Head bearings

[rac3r]

I went on Saturday to see a bike and find out the PX value for mine. The dealer had a look at my bike, lifted the front end and wiggled the handle bars. After this he knocked me down £500 on the value for my bike. He said that the Head race bearings were stiff in the middle and it was dangerous to ride

1 - I didn't feel anything while riding (but I probably wouldn't know anyway unless it was obvious )

2 - The bike had passed it's MOT 78 miles ago at a Honda dealer

3 - He said the work would cost him £260 - I later found the bearings are £18 each

Is he playing games?

Also how can I check myself? I've just sold the bike privately awaiting collection and wanted to make sure it's not dangerous
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Bikes : 2006 CBR125R - 2004 Monster 620ie - 2004 ZX-6R B1H - 2005 Monster S2R 800 - 2011 Street Triple - 2009 Streetfighter 1098 - 2014 ZX-6R 636

[Nipedley]

Personally I just take the weight off the front end, turn the bars from left to right and if there's any notchiness in it then the bearings could be worn, if it's nice and smooth then I've taken that to mean they're fine. Did that as a recommendation on pre-mot checks and it went through just fine.

It IS checked on the MOT, so if it passed that I'd say they are fine.

[KevTM]

Going by what he knocked off price wise then admitting what it costs for them to fix it (including labour) I think he's trying to squeeze as much out of it as he can.

If it passed its MOT 78 miles ago and you've not been wheelying or doing anything stupid it's unlikely they'll be shot by now. If you're worried get someone that knows to check it out, only takes two seconds.

[rac3r]

Since the MOT I've only done town riding and about 5 miles of dual carriage way.

I would take it to the mechanic but now I've taken the deposit I don't want to take it out the garage

I've just gone to check it myself, although I can't get the front wheel of the floor it seems to turn fine
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Bikes : 2006 CBR125R - 2004 Monster 620ie - 2004 ZX-6R B1H - 2005 Monster S2R 800 - 2011 Street Triple - 2009 Streetfighter 1098 - 2014 ZX-6R 636

[Ingah]

1) Put the bike on it's centre stand and put the front wheel facing forwards.
2) Get someone else to push their weight down (slowly and progressively as you don't want to break any plastics), on the rear of the bike, behind the pillion seat and above the number plate. This will lift the front wheel off the floor slightly.
3) Whilst the person maintains the weight on the rear, slowly move the front tyre from side to side by hand. Do it very gently and slowly and if you feel it 'notching' or almost slipping into place (it might take a few seconds for you to locate), that's a problem with your head bearings. TIP: If this is the case it'll be in the middle as that is the most travelled bit, and so will have worn away inside to form a little groove, which is what causes the notching as it slips into and out of the groove.

If anything is noticeable it does need fixing at some point, but if it's only a tiny tiny notch you can get away with it for a short while. But fix it ASAP.

An official Honda set of head bearings costs #70 at most, less if you are trade no doubt. And labour is 2 hours at the most. #430 for 2 hours labour!? He is taking the michael, somewhat.

EDIT: Don't try and do it with the wheel on the floor or you've not got a hope of feeling a notch.

SOURCE: Head bearings check, prices, labour, costs all demonstrated and explained to me by a Honda mechanic.
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-- Ingah

[rac3r]

[Nipedley]

Sorry yes, I have a CG 125 and use the centre stand. I assumed the CBR125's had them too? If so it's easy as pie to get the front wheel up a bit

I think his charges were over the top for that sort of a job, in many cases could be more than a bike was worth! Was just trying to knock your price down I think. As said if you went through the MOT then 70 miles shouldn't have killed it especially if it wasnt even an advisory.

[rac3r]

It has a side stand so I got my little bro to help me out.

I tried what was said above and there is a bit of a notch in the middle (wheel facing straight forward).

Should I tell the buyer? What would you do?

They have already bought the bike but awaiting collection
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Bikes : 2006 CBR125R - 2004 Monster 620ie - 2004 ZX-6R B1H - 2005 Monster S2R 800 - 2011 Street Triple - 2009 Streetfighter 1098 - 2014 ZX-6R 636

[Seb]

I recently had my headrace bearings done, I'm pretty sure it wasn't much more than 100 quid. 2 hours of labour is about right.
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2010 Triumph 1050 Sprint ST

[Kickstart]

Hi

Steering head bearings are a bit of a bitch of a job for something that is so easily wrecked, but not a £500 job by any margin.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Gazdaman]

£500 for needing some head bearings! What a load of bollocks, if they took off £100 then fair enough, because it'd probably cost you that to get it sorted in a dealer plus it's hastle for them.

But of course dealers want to give you as little as possible, and this is just their leverage to get more out of you.

Gaz

[rac3r]

Should i tell the buyer of the bike?
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Bikes : 2006 CBR125R - 2004 Monster 620ie - 2004 ZX-6R B1H - 2005 Monster S2R 800 - 2011 Street Triple - 2009 Streetfighter 1098 - 2014 ZX-6R 636

[Gazdaman]

It'd be a curtosy to tell them "The dealer reckons the head bearings are on the way out, but I can't feel it, I think he was just being a twat trying to get money off".

If your head bearings are notchy you can feel it as you turn the bars.

Gaz

[Pete.]

The dealer is full of it saying the bike is dangerous to ride if you have a barely detectable notchiness. I got an advisory for 'slight notchiness' in my headbearings and an MOT pass, so it's definately possible.

If it satifies your morals then you could tell the buyer that there's a tiny bit of notchiness in the bearings but it passed the MOT just fine like it.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[Nipedley]

Out of curiosity what is it that wears the bearings, anyway? I've a 2005 bike that's done 14k miles and at least personally I can't determine any wear on the head bearings but friends bikes that have done less miles have. Is it dependant on riding style?

[Kickstart]

Hi

They don't really tend to wear. Normally they suffer from the impacts when people doing wheelies / pot holes / etc.

They can also suffer from corrosion when not properly lubricated (used to be very common with new Kawasakis, not sure these days).

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing