[ph33nyx]

How can you tell if the steering bearings are failing? I've checked the balance and pressure...both ok. When checking the steering head, I didn't notice any front to back play, however when when turning to the left it seems ok, but when turning to the right it just flops.
I just started noticing this after hitting some good sized holes that caught me off guard (thanks to the new tram line coming into downtown Houston).

 

[cougsfan]

The surest sign of bad steering head bearings is the bike develops a wobble at a particular speed. If your bike doesn't wobble, don't lose too much sleep over your steering head bearings.
If the steering head bearings are really bad, you can tell by locking up the front brake while stopped and rocking the bike back and forth; you will feel a wee bit of slop. However I have "bad" steering head bearings that have no noticeable slop.
A popular way of adjusting steering head bearings is to tighten them until the front wheel barely drops on it own to one side while on the center stand with the front wheel elevated. If they don't drop evenly each direction, I would guess it is more likely due to different resistance caused by cables or wires attached to the bars as opposed to bad bearings.
The effects of having the bearings too loose will feel much like bad bearings (front end wobble), too tight will cause the bike to not flow in and out of corners well. Having the bearings excessively loose or tight will likely lead to premature bearing wear.

 

[ph33nyx]

Thanks,
I took apart the front end last weekend. Re-greased the bearings, loosened everything down to the triple, brakes, and axle, and gave it a few downward pushes, tightened everything back up, and it's TONS better.
I'll admit that I did a fork oil change at the same time. I went with 10w, but reduced the amount from 284ml to 280, and added a 1/2in spacer as well for a little more preload. What a difference it's made.

 

[Mike337]

Are the steering head bearings known to come dry from the factory? My last Yamaha did, 1 had a dab of grease on it, the other was dry.

 

[Mike33]

Bringing this up again to see what you guys think about doing them with about 14,000 miles on. Too late?

 

[Jim]

It's never too late to check.

 

[Quantum Mechanic]

Hi Mike, I shouldn't think you need to worry about those steering head bearings for quite some while. If the steering feels nice and smooth, no play, no noise then leave well alone. You'd know by now if the bearings were running dry...ish! I've rarely ever had to replace steering head bearings on any bike inspite of huge mileages on some of them. As yet, I've not done them on a Burgman either.

 

[kxj5906]

I wish you took pictures and posted it guide on this forum so other peoples can learn how to tighten steering bearings to

 

[Bolzen]

One may want to try a performance bearing set, e.g. the "All Balls", part # 22-1004.