life, "All Balls" bearings are tappered and allow a lot more surface area for better wear/life.
To adjust isn't difficult, to repack or replace both upper and lower bearings requires the ft tire, forks, handle bars etc, to be removed, thus the higher price.
IMHO, if your pulling the front end apart to re-pack, just replace them with tappered bearings while there and be done with it.. Yamaha was apparently pretty skimpy with the grease when assembling the front end...
BTW, my old 04 Goldwing developed a decel handle bar wobble (not un-common for the bike) with some miles on the clock. "All Balls" replacement bearings (not under warranty) solved the problem without question and that bike is twice the weight of the FZ. The wing used the cheaper regular ball bearings as well... As a side note, the service manager at Honda mentioned that is Honda started replacing the new models with tappered bearings, they'd be admitting a problem and would likely have numerous law suits for the older bikes that needed fixing...
Another way to check the head bearings:
Put the bike on the center stand, jack up the front end (I use a sizzor jack under the header witha a 2x4). With the wheel forward, pull and push forward and back on the front wheel. You should not be able to feel/hear ANY PLAY. The steering should also turn very smoothly in both directions.. It should also NOT BE "notchy" when the steering is centered.
As noted above the stock bearings (round)are known to fail fairly early in life, "All Balls" bearings are tappered and allow a lot more surface area for better wear/life.
To adjust isn't difficult, to repack or replace both upper and lower bearings requires the ft tire, forks, handle bars etc, to be removed, thus the higher price.
IMHO, if your pulling the front end apart to re-pack, just replace them with tappered bearings while there and be done with it.. Yamaha was apparently pretty skimpy with the grease when assembling the front end...
BTW, my old 04 Goldwing developed a decel handle bar wobble (not un-common for the bike) with some miles on the clock. "All Balls" replacement bearings (not under warranty) solved the problem without question and that bike is twice the weight of the FZ. The wing used the cheaper regular ball bearings as well... As a side note, the service manager at Honda mentioned that is Honda started replacing the new models with tappered bearings, they'd be admitting a problem and would likely have numerous law suits for the older bikes that needed fixing...
Last edited:
