- Joined
- Jul 27, 2010
- Messages
- 5,875
- Reaction score
- 997
- Location
- Blouberg, Cape Town
- Bike
- KTM 890 Adventure R
Just because it is an expensive bike with low kms does not mean that it does not need service and adjustment. So it is with neck bearings.
The rule of thumb on my F800GS was neck bearing replacement at about 20 000km, but should it be left untouched until then?
On heavy braking, and going over bumps, I was hearing this distinctive clicking noise on my 890Adv R with 6000 odd km on the clock. Last week it started weaving at 140km/h. Lets just check it out, I thought. Which I did.
Turns out that the neck bearing was indeed loose, and that it needed 1/8th turn to tighten with a 27 spanner. It was actually easy to feel as it was loose, and then showed resistance at the end of the turn.
I am sure that this prevented early neck bearing replacement.
I have recently done neck bearing adjustments on smaller bikes, but the bigger, heavier bikes have even more stress on the neck bearings, warranting early inspection and adjustment.
Adjustment on the 890R is slightly different than on my Honda CRF300L for instance. This Youtuber explained the process nicely, for which I am forever thankful:
The rule of thumb on my F800GS was neck bearing replacement at about 20 000km, but should it be left untouched until then?
On heavy braking, and going over bumps, I was hearing this distinctive clicking noise on my 890Adv R with 6000 odd km on the clock. Last week it started weaving at 140km/h. Lets just check it out, I thought. Which I did.
Turns out that the neck bearing was indeed loose, and that it needed 1/8th turn to tighten with a 27 spanner. It was actually easy to feel as it was loose, and then showed resistance at the end of the turn.
I am sure that this prevented early neck bearing replacement.
I have recently done neck bearing adjustments on smaller bikes, but the bigger, heavier bikes have even more stress on the neck bearings, warranting early inspection and adjustment.
Adjustment on the 890R is slightly different than on my Honda CRF300L for instance. This Youtuber explained the process nicely, for which I am forever thankful:
