tapered needle head bearings
 

Where can I get tapered needle head bearings to replace the stock ball bearing ones for my superhawk?? are the needle ones better? does it really make a difference or just preference??


thanks

yeah, I wanted to ask the same question. Anyone please?

All Balls Racing. they have a good web site. Or you can order them through a dealer.
the ones for the '00-'01 RC51 will work. They may be the same for later RCs. Not sure.

They have more contact area, so they are probably stiffer and more precise. Whether you can tell a difference is probably debatable.

Re: tapered needle head bearings
 

Tapered roller bearings are far superior to ball bearings in some applications and I think the steering stem of a motorcycle is one of those applications. For years I have removed the ball bearings typically fitted by most OEMs (they are far cheaper than roller bearings) and replaced them with tapered roller bearings. It is not a case where the new tapered bearings will improve handling (at least I have not noticed an improvement, assuming the ball bearings are in ‘like new’ condition) but that they will prevent handling from deteriorating. The issue with a ball bearing is they can ‘flat spot’ or ‘detent’; wheelies are especially hard on ball bearings and given the Super Hawk’s propensity to lift the front wheel this can be a problem. If you know the physical differences between a ball and a roller bearing you will intuitively understand why the roller bearing is so much more durable. I have roller bearings for my Super Hawk but have not installed them yet. I purchased them from a local bearing house but they are readily available in kit form from many aftermarket sources.

I have a set of the All Balls (tapered rollers) sitting in the garage ready to go in over the winter, but then I'm running out of winter.

Should have been tapered rollers to begin with.

How much is the kit?

Re: tapered needle head bearings
 

I paid around $25 you need to do a web search. JIM[web:b0c2b6acf3]http://www.vxb.com/page/bearings/CTGY/Tapered-Roller[/web:b0c2b6acf3]

The kit is $32 retail from allballsracing.com and comes with the seals.

Re: tapered needle head bearings
 

Hey,

Thanks for the responses, that's a lot of help. I think I'm going to go with the allballsracing ones.

thanks again!

I think my 98 had them from the factory. I know it's got them now and I didn't put them in, so they must have come that way! Can anyone confirm this?

Jamie Daugherty
http://members.iquest.net/~daugherj

If no one else was into your bike you got a happy accident! No they don't come with tapered roller bearings. When I did my front end swap I had slightly flatened ball bearings. Who does wheelies...I don't do wheelies.....only squids do wheelies.....shhh......I must have a little squid in me.......doesn't everyone?

Re: tapered needle head bearings
 

I better check my bearings if wheelies flatten them out when it is so easy to wheelie how can you help yourself!!!

It took years and years to do it but yeah they were a little flat.