Bleedin' love Suzukis, but there's just one thing

[Frenchcropper]

Dear all,

Always the Atlanticist (even if GW doesn't understand that) and a European (why do we never say 'an' European, defying the rule...?) but I suspect that this question is targeted at continental (cf. political) Europe.

With a 70,000mile 1999 GSX750W (Inazuma/retro) why do my head bearings only last 10,000 miles (UK). Everything else lasts and is cool except head stock bearings. Can anyone recommend any replacements that wil not need replacing every 10k miles.

Thank you in advance.

Philip.

[arsenic]

dude, what do you mean by head bearings? Steering head bearings? If so bike bandit sells all balls racing after market bearings get those.

[Chef]

Re: Bleedin' love Suzukis, but there's just one thing

why do my head bearings only last 10,000 miles (UK).

Is the distance of a mile measured differently in the UK?

1 Mile = 5,280 feet
1 Mile = 8 furlongs
1 Mile = 320 rods
1 Mile = 80 chains
1 Mile = 1.60935 kilometers
1 Mile = 320 perches
1 Mile = 320 poles
1 Mile = 8000 links
1 Mile = 63360 inches

[Frenchcropper]

Miles and miles

Yup, I stand corrected. They are the same. Got carried away.

Wrongly thought that they differed as do capacity measurements.

Soz.

Thanks for the pointer, Arsenic. Will look into it.

[The CyberPoet]

My advice would also be "ALL BALLS" brand replacements, which should last longer.

BUT to answer your question: you aren't in the habit of repacking your steering bearings regularly (I'd suggest at least once every year in the UK, right before winter storage). The bottom of the steering stem is open, so over time (esp during hot summer days), the grease moves groundwards due to gravity, and any crud (grass clippings, etc) blown up into there draws water to the exposed bearings.

Cheers,
=-= The CyberPoet