When to replace wheel bearings??

[Drumagician]

I know what a bad bearing or going bad bearing feels like and sounds like and to replace them upon these finding. My question is, I would think that there would be a estimated milage that bearings should be replaced regardless of condition just to be on the safe side, so what would this milage be? My bike has 34,000 miles on it, assuming it wasn't sitting under water for a year, is there any chance they could be going bad at this milage?

[natemoen]

Anything is possible. The front 2 and right rear are dirt cheap, I payed just under $10 for the three, and now the left rear is found and about $50. Could change the three and.clean and release the other just because.

[natemoen]

Also, I don't think it is possible to remove the fronts without ruining them, you can only hit on the inner race.

[James England]

and now the left rear is found and about $50.

Actually $29 if I buy the minimum order of 100 bearings.....

[Drumagician]

I guess for $10, it would be dumb not to change the three and I can fully inspect the left rear when its apart and change if necessary.
I would still like to hear if anyone has ever needed to change their bearings as early as 34,000 miles.

[bikerphil]

Yep, I had to change my fronts at about 35K, bike would follow every groove in the road. It was the bearings, took me a while to figure that one out.

[motoman]

Also, I don't think it is possible to remove the fronts without ruining them, you can only hit on the inner race.
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Not true natemoen, still have my originals in a box, re-packed with the seal lips intact saved for who knows what.

[DGXSER]

On my first SH, it had about 25k and no sign of needing new bearings. On my current one, it has 26k as of now, and I just replaced them. The grease in the old ones looked like ear wax!! So I just tore them out and replaced. I got the two bearings and the seals in the ALL BALLS brand for about $25 on fleabay.

[natemoen]

Not true natemoen, still have my originals in a box, re-packed with the seal lips intact saved for who knows what.

Congrats! All there was for me showing to hit against was the inner race, and I would NEVER use a bearing that I hit aginst the inner race on.

[Drumagician]

bike would follow every groove in the road.

Bikerphil, can you explain this a little more. I have been feeling something weird going on with the front end like you say and it comes and goes.

[cywelchjr]

89000 on mine (at least although I'm thinking that's the correct mileage at this point but I go back and forth) and appears to have the original front bearings still, and I just changed the rears around a month ago. I have new fronts, and the fronts feel fine, but I get a little wander once in a while so I may change them soon just in case.

[bikerphil]

Bikerphil, can you explain this a little more. I have been feeling something weird going on with the front end like you say and it comes and goes.

I'll try. It would wander like Cy said, kinda like an old truck with worn out king pins. One minute your'e going left, then the other you would be going right. Mostly at highway speeds though. A crappy front tire or loose swingarm will give you those symptoms also.

[b.walker5]

Bikerphil, can you explain this a little more. I have been feeling something weird going on with the front end like you say and it comes and goes.

A crap front tire, and/or low pressure will do that. Mine was bad at it until i stopped using cheap tires. Loose, and over-tight, head bearings will do it also.

[Drumagician]

Great info here! I think I will take the whole front end off and check neck bearings while I'm at it along with the wheel bearings and throw some new brake pads on it. I think I'll feel better about going 130mph after that