F650 GS Dakar - Head Stock Bearings

[(RIP) petcul]

Hi,

I'm thinking of buying a Dakar but have heard that the head stock bearings go at about 6000 miles. Is this the case?

 

[muzvmc]

Mine went for 18k inc fair bit of off road. Replaced them before artic circle trip last year as precaution, not too bad a job anyway.

 

[komatias]

Apparently the BMW steering head bearings are made of chocolate. You can get better ones for the same price(£17.95 +vat ea.) from SKF etc. It is not a reason to not buy the Dakar or any F650. You can even change them yourself..it wont take you more than an hour.

For more info refer to http://faq.f650.com

 

[Dave Hall]

I managed 7K before they were replaced under warranty. The mechanic who did the work freely admitted that they were shite bearings but he was obliged to replace with genuine BMW shite bearings so I`ll probably have to replace them again at 14K

 

[Spout]

24000 miles (inc lots of off road) on an 01 Dakar - bearings still fine!

 

[Andy80F]

24,000 miles and just had the second replacement set fitted at the service. 12,000 miles a set. Must try the alternative suppliers set next time. Nothing much else to gripe about though.

Andy

 

[(RIP) petcul]

Thanks guys. Really helpful.

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

A common problem with oil in frame bikes; the bearing grease gets hot, runs out and the bearings soon run 'dry'.

Regular cleaning/re-greasing has always served me well on oil in frame bikes.

Andres

 

[carcher2k]

A common problem with oil in frame bikes

Apart from the oil isn't in the frame on a 650GS, its in the tank under the panels

On the subject of SHB's, mine were first replaced at 15,000, and now at nearing 33,000 need doing again. A bit of off road here and there, nothing spectacular. Other than that, a near perfect machine...

 

[650EssexBoy]

I thought it was just my Dakar suffering from the problem - I had two sets replaced, both under warranty, and the bike was only just over a year old when it disappeared - good luck to the thieves, that's what I say - just hope their wallet's big enough to handle the ongoing repair bill!

 

[john uytman]

Lets get this right.

The grease does not run out of the steering head bearings in F650`s !! - even ones with the hot oil in the frame.

There are two likely problems - the bearings on some of them (like MINE) were made of Bulgarian chocolate and were useless right from new; also not enough grease was pumped in in the first place.

Solution - new decent quality bearings (SKF or NTN for instance) and pump the head full of high melting point grease - I used Castrol - nothing very special - and not a drop melts out, I promise you.

Takes an amateur an easy day to do it, not an hour unless you are starting with the bike stripped right down.

I think my original bearings were a failure from day one but I struggled with them until about 12k miles. My next set are still fine after another 18k miles and greatly improved the handling.

It is unbelievable that BMW could fit such rubbish after 10 years of manufacture - I would give a lot to know why??????

Apart from that it`s a great bike and has no other flaws - I still love it after 30k miles and six years.

 

[carphone]

SHBs

Just replaced the second set on my 04 GS, 24000 miles.

The first set were replaced under warranty and when I took them out they were (well greased) SKFs, I don't know what this says about the possible crap bearing theory.

Mike.

 

[Whele]

Can anybody please post here the reference numbers found on the outer edge of the bearing shells.

Thanks

 

[carphone]

SHBs

Head Bearings (GS, I assume they are the same as the Dakar)
SKF 320/28 X/Q

Purely out of interest I just replaced the fork seals as well and they are
41 X 54 X 11 (same as loads of Hondas)

Have fun
Mike.

 

[Beemerboff]

If you deal with a good bearing supplier he will give you a better bearing for the bottom - there is either a M in the reference or the discription " Hi-Cap" on the box - at least Moore Speed Racing did , and they gave me a bearing with a seal one side to stop the grease running out too.

 

[komatias]

The Tappered roller bearings you need are SKF or Timken 32028

 

[komatias]

Sourcing them cheap is a different story... alot of ppl have the 25X52X16 or 3025 but nobody seem to have the 28X52X16 which you need.... I am still looking.

Motoworks sells them for £12 each atleast and BMW £17 no gain either way. Should be able to get them for at least £8 each from somewhere. Any ideas?