Topic: steering head check?

[DYSKORD]

Reading through another post, I began to question the condition of my steering head bearings. When I had the bike on a jack, with the front wheel off, I noticed that the forks settled into a spot straight forward. In other words as I turned the front end, it would "naturaly" settle straight forward. I dont notice the spot when riding. Is this normal or am I looking at an upgrade? I have seen the name Allballs bearings floating around, can you guys give a recomendation on an upgrade from stock?

Thanks
Dyskord

[kck3]

If they are the orig bearings it would not hurt anything to put in some new bearings.  Lift the front wheel off the ground and turn the bars from left to right-does it feel smooth?  Or are you feeling any thing uneven in it? 

[DYSKORD]

with the wheel off, it is smooth through out but as you turn the forks from far left or far right towards centered (straight) it "falls" to center itself, about an inch or so before. It smooth throughout this motion, no grimey or notchy feeling except what I have explained.

[MCRider]

You have the dreaded "dead ahead detent". Bearings are trash. The forks should move smoothly left to right, stop to stop with NO detectable impedence.

as you ride, 95% is straight ahead, often slightly countersteering against the crown in the road. The bearings beat themselves into a spot right there. You may not feel it but it is there. As you transition into turns, or make small corrections you have to fight against that detent, into and out of the dents.

At the extreme, you may steer against the dent, then fall back into the dents, then steer out again, then relax back into the dents. All at a micro level but its happening. This sets up the beginning of an oscillation that could be annoyiing or severe.

With tapered bearings, they are SO much better, so much more surface area over which to spread the loads, that you'll never beat those dents into them again and your steering will become amazignly smooth.

[FunJimmy]

You have the dreaded "dead ahead detent". Bearings are trash. The forks should move smoothly left to right, stop to stop with NO detectable impedence.

as you ride, 95% is straight ahead, often slightly countersteering against the crown in the road. The bearings beat themselves into a spot right there. You may not feel it but it is there. As you transition into turns, or make small corrections you have to fight against that detent, into and out of the dents.

At the extreme, you may steer against the dent, then fall back into the dents, then steer out again, then relax back into the dents. All at a micro level but its happening. This sets up the beginning of an oscillation that could be annoyiing or severe.

With tapered bearings, they are SO much better, so much more surface area over which to spread the loads, that you'll never beat those dents into them again and your steering will become amazignly smooth.

Great explanation!

+1 on new taper roller bearings, and All Balls is tthe way to go for a complete solution.

FJ

[DYSKORD]

Alright, thanks for the info. Any mods or words of caution before I install or is it a pretty straightforward swap? Maybe info on the cheapest place to order?

[MCRider]

Alright, thanks for the info. Any mods or words of caution before I install or is it a pretty straightforward swap? Maybe info on the cheapest place to order?

Check the forums, there are many threads on installing, maybe in FAQs also. I'd reserve about 3-4 hours, a Saturday afternoon. The biggest hangup is using the proper spacer under the lower race I think it is. The instructions should walk you thru it.

[DYSKORD]

Alright, thanks for the info. Any mods or words of caution before I install or is it a pretty straightforward swap? Maybe info on the cheapest place to order?

Check the forums, there are many threads on installing, maybe in FAQs also. I'd reserve about 3-4 hours, a Saturday afternoon. The biggest hangup is using the proper spacer under the lower race I think it is. The instructions should walk you thru it.

Thanks alot guys.