Ducati Monster Forum

Moto Board => Tech => Topic started by: junior varsity on October 19, 2009, 12:03:30 PM

Title: Steering head bearing source
Post by: junior varsity on October 19, 2009, 12:03:30 PM
Quick Question about the Steering Head Bearing.

If I am correct in doing my research, I have found that pre-02 Monsters ("hooped Monsters", or 851/888/Monsters) and Supersports come from the factory with tapered bearings - this was because the superbike series at the time of origination (851/888) came with tapered bearings, and the Supersports and Monsters used the same steering head tube diameter.

Newer Monsters and the like came with standard bearings and also feature a larger steering head tube.

Are the SpeedyMoto tapered bearings an improvement over the factory bearings provided on the older Monster's and the like? (I'm asking about the Kit-2, tapered bearings for pre-02 Monsters, all Supersports, etc).

Does anybody have a source with them in stock? I'm seeing them out of stock lots of places, and didn't get a reply back from Speedymoto themselves. Similarly, one email to a vendor (not a board sponsor) who listed them in stock must have been confused, because he told me they didn't make such a product.

Would I be better served going with OEM replacements?

I've been keeping up with the other posts/threads about freezing and heating to get things to fit, etc. I'm looking to put new bearings in when I upgrade upper and lower triple clamps.
Title: Re: Steering head bearing source
Post by: Ddan on October 19, 2009, 01:02:18 PM
WHen I put new bearings in my SS, the only ones available were OEM.  I think the tapered bearings most vendors supply are to replace the non-tapered ones in later Monsters.
Title: Re: Steering head bearing source
Post by: junior varsity on October 19, 2009, 01:04:33 PM
Right, that's the Kit-1 that Speedymoto sells. I saw the "Kit-2" as well, for the older Monsters and Supersports and wondered if anybody had gotten their mittens on these.
Title: Re: Steering head bearing source
Post by: Ddan on October 19, 2009, 02:23:09 PM
Quote from: ato memphis on October 19, 2009, 01:04:33 PM
Right, that's the Kit-1 that Speedymoto sells. I saw the "Kit-2" as well, for the older Monsters and Supersports and wondered if anybody had gotten their mittens on these.
Not me, and I looked around for a while before I got the OEM ones.
Title: Re: Steering head bearing source
Post by: junior varsity on October 19, 2009, 02:31:09 PM
I was going to source a set from Commonwealth Motorsports, but the listing "069191010" is a "Product Not Found" error. Running a google search, I can verify that the product number should be the aforementioned 0691.91.010:

SKF 26/52/15 bearings:

http://www.ducati.ms/forums/showthread.php?p=615791 (http://www.ducati.ms/forums/showthread.php?p=615791)
http://www.guzzino.com/sthebe.html (http://www.guzzino.com/sthebe.html)
http://www.shop.bevelheaven.com/detail.aspx?ID=615 (http://www.shop.bevelheaven.com/detail.aspx?ID=615)

And for ze Germans reading along:
http://shop.italo-shop-neuss.de/product_info.php?info=p466_Lenkkopflager-600-1000er.html (http://shop.italo-shop-neuss.de/product_info.php?info=p466_Lenkkopflager-600-1000er.html)
Title: Re: Steering head bearing source
Post by: ducpainter on October 19, 2009, 04:08:28 PM
When I needed a set for my 96 I ended up getting them from Chris @ ca-cycleworks.

They were OEM bearings.
Title: Re: Steering head bearing source
Post by: junior varsity on October 19, 2009, 04:11:29 PM
The OEM appear to be the SKF manufacture, yes?

I've read elsewhere that Timken bearings are the top available. Anybody have FHE? Opinions on the matter (re: bearing manufacturers)

I've gotten word back from SpeedyMoto, they have them in stock they say.
Title: Re: Steering head bearing source
Post by: ducpainter on October 19, 2009, 04:37:26 PM
the OEM bearings are/were indeed SKF,

IIRC it was a problem with the cup OD in the aftermarket regarding availability.

If you bought 2 sets of bearings things would work, but the price became higher than OEM.
Title: Re: Steering head bearing source
Post by: junior varsity on October 19, 2009, 07:09:52 PM
Any reason to try to upgrade from SKF to another, or SKF plenty good?
Title: Re: Steering head bearing source
Post by: junior varsity on October 19, 2009, 07:10:36 PM
Quote from: ducpainter on October 19, 2009, 04:37:26 PM
IIRC it was a problem with the cup OD in the aftermarket regarding availability.

Yeah, I have inner 26mm, outer 52mm, and that's an odd sizing combo.
Title: Re: Steering head bearing source
Post by: Howie on October 19, 2009, 08:56:47 PM
SKF is a good bearing and a common supplier of bearings on European products. 
Title: Re: Steering head bearing source
Post by: Speeddog on October 19, 2009, 09:10:32 PM
+1 on SKF.

Timken is good as well, I wouldn't mind using them if they've got the same size.