Happens all the time!

[Zombie Master]

I love motorcycles. I'm a true cyclephile. What happens to friends, is that they get infected with my enthusiasm, and end up getting a bike. It's often a bike that I am obsessing about. I get infatuated, then start doing research on accessories, compiling maintenance information, and much more. Hell I was very close to buying a Ducati GT1000 till The Major almost bit the bullet. These friends are often not even motorcyclist, then they get catch the disease from me. It's happened many times, and I don't recommend riding at all. It's just far too dangerous for the not fully committed. Sometimes they have a short affair with the sport, and realize it's not for them. Sometimes they become lifers and regret not having started sooner.

Day after tomorrow my friend Mark will buy a Yamaha MT01, which has now been discontinued. I've lusted after this strange and rare machine for years. It was never available in the States. From me, Mark he has gotten all the information about the bike you can know. Earlier today I sent him the shop manual that I was able to find somewhere. I have lost interest in the bike, but not completely. Short range, aluminum frame, ball bearing steering head, and a fair heft, have turned me off. I hope he likes it! I found him a screamin' hot deal!

Neil on MT.jpg

[enigmaT120]

That's a Yamaha? That tank emblem looks like an S.

I'm pretty sure nobody has ever caught the motorcycling bug from me. I can't even convince them to run ultra marathons.

[Zombie Master]

That's a Yamaha? That tank emblem looks like an S.

I'm pretty sure nobody has ever caught the motorcycling bug from me. I can't even convince them to run ultra marathons.

Yes, a Yamaha with 110 ft pds of torque @ 3700 RPM. What's not to like?

[Deleted User 61]

Don't pretty much all of the Japanese bikes have ball bearings (in nylon races), these days?
My nephew's GSXR750 does.

[Zombie Master]

Don't pretty much all of the Japanese bikes have ball bearings (in nylon races), these days?
My nephew's GSXR750 does.

My GSF1200S has tapered rollers.

[Deleted User 61]

Don't pretty much all of the Japanese bikes have ball bearings (in nylon races), these days?
My nephew's GSXR750 does.

My GSF1200S has tapered rollers.

Yeah, well, it's air-cooled, too.

[Chuey]

Those Ducati Sport Classic bikes have ball bearings in the headset.

I think it may be instructional to know that they are quite a bit bigger than an airhead's bearings. I can't speak from experience with regard to motorcycle steering bearings but on a bicycle, the increase from 1" to 1 1/8" made a huge difference in reliability. To be fair, one inch headsets were and are perfectly fine when you have a good quality headset adjusted properly. Note those two words, "adjusted properly". The best thing 1 1/8" headsets do is to withstand ham fisted adjustments.

It may be that modern motorcycle steering bearings are larger in size so that the modern bikes that use ball bearings could be just fine. Does anybody here know the relative sizes of older ball bearing sets compared to newer ones?

Chuey

[Deleted User 61]

Does anybody here know the relative sizes of older ball bearing sets compared to newer ones?

No, but I'll see if Mitch has any laying around in his garage from when he built his death-trap:



And I will compare them to the ones I hope to pull out of my '74 CB200 when I put tapered rollers in it (some day).

[Zombie Master]

[quote="Chuey"]Those Ducati Sport Classic bikes have ball bearings in the headset.

I think it may be instructional to know that they are quite a bit bigger than an airhead's bearings. I can't speak from experience with regard to motorcycle steering bearings but on a bicycle, the increase from 1" to 1 1/8" made a huge difference in reliability. To be fair, one inch headsets were and are perfectly fine when you have a good quality headset adjusted properly. Note those two words, "adjusted properly". The best thing 1 1/8" headsets do is to withstand ham fisted adjustments.


The ball steering head bearings on the Yamaha MT01 are a problem area. Owners put in tapers before 6000 miles. The bike is heavy and the suspension comes from the R1super sport. Ball bearing provide lighter steering, but have far less durability.

[Zombie Master]

Don't pretty much all of the Japanese bikes have ball bearings (in nylon races), these days?
My nephew's GSXR750 does.

My GSF1200S has tapered rollers.

Yeah, well, it's air-cooled, too.

Last Air cooled Japanese transverse four. Jam nut valve adjustment. Carbs. Center stand. Large tank. Not Italian. How could I resist?