1200 Sport and tracking through turns - steering head bearing issue most likely

[ohiorider]

A few weeks ago, I'd commented in a post that my 2008 1200 Sport seemed to be steering 'too easily,' and that I was getting little feedback from the front PR4.  A few respondents mentioned it could possibly be caused by worn/loose steering head bearings.

Yesterday. with bike on center stand, and front tire off the ground, when I slowly turned the bars back and forth, I could feel a slight detent a few degrees off center on both right and left sides.

This poses the question(s.)
- how difficult to get to the steering head bearings?
- how difficult to remove them?
- how difficult to install new ones?

I generally do my own work, but if this is a no brainer for an experienced shop, I'd lean toward having the shop do the repair.  It's one of those things that I'll only do once in a lifetime on this bike, and it'd probably take me several hours, vs a few hours for a shop to do.  I had my local BMW shop replace them in 2009 on my 1991 R100GS.  2 bearings, $88.00, labor $175.00

Thoughts?  Especially from anyone who has replaced the bearings on a Breva 1100, Norge 2v, or 1200 Sport.

Bob

[Kiwi_Roy]

I have replaced a couple of sets but not on the bike in question.
It didn't seem too hard if you need help removing the bearing you should be able to take the parts along to your favourite shop.

[Chesterfield]

 Getting the lower bearing off the steering stem can be a bitch without a press. You can cut most of the way through the race with cutoff wheel then split the rest off with a chisel.

[ohiorider]

Getting the lower bearing off the steering stem can be a bitch without a press. You can cut most of the way through the race with cutoff wheel then split the rest off with a chisel.

I recall when the BMW mechanic removed one of the two races that was practically impossible to hook onto, he built up a small blob of weld on a small portion of the race using an electric welder.  Apparently when the weld cooled, it caused the race to contract and practically fall out of the steering head.

[pete roper]

Getting the races out of the frame is really easy. Getting the inner race off the stem? Not so much. I usually press the stem out of the yoke until it pops off the interference part, then it will slide off. Press the stem back into the yoke and install new race.

Many people want to swap to tapered roller head bearings. I've changed my tune on this. Partly because you'll need to make a shim for the cone and bearing inner race to sit on and partly because the stock AC ball set up is so delightfully light in the steering. The factory bearings aren't that spendy and it's not like it's something you'll have to do every week.

2.5-3.0 hrs work plus parts.

Pete

[Huzo]

Getting the races out of the frame is really easy. Getting the inner race off the stem? Not so much. I usually press the stem out of the yoke until it pops off the interference part, then it will slide off. Press the stem back into the yoke and install new race.

Many people want to swap to tapered roller head bearings. I've changed my tune on this. Partly because you'll need to make a shim for the cone and bearing inner race to sit on and partly because the stock AC ball set up is so delightfully light in the steering. The factory bearings aren't that spendy and it's not like it's something you'll have to do every week.

2.5-3.0 hrs work plus parts.

Pete

What's the standard setup on a Norge Pete ?

[pete roper]

All the CARC bikes except the Bellagio use the AC ball set up.

[Huzo]

All the CARC bikes except the Bellagio use the AC ball set up.

Bugger me, all this time and I did not know..
Proves I've never looked at them..
Bike will be home from UK in 3 weeks, will have a look.
Thank you.

[pete roper]

Given the riding you've done and where you've done it my guess is that yours will be in a pretty horrible state by now. When I recently changed mine on the Griso is was astounding how much nicer the new ones felt! The old ones weren't terrible but the steering was night and day!

Pete

[ohiorider]

Pete, based on what you're saying, and the fact that my 1200S steering head bearings have had zero attention over 66,000 miles, guess it's time to replace them.

Bob

[Huzo]

Given the riding you've done and where you've done it my guess is that yours will be in a pretty horrible state by now. When I recently changed mine on the Griso is was astounding how much nicer the new ones felt! The old ones weren't terrible but the steering was night and day!

Pete

Ok I will check them properly when I've got her back.
The steering feels perfect, but probably like an old pair of tyres, you don't realise how shagged they were 'till you put on new ones.
Bike feels like a razor blade in comparison when you do.
Thanks.

[Darren Williams]

Pete, based on what you're saying, and the fact that my 1200S steering head bearings have had zero attention over 66,000 miles, guess it's time to replace them.

Bob

Just an FYI, my 1200 Sport steering head bearings had barely a hint of grease. Probably what came on them from the bearing manufacturer.

[Huzo]

Just an FYI, my 1200 Sport steering head bearings had barely a hint of grease. Probably what came on them from the bearing manufacturer.

I know that I'm prone to broad sweeping accusations and outlandish exaggeration at times but...
Do the Italians lubricate ANYTHING before use ?
(You know...!)

[SmithSwede]

Have not done it on a 1200 Sport, but have done it on many other bikes.  Not a hard job at all.   As mentioned, getting the lower bearing off can be irritating, but I used a Dremel cutting wheel to cut up most of the old race, and once weakened like that,it comes off easy. 

Once the bearings are replaced, it can be a bit fiddly to get them set just right.  Not too loose, but not too tight.

If you are not sure, I suggest erring on the side of a bit too tight.  I also suggest leaving your tools out and riding the thing a hundred or so miles to make sure everything is seated where it needs to be.   Only then start fiddling with it to make it perfect. 

I re-greased the tapered bearings on my V7 a while ago.  The handlebars seemed to swing freely side to side, yet the bike would weave at low speeds around 20 mph.  Sure sign they are too tight.    So I just kept loosening them a tiny bit.  Once you hit the sweet spot, there is no discernible play or slop in the assembly, yet the low speed weave disappears. 
 

[ohiorider]

Have not done it on a 1200 Sport, but have done it on many other bikes.  Not a hard job at all.   As mentioned, getting the lower bearing off can be irritating, but I used a Dremel cutting wheel to cut up most of the old race, and once weakened like that,it comes off easy. 

Once the bearings are replaced, it can be a bit fiddly to get them set just right.  Not too loose, but not too tight.

If you are not sure, I suggest erring on the side of a bit too tight.  I also suggest leaving your tools out and riding the thing a hundred or so miles to make sure everything is seated where it needs to be.   Only then start fiddling with it to make it perfect. 

I re-greased the tapered bearings on my V7 a while ago.  The handlebars seemed to swing freely side to side, yet the bike would weave at low speeds around 20 mph.  Sure sign they are too tight.    So I just kept loosening them a tiny bit.  Once you hit the sweet spot, there is no discernible play or slop in the assembly, yet the low speed weave disappears.

Good advice SmithSwede,

Back in the mid-1980s, when my BMW dealer would adjust the steering head bearings on my first Beemer (1985 K100RS) they were always too tight, causing the weaving you describe in your post.  I suppose the weave is caused since the bike's caster can't overcome the tightness, causing the rider to constantly over-correct.