Anybody have any idea what the cost should be for a bike mechanic to change the steering head bearing on a 2000 ST1100ABS? My guy quoted me around $300.00 with tapered bearings. From looking at several posts, I don't think it's something I want to attempt, and they are not bad enough for me to notice anything. Suggestions?
If you don't notice anything with your steering, then as Vinny says . . . "if it ain't broke . . . " . However, what you CAN do that is relatively easy, is dismantle the steering and clean and lube and PROPERLY re-torque those bearings. Both the upper and lower bearings innards (the balls) are easy to access, without needing any special tools. If you can take the forks off, you can do this too. Having the service manual will guide you in proper torquing of the bearings on re-assembly.
If you get in there and see that the races are indeed badly pitted or scored, then you might want to consider replacement at some point.
I have always believed that the majority of these ball bearings suffered an early demise due to inattention to the requirement to have the bearing torque rechecked within 1,000 miles of first use. I'm sure most dealers doing a 1,000 mile inspection would have skipped this in the interests of saving time on the service. I performed this initial service on my previous '95 model, which I bought new. Ten years later, after 120,000 km., I took it all apart, found no indentation in the races at all, cleaned and lubed the bearings and then sold the bike another 10 years later, with 175,000 km, still on the OEM bearings, still showing no sign of notchiness.
The "96 I have now came to me in 2014 with just 72,000 km and I stripped it down for a thorough going over. The steering bearings were in fine shape, so they got the cleaning, lubing and re-torquing and I don't expect to ever need to change them, for as long as I might own the machine.
I mis-spoke about not needing any special tools. You could disassemble the steering stem without it, but the job does require one special Honda tool, used in conjunction with the torque wrench to torque the steering stem adjustment nut upon reassembly. I'm sure there is a loaner tool out there somewhere that passes around, just like the 40 amp upgrade kit. Or you could buy one from Honda.
