These bearings are known to be poor and have proven to be so on my bike. Steering has been feeling a bit strange for a while so i checked it out the other day.
On centre stand, lean on pillion seat lifting front wheel clear and move the bars side to side and there it was. The steering was "notchy" indicating a knackered bearing. Stripped it out yesterday and this proved to be the case as the lower bearing is buggered, top one is fine though. The dust seal was still in place and in good nick but looks like some water had got in or it was just that being a poor quality Indian SKF it had, as it was the lower bearing which takes the stick just given in causing the grease to turn rusty brown. Anyhow, the bearing is removed and all is prepared for the fitting of the new one when i get it tomorrow.
On the forums i used to frequent on facebook (no longer on so don't see them now) lack of grease seemed to be an issue; mine were reasonably well greased.
It all comes apart easily so not a difficult job; the top yoke just lifts out of the way so no wires need to be disconnected from the ign. switch. Will probably take the opportunity to change the fork oil while the legs are out and that will be a servicing job sorted.
Just for info: Bike is 2y 6m old and has covered approx 5,700 miles of mainly road mileage. I have done some greenlaning/off roading on it but not much. I tend to mainly frequent the small roads up in the hills of N. Wales so it has done quite a lot on poorly surfaced and broken up "roads" so the bearing has had a bit more than the average pounding i reckon but still, it should have done better than just shy of 6k miles tbh. but hey.
The fitted bearings are Indian SKF 30205/Q 25mm. x 52mm. x 16.25mm. The replacements will of course, be of a higher quality and well greased.
On centre stand, lean on pillion seat lifting front wheel clear and move the bars side to side and there it was. The steering was "notchy" indicating a knackered bearing. Stripped it out yesterday and this proved to be the case as the lower bearing is buggered, top one is fine though. The dust seal was still in place and in good nick but looks like some water had got in or it was just that being a poor quality Indian SKF it had, as it was the lower bearing which takes the stick just given in causing the grease to turn rusty brown. Anyhow, the bearing is removed and all is prepared for the fitting of the new one when i get it tomorrow.
On the forums i used to frequent on facebook (no longer on so don't see them now) lack of grease seemed to be an issue; mine were reasonably well greased.
It all comes apart easily so not a difficult job; the top yoke just lifts out of the way so no wires need to be disconnected from the ign. switch. Will probably take the opportunity to change the fork oil while the legs are out and that will be a servicing job sorted.
Just for info: Bike is 2y 6m old and has covered approx 5,700 miles of mainly road mileage. I have done some greenlaning/off roading on it but not much. I tend to mainly frequent the small roads up in the hills of N. Wales so it has done quite a lot on poorly surfaced and broken up "roads" so the bearing has had a bit more than the average pounding i reckon but still, it should have done better than just shy of 6k miles tbh. but hey.
The fitted bearings are Indian SKF 30205/Q 25mm. x 52mm. x 16.25mm. The replacements will of course, be of a higher quality and well greased.