Tapered Roller Bearings for Steering Head?

[jeffhcole]

Does anyone know the part numbers and a place to buy tapered roller bearings for replacing the caged balls in ST1100s steering head?

This site describes the procedure very well:
http://members.ozemail.com.au/~greencan/ST%20Steering%20head%20bearing%20replacement.htm

However, I cannot find the part number this generous Aussie lists - Link Product’ 90-140-15? I've called a few places and they don't carry these. Is there another number that describes bearings that fit?

Any help would be much appreciated!

I want to replace my steering bearings to see if I can remove or reduce the fabled no-handed decel headshake. I like taking my arms off the bars occasionally for stretching and moving to ease my back pain. The headshake limits my ability to do this. I will also be trying a different front tire when my current tire wears out. In the meantime, replacing the head bearings will be a fun project this winter.

Also, have others done this conversion and had good luck with it?

Thanks y'all!

Jeff
'94 ST1100
Denver

[Mark]

Call these folks: they are good and will know exactly what you want for the ST1100.

CBR Bearing Company
401 Olive Hill Way
Fallbrook, Ca. 92028

Inside the USA 1-800-769-5388
Outside the USA 1-760-731-7207
Fax 1-760-731-0371

E-mail cbr@tfb.com

Office hours are 8:00am to 4:30pm PST Monday thru Thursday, 8:00AM
to 12:00PM Friday

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From my ST-list archives courtesy of Eric STOC #2860
http://community.webshots.com/album/68330217GTpeAK

Mark

[sport_tourer]

The only time I have had a head shake is when I received a bad front tire or the tire was REALLY worn out. Replacing the tire with a good tire solved the problem.

I also just serviced my steering bearings at 17,211 miles and recommend if you are approaching that mileage you do the same...the amount of factory grease was "limited".

A fork brace will also help to minimze shake

[tricky_micky]

Jeff

When you get the numbers for the head bearings, keep them handy. If you keep the 1100 for some time, they are quite heavy on the head and front wheel bearings.

That is what I was told my local dealer when I had my first set of front wheel bearings changed. It was a little difficult for me to take in at the time, but if you are doing a high mileage, then the front wheel bearings and head bearings do take some hammer.

Had 2 ST 1100's and had to change wheel bearings and head bearings on the first machine, mileage was about 75k when I sold it on. My second St 1100 ran for 56k without me having to change anything, so I dont know where my dealer got the information from. However, I have every respect for the mechanic that worked on my machines, so it is well worth remembering front wheel bearings and head bearing part numbers should you ever need them again.

Mick

[lddave]

The ones I have came from Parts Plus and the part # is SSH903, # on bearings are 32006JR and 32005X.

[STArnie13]

I have read that several changed the head bearings and the headshake stopped. I have also read that several have made the swtich and it didn't help. Then again some have fixed the prolem with other means. Some like me have not had any problems with headshake. Hope it works for you!:03biker:

[jeffhcole]

First of all – Thank you to Mark for directing me to CBR Bearing Company. I called them up and the dude on the phone knew exactly what head bearings I needed. They only cost $53, and they arrived in three days after my order. The CBR guy said that this bearing alternative would transform my ST’s handling.

It then took me a month or so to negotiate with the girlfriend for work space in our small, 1-car garage – I finally got it last week.

I followed the directions in this link from this Aussie, which was extremely helpful.
http://members.ozemail.com.au/~greencan/ST%20Steering%20head%20bearing%20replacement.htm

I was surprised at how easy the whole repair went. I’m pretty handy, but was intimidated about pressing the bearing races into the head tube, and about pressing the bearings onto the steering shaft. Following the Aussie’s recommendations was very helpful. The whole repair probably took me 6 hours.

We’ve had some warm weather here in Denver this January, so here are my impressions of the handling:

1- word – AWESOME! This bearing replacement TRANSFORMED my ST’s handling for the better – way better! I have been riding on a very worn and cupped Dunlop K591, so I was going to replace my front tire anyway. But I was pretty sure the tire was not causing the headshake. Well, the tire was not the problem. The bearings totally got rid of my headshake even with my worn and cupped tire. I have tried hard to get the bike to do the headshake thing – it’s impossible now. Even doing no-handed throttle-chops from high RPM’s in any gear. Headshake is gone.

Also, my bike’s steering is now very light, smooth and fluid. The bike literally feels much lighter and more nimble. More stability at speed, and more nimble in the many canyon roads in the foothills just west of Denver. The handling is now superb.

I am so impressed with the handling improvement, that I am certain that the original caged-ball bearing design from Honda is flawed. The old bearings are a design-flaw and all ST’s should have these tapered roller bearings. This, in my opinion, is a must do repair for all ST’s.

Thank you also to the other people that posted their help. I am sure that re-greasing old bearings, and replacing bearings with the OEM parts improved their handling. I am also sure that replacing a worn and cupped front tire will improve a ST’s handling and might even reduce or eliminate the famous ST headshake. But, switching to tapered roller bearings will do all of these things AND transform your ST’s handling to the way it should have been all these years.

By the way, my ’94 ST1100 standard had 30,000 miles (low mileage for a ST), and the existing bearings were very light on grease, and I noticed slight indentations in the bearing races for each ball bearing. No doubt, this was causing the headshake – not the tire.

Take my word for it. I am a long-time motorcyclist, former bmx racer, mountain bike racer, motocross racer, and bicyclist with a very sensitive feel for motorcycle handling. I am not a rookie. The old bearings are a design flaw, and the tapered roller bearings are the way the STeed was meant to be.