Many will know that for the last 6 / 7 months my bike has had a judder under breaking - first noticed on the Nurbergring. Since then bike has been to Scotland, The Pyrenees in September (rode there and back) and Spain in December (took the ferry down for that one) To try and solve Judder I've had the following checked: New Tyres fitted New Pads Replaced head bearings Disks checked to be true but nothing solved it. In cleaning bike after Spain I found rear bearing was not running smooth, so purchased new Front and Rear bearings (cost £12) which were fitted on Saturday - on checking front bearings one was seized 100% solid not turning a mm. Took bike for test ride and judder as experienced before has gone - so hard to believe it but I think I've done 5,000+ miles without a functional bearing - Pic of bearings below - Scottish Grit and Spainish road salt / crud the cause of images below: There is still some vibration etc. under brakes but thinking new calipers and fork service by Kais to solve 100%
So it must've been turning somewhere or wheel wouldn't have gone round. Was it being forced to turn by the forward motion?
I don't know how it turned - can only assume the inner part of the bearing was turning on the spindle which was well greased - as said will never know when it seized to be able to say how long - could have just seized since I parked up bike in December after Spain - but judder def reduced with the change.
Or just spinning round the axle, hope it still had some grease on it. Maybe worth checking for wear on the axle just in case. Good find though Al, i've always found wheel bearings a bugger to get out.
I wonder if I might have the same issue as I also have judder under braking, think I will have to get mine checked
I've just changed mine and to be honest it was a straightforward job, even for the weekend spanner monkey. I noticed when grabbing the front wheel an ever so slight knock and so erred on the side of caution. Glad mine wasn't completely seized and thank bugg*ry you changed yours when you did.
Amazing how a proper service would have solved this Al, and as you say for very little £ Any mechanic worth his cheddar checks all bearings and running gear. (When was the last time the bearings were replaced?) Giving how hard and how many miles your blade has took without much servicing, I'm surprised it has lasted this long(80,000 miles??) Which is testament itself to the build quality of these bikes. I'd hate to see what other bikes would be like after this amount of miles.
The bearings have been changed a number of times in the blade's life - it had a big service last winter maybe at the time they were fine. Think this is the 3rd set of bearings its on now Spindle not marked Craig
It takes a lot to stop a bearing from turning while it's in the wheel. Think about it? Outside of ball bearings is about 40mm diameter, outside of wheel is about 600mm. I removed two jammed rear wheel bearings last week, as soon a they came out, they were free to turn ? My mate complained of a clicking noie on his RRW, checked it and once we got the wheel out, the bearing on one side jut fell out, in pieces. He had been riding it at 100mph half an hour earlier.
Absolutely the same, noticed a vibration a couple of months back, one bearing was totally gone, grease all washed out, seal knackered and slopping side to side.
Al, you just made me buy new bearings! As you know I too have a judder on my RR5 trackbike on the front under heavy braking. I don't think it's the bearings but can't rule it out unless I change them. The bike has done around 42,000 miles and definitely never had new seals it would make sense to change them especially given they're so cheap and easy to do! Cheers mate!
Yep I had a judder also last year and have replaced the disks as a precaution as part of the rebuild, did do wheel bearings last year but doing it again now! As you say very cheap to do, must buy a drift...
Why replace wheel bearings as a precaution? Easy enough to check them. Remove calipers, jack wheel off ground, remove spindle and wheel. Shove yer thumb into the bearing and turn the inner race. If you feel any notching or resistance, replace em. If no resistance, leave em alone !!!
On this subject, what bearings do you all go for- OEM? I replaced the rears on the 929 around a year ago, probably around 6-7k. They appear to be knackered again, used items from a bearing specialist but can't remember the manufacturer.
Get the part number off the bearing.I use LBK in Sittingbourne 01795 434980.I use LBK for my lads NTN scooter bearings.Last 10 times longer than any other bearing he has used.
Just replaced mine last year but only 'cos I knocked the old ones out when I had the wheels powder coated.
