Air Bearings
Accommodate Combined Loads Solid Structure Wide Application
What Is Motorcycle Steering-Head Bearings
If we want to steer straight and narrow our Steering Bearings must be in good condition.
Most newer bikes use tapered roller bearings. Roller bearings use caged rollers in place of ball bearings.
When they are fitted to the triple tree
Tapered Roller Bearings normally use a tight fit on the lower bearing and a loose fit on the top bearing.
When do I need to change bearings
Wear comes from one of three things.
1. Good honest usage.
2. Long hours of riding in the bed of a truck or trailer.
3. Abuse and lack of maintenance.
I've seen worn steering bearings that tended to keep the steering in one place.
You could turn the handlebars to the right or left OK
but with the handlebars straight forward there is a definite "Groove" that the steering sort of "Falls" into.
I've seen this on high mileage street bikes with roller bearings.
I've also seen it on dirt bikes with ball bearings which have spent many hours riding in the back of pickup trucks.
To get rid of this the bearing must be replaced.
If rust or dirt has gotten into the bearings they should be replaced. Sometimes you can clean the rust or dirt out
regrease the bearing and everything will work OK.
You will have to decide on a case by case basis. If possible it is best to replace the bearings.
Do I still need to add grease to the bearings?
Yes this is the taper roller steering bearing
When assembling you need to apply grease Grease has the effect of rust protection and lubrication.
If you have special using requirements please operate under the guidance of a professional.