wheel bearings

Having Problems with your BMW R1200RT/R1250RT? or have some Maintenance and Service questions?
User avatar
Doctor T
Posts: 1623
Joined: Tue Dec 21, 2021 10:21 pm
Location: west sussex
Bike Model and Year: 2007 R1200RT SE
Has liked: 877 times
Been liked: 230 times
Great Britain

wheel bearings

Post by Doctor T »

Just had a call from BMW to tell me that my front wheel bearings feel gritty. I know this as it was noted on the last service before i bought the bike.
As i prefer to service my own bike, i will change them the only question are SKF and NTN still a good bearing? I've also found a lot of Koyo bearing for sale. Haven't heard of these but from research, they seem to be fitted to a lot of Jap bikes.
All are under £15 a pair with new seals included. What are your thoughts?
Trust me I am a retired Doctor and lecturer at Oxford University of Structural and Mechanical/Electrical engineering.
User avatar
David.
Subscriber
Posts: 8006
Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2014 7:29 pm
Location: North Yorkshire
Bike Model and Year: R1200RT (Camhead) 2012
Been liked: 332 times
Great Britain

Re: wheel bearings

Post by David. »

Don't think you'll go wrong with either SKF or NTN.
Koyo bearings are another well known brand. Most recently purchased one for the FD unit on my Yamaha XJ650.

TFL Bearing Company has compiled the rankings of 9 major bearing brands for you, https://tflbearing.com/blog/the-9-best- ... world.html
"Resist fakes, we only cooperate with leading original manufacturers in the bearing field."

These BMW OEM bearings are made in Taiwan.
Image
User avatar
Doctor T
Posts: 1623
Joined: Tue Dec 21, 2021 10:21 pm
Location: west sussex
Bike Model and Year: 2007 R1200RT SE
Has liked: 877 times
Been liked: 230 times
Great Britain

Re: wheel bearings

Post by Doctor T »

That's interesting that they are made in Taiwan when there are other manufacturers on their doorstep. Must be a cost thing.
I've used FAG and SKF bearings over the years for different applications. So thanks to the link i will stick to one of them. :thumb:
Trust me I am a retired Doctor and lecturer at Oxford University of Structural and Mechanical/Electrical engineering.
User avatar
sakm
Administrator
Posts: 1297
Joined: Wed Jun 02, 2021 9:13 pm
Location: Hull, UK
Bike Model and Year: 2016 R1200RT
Has liked: 433 times
Been liked: 388 times
Great Britain

Re: wheel bearings

Post by sakm »

Skf use a lot of bearings for engine applications ie cam belt tensioners etc

And to me if they are good enough for that then they will be more then good enough in the wheels

I have always been dubious of koyo but I haven't heard of any complaints
User avatar
David.
Subscriber
Posts: 8006
Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2014 7:29 pm
Location: North Yorkshire
Bike Model and Year: R1200RT (Camhead) 2012
Been liked: 332 times
Great Britain

Re: wheel bearings

Post by David. »

I tried two local bearing suppliers for the FD unit bearing. The feedback they both gave me was that the bearing is only available through Yamaha, therefore must be OEM made in Japan. I did find this one at less than 1/3rd of the price, https://www.sp-spareparts.com/en/p/nq37-20d-koyo
The guy reassembling the FD unit wouldn't use anything other than the genuine bearing.

Image

Image
User avatar
sakm
Administrator
Posts: 1297
Joined: Wed Jun 02, 2021 9:13 pm
Location: Hull, UK
Bike Model and Year: 2016 R1200RT
Has liked: 433 times
Been liked: 388 times
Great Britain

Re: wheel bearings

Post by sakm »

David. wrote: Fri Jan 06, 2023 4:17 pm I tried two local bearing suppliers for the FD unit bearing. The feedback they both gave me was that the bearing is only available through Yamaha, therefore must be OEM made in Japan. I did find this one at less than 1/3rd of the price, https://www.sp-spareparts.com/en/p/nq37-20d-koyo
The guy reassembling the FD unit wouldn't use anything other than the genuine bearing.

Image

Image
I had a front wheel bearing fail on my fjr coming back from the lakes just outside of York

I found a yamaha dealer who changed it there and then at the cost of 90 quid which is sickening when you can do it yourself :mad:

Anyway it turned out to be a oem bearing and they had lots of failures even on replacements!

I'm not sure who manufactured them though and I suspect it was a manufacturing fault.

As a result of the failures they was fitting skf bearings instead
User avatar
David.
Subscriber
Posts: 8006
Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2014 7:29 pm
Location: North Yorkshire
Bike Model and Year: R1200RT (Camhead) 2012
Been liked: 332 times
Great Britain

Re: wheel bearings

Post by David. »

The OEM Yamaha bearing is currently listed on Fowlers of Bristol website at £85. (I did get 10% VJMC discount). Ridiculous but as I'm paying someone to do the work, didn't really have a choice. The guy is an independent who used to work for a main Yamaha dealership.
User avatar
David.
Subscriber
Posts: 8006
Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2014 7:29 pm
Location: North Yorkshire
Bike Model and Year: R1200RT (Camhead) 2012
Been liked: 332 times
Great Britain

Re: wheel bearings

Post by David. »

Doctor T wrote: Fri Jan 06, 2023 12:04 pmAll are under £15 a pair with new seals included.
Could always get one genuine bearing for that price, https://www.fixparts-online.co.uk/en/bm ... 48335.html
User avatar
Doctor T
Posts: 1623
Joined: Tue Dec 21, 2021 10:21 pm
Location: west sussex
Bike Model and Year: 2007 R1200RT SE
Has liked: 877 times
Been liked: 230 times
Great Britain

Re: wheel bearings

Post by Doctor T »

David. wrote: Fri Jan 06, 2023 5:08 pm Could always get one genuine bearing for that price, https://www.fixparts-online.co.uk/en/bm ... 48335.html
That a good price for a genuine part. I've ordered a set of SKF with seals delivered for £14. 99 now.
Trust me I am a retired Doctor and lecturer at Oxford University of Structural and Mechanical/Electrical engineering.
Ed Harley
Posts: 147
Joined: Wed Mar 17, 2021 3:36 am
Bike Model and Year: 2013 R1200RT
Has liked: 11 times
Been liked: 50 times
Finland

Re: wheel bearings

Post by Ed Harley »

Typically cannot go wrong with any of these
- SKF
- Timken (nothing but Timken for my Vettes)
- Koyo (my local dealer uses only Koyo)
- FAG
- INA
1983 GS1000G | 1984 GSX1100EF | 1997 FLHR | 2016 FLSTC | Triumph Tiger Explorer 1200 XRT
User avatar
Doctor T
Posts: 1623
Joined: Tue Dec 21, 2021 10:21 pm
Location: west sussex
Bike Model and Year: 2007 R1200RT SE
Has liked: 877 times
Been liked: 230 times
Great Britain

Re: wheel bearings

Post by Doctor T »

Fitted the bearings today. Used the Rawplug and heat gun method. A 10 minute job but and there is always a but. The seals they sent are the wrong ones. Typical Saturday nowhere open to get the correct one. Have to wait till they send the correct seals.
Theirs on the left, BMW on the right.
thumbnail_IMG_20230128_144339.jpg
thumbnail_IMG_20230128_144339.jpg (134.34 KiB) Viewed 429 times
Trust me I am a retired Doctor and lecturer at Oxford University of Structural and Mechanical/Electrical engineering.
User avatar
Doctor T
Posts: 1623
Joined: Tue Dec 21, 2021 10:21 pm
Location: west sussex
Bike Model and Year: 2007 R1200RT SE
Has liked: 877 times
Been liked: 230 times
Great Britain

Re: wheel bearings

Post by Doctor T »

Received the correct seal today. Fitted and wheel back on. After i finished i thought i would take the covers off the old bearing. One looked rusty with only a tiny amount of grease and you feel notchy. The other was clean and ran smoothly. This one had plenty of white grease in it. Overall this looked like a newer bearing. In the service history, there is no mention of a new one being fitted.
Then my mind went into overdrive. Am sure bearings come pre-packed with grease these days but at the back of my mind am sure ive greased wheel bearing before fitting. This was a long time ago, i think it was an 80s bike.
Trust me I am a retired Doctor and lecturer at Oxford University of Structural and Mechanical/Electrical engineering.
User avatar
sakm
Administrator
Posts: 1297
Joined: Wed Jun 02, 2021 9:13 pm
Location: Hull, UK
Bike Model and Year: 2016 R1200RT
Has liked: 433 times
Been liked: 388 times
Great Britain

Re: wheel bearings

Post by sakm »

Bearings are pre greased and many people question whether there is enough from the factory
User avatar
Doctor T
Posts: 1623
Joined: Tue Dec 21, 2021 10:21 pm
Location: west sussex
Bike Model and Year: 2007 R1200RT SE
Has liked: 877 times
Been liked: 230 times
Great Britain

Re: wheel bearings

Post by Doctor T »

I remember now It was a GSXR 1000. The bearing had no side caps, only dust seals.
Trust me I am a retired Doctor and lecturer at Oxford University of Structural and Mechanical/Electrical engineering.
User avatar
sakm
Administrator
Posts: 1297
Joined: Wed Jun 02, 2021 9:13 pm
Location: Hull, UK
Bike Model and Year: 2016 R1200RT
Has liked: 433 times
Been liked: 388 times
Great Britain

Re: wheel bearings

Post by sakm »

Doctor T wrote: Wed Feb 01, 2023 8:42 pm I remember now It was a GSXR 1000. The bearing had no side caps, only dust seals.
Yes some have rubber seals and some have metal side caps some also have one open end and both ends open obviously depending on the application
Post Reply