I have replaced my head stock bearings now twice. Last set 250 miles ago. Fitted and torqued correctly. After 250 miles they are notched again. I am pulling my hair out with this bike. Never put head bearings in before on a bike at soo little miles.
F800GS - headstock bearings
- Thread starter ymfb
- Start date
I'm struggling to think what it could be - that's really, really low mileage.
What do they look like when they come out? ie top or bottom notched worse? Without wishing to sound rude did you go back and check again after get some miles in?
Dare i say - may be worth doing it the old fashioned way and just tightening by feel rather than doing exact torque, leaning towards being a little looser.
What do they look like when they come out? ie top or bottom notched worse? Without wishing to sound rude did you go back and check again after get some miles in?
Dare i say - may be worth doing it the old fashioned way and just tightening by feel rather than doing exact torque, leaning towards being a little looser.
Yeah I checked them after about 50 miles all was ok. Then went a spin although on rough roads and checked again. Now slight notch in straight ahead position. First set I just tightened by hand and they failed. Using good quality skf bearings. I am a mechanic by trade just in case u think I am a total numpty
dpm
Registered user
Not tight enough, I'd say. There's quite a bit of hammering goes on if they're loose and taper rollers really don't like that.
dpm
Registered user
but they're knackered now, it's too late. New set need to go in TIGHT.
Never been offroad ever and using waterproof grease in bearings. Never been power washed. Don't power wash any of my bikes so I don't wash grease out of bearings. Am beginning too loose faith in this bike. 350 miles is nuts for bearing s to be gone.
Mmmmm I can see why Rodooo but only if because of the head bearings then work to getting it sorted
I'm pissed off with my head bearings too, and I've tried different methods and lines of attack, but .....
Go to Scotland for the first time for a weeks holiday and if it pisses it down all week then you'll probably never go back ....
Ireland much the same
But you'd miss soooooo much ...
Any bike will have it's problems ... and if it ain't got problems then it's probably a plain bland bike
Don't let a bad experience of the 800GS put you off ... see it through
Now over 90,000 miles on mine and the pluses far outweigh the negatives
Faith in the bike? I'll trust my gal past the 100,000 mark with no complaints, no issues, other than head bearings maybe, no complaints and no corrosion
No offence intended, promise! It is sometimes difficult to scale different peoples abilities (i for instance only qualify for two and a half Haynes spanners)
Best of luck,
S
Have fitted hundreds of steering head bearing kits over the years. I work in a bike shop
No offence taken. Just can't understand this. Try it this time really tight and see. I wonder how many other people's bearings are gone if they checked them
No offence taken. Just can't understand this. Try it this time really tight and see. I wonder how many other people's bearings are gone if they checked them
dpm
Registered user
pics of the failed outer races might give us a better chance of helping.
*touring ted*
Registered user
I'm a Motorrad technician.
The headstock bearings on all the F800's are terrible. Really really bad. I've seen some gone at 3000 miles. They become notchy at the 11am and 1pm positions first. Then they seem to go tight and start grinding.
They are greased in the factory. Not sufficiently though.
With a new bike, On your 600 mile 'running in service', you should have the bearings re-torqued. BMW don't tell us to grease them but I do anyway. Only the top one's though as I don't have the time/authority to do the lowers. To be honest I should grease the uppers but I can't sleep at night if I don't....
I think this is one of the reasons they go so early. They aren't re-torqued. You should do this with ANY new head bearings on ANY bike really.
Secondly, the bearings are obviously poor quality. I'd find a supplier which can supply you with some QUALITY ones even if they cost 60-70 quid (which what REALLY good bearings can cost).
If you own any BMW, I suggest you go out and get yourself a tin of Copper Slip and quality Lithium bearing grease and spend the afternoon greasing bearings, linkages and copper slipping all your small (road crud vulnerable) bolts and screws.
It would make my job a lot easier in the future.
Especially on the Generator belt covers on the 1200GS. That lower bolt is a nightmare.
The headstock bearings on all the F800's are terrible. Really really bad. I've seen some gone at 3000 miles. They become notchy at the 11am and 1pm positions first. Then they seem to go tight and start grinding.
They are greased in the factory. Not sufficiently though.
With a new bike, On your 600 mile 'running in service', you should have the bearings re-torqued. BMW don't tell us to grease them but I do anyway. Only the top one's though as I don't have the time/authority to do the lowers. To be honest I should grease the uppers but I can't sleep at night if I don't....
I think this is one of the reasons they go so early. They aren't re-torqued. You should do this with ANY new head bearings on ANY bike really.
Secondly, the bearings are obviously poor quality. I'd find a supplier which can supply you with some QUALITY ones even if they cost 60-70 quid (which what REALLY good bearings can cost).
If you own any BMW, I suggest you go out and get yourself a tin of Copper Slip and quality Lithium bearing grease and spend the afternoon greasing bearings, linkages and copper slipping all your small (road crud vulnerable) bolts and screws.
It would make my job a lot easier in the future.
Especially on the Generator belt covers on the 1200GS. That lower bolt is a nightmare.
I'm a Motorrad technician.
They are greased in the factory. Not sufficiently though.
With a new bike, On your 600 mile 'running in service', you should have the bearings re-torqued. BMW don't tell us to grease them but I do anyway. Only the top one's though as I don't have the time/authority to do the lowers. To be honest I should grease the uppers but I can't sleep at night if I don't....
I think this is one of the reasons they go so early. They aren't re-torqued. You should do this with ANY new head bearings on ANY bike really.
In one
Now at 101,000+ miles and this is the conclusion I have come to. The head bearings 'settle in' and need re-torquing. But I don't use a torque wrench, I just tweak the adjustment four or five degrees, by feel. Present head bearing now done about ten thousand miles and still feel luverlee
Not just a Lithium grease ... but a waterproof grease as sold by Marine Chandlers. Not all grease is waterproof.
bullockbeamer
Registered user
Mine have just needed to be replaced for the first time, however I have had the bike just over 4 years and done 69,000 miles. The steering was pretty shakey before hand though!!
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