Topic: swingarm bearing kit

[paulages]

anybody ever try one of these?

http://z1enterprises.com/detail.aspx?ID=1510

[scondon]

I use them in my bike, no problems. A lot of recent discussion about these and swingarm bearings in general. A quick search of "swingarm bearings" will show the topics.

        If you're wondering about Z1's kit specifically I can only say they look identical to the ones I use.

[paulages]

i followed the thread started by hondaman about fabbing new bushings, etc. i just found a previous thread started by mr. blasty which answered my question, really, which was whether the needle bearing set is better than bronze bushings. didn't seem definitive, but i'll go with the bronze bushings.

[Bodain]

I've looked at that kit, but have not purchased it... However I must say. I really like Z1 enterprizes... I've placed several orders to them.
Many items they have are at a better price than on Ebay. Plus you save tons of money in shipping costs if your buy multiple items here, compared to individuals on Ebay... And best of all. These guys don't mess around. They put it in the mail almost immediately. So you get a very prompt delivery.

Great folks at Z1 Enterpizes...   If I could actually find a Z1 I could afford. It would be, by by Honda.

[Clyde]

I have used both bushes and needle bearings for my swing arms. Both worked fine and I could not say which is best from either an operational or durability aspect.
The plain bushes were a little easier to fit as I had to make up a special tool to fit the needle races without damaging them.

BTW I have used Z1 Enterprises a fair bit as I have just completed a Z1. Jeff Saunders, who is the owner, is one of the best suppliers I have found on the internet. Not only that, he is also very willing to help out people with advice.
About 75% of what I needed for my Z1 came from Jeff and as mentioned a lot of it was less than you would pay on eBay. He is slowly building his inventory up and hopefully will have a lot more Honda parts soon.

[mrbreeze]

Wow!!! 73$  for needles.I wish I would have seen that last year before I spent 200$ for the stock stuff.I don't know how long my original stuff was in there but I know it wouldn't take grease anymore and it was sloppy.I had to take it to the dealer to remove the old bushings.The cost of that plus all the new stock parts(including NIPPLES) was 200$....I now pump grease into it more often and have had no probs.

[Noel]

I think it might have been Terry who recently wrote that the needle bearing kits are crap; way too much runout. No personal experience myself; just passing it along.

[mrbreeze]

Thanks Noel...maybe will check out bronze next time I need replacement(if I ever do)

[Terry in Australia]

There are needle roller kits and needle roller kits of course, but the ones I bought on Ebay were rubbish. Problem with needle rollers compared with bushes is that due to their physical size and their hardness they are quite fragile, and being steel, are extremely susceptable to rust.

I replaced all the needle rollers in a 1990's Suzuki RM250 motocross bike's swingarm and linkages (6 from memory) and the replacement cost was enormous, around the 400 dollar mark just for the parts. The bike had been quite well maintained, but the biggest problem was his infatuation with a pressure washer, there wasn't a hint of grease in any of the linkages, those pressure washers are bearing killers, for sure. I did them all again in bronze and it cost the owner (a neighbour) $20.00 for the bronze and $30.00 for a bottle of JD)  

If needle rollers are good quality, a good fit and are well maintained (greased regularly) and not used in wet/cold conditions too often, or subjected to pressure washers, they'll do a reasonably good job, but won't last as long as good bronze bushes with 2 or 3 times the contact area of needle bearings, and generally tighter tolerances, much better load bearing ability and some "self lubricating" qualities etc.

Z1 enterprises are great, I bought a Pingel fuel tap for my Suzy GS1000S there and the service was great. If anyone buys a Dyna ignition from anyone else they've got rocks in their heads. I don't know how good their needle roller bearing kits are, but I'm a lazy bastard, and try to avoid "high maintenance" parts if there's a viable alternative. In this case, there is and it's about half the price. Cheers, Terry.  

[mrbreeze]

Good info post Terry.Another guy that directed me to needles in the swingarm was indeed a dirt biker.He never mentioned how often he had to change them out.
Get me one of those cooler kits ready Terry because after I get my Corbin seat next week,the cooler is next on the list!!! I attended the Berkeley,California meet a couple of weeks ago and noted oil coolers on some of the other bikes.Not a one of them had the spin-on filter though.Will be contacting you soon!!!!

[Terry in Australia]

No worries Mr B, I'll be happy to build you a cooler. Where on earth did you find a Corbin seat? 

[mrbreeze]

I'm going to Corbin in Hollister,Ca. to have it custom made.My buddy in San Jose won the lo ball hand in a poker run in Hollister last year and the prize was a 500$ gift certificate for a seat.He has a new Heritage Softtail and likes the seat that came with it so he cut me a deal on the certificate.