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Front wheel Bearings?

13K views 40 replies 22 participants last post by  Waldo 
#1 ·
I've always kept my bike well maintained, however, have never given much thought to the wheel bearings.
When I have the front wheel off for tire changes I roll the bearings around with my finger and they feel fine.

Should the wheel bearings be replaced every 50-100K as preventative maintenance?
If the wheel bearings were bad what symptoms would there be?

Oh, I've got a 2007 with 66,000 miles.

Thanks,
Dan
 
#35 ·
On my farm I work with more bearings in a year than most people do in a lifetime. Whenever I have one off, I'll move it slowly with my finger and if I feel anything other than turning very smoothly, they get replaced. With the GW having 4 sealed bearings I wouldn't even consider worrying about them until maybe 75,000miles. They work in water very little and are not in a dirty environment. Those that are changing them with every tire change are risking wearing out the wheel side and the clearances becoming too loose. If some of you saw the load put on sealed bearings on a combine you would understand. :D
 
#39 ·
Just for info on bearing RPM, a tire of the size we run on a GL1800 is turning 850RPM give or take at 60mph, so that is the bearing RPM at 60mph, so at 90mph would be 1275RPM give or take. To go 3600RPM the motorcycle would be going 250 miles per hour. I think we can safely call wheel bearings a low RPM application for GL1800.
 
#41 ·
Big question is -- are "japanese" bearings made in Japan? I've gotten several "OEM" parts stickered made in Taiwan but the chain of command in this poker chip of a nation has more or less belonged to ... everyone? Currently, ROC is in charge tho Japan once did have ownership "in perpetuity."
 
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