Notched 05 ZX6R Steering head bearings - not good :(

[stonneville]

Fark, okay latest drama with the 6 is the steering head bearing.

Just had the 24k service on her and 2 weeks later, the things so bloody notched it's friggin dangerous. Slow speeds are just not fun. Have been told that it's classed as normal wear and tear and that I have to fork out myself to have them replaced.

Normal wear and tear after only 26k's of riding, *@*@ I ask you is this a crock of shit or not?

They even tried telling me I needed new sprocket and chain, I'm a girl and ride like a girl, you reckon they're trying it on

Have any of you guys riding the 05 ZX6R having any breakdowns/failures or is it just me who bought a lemon?? Spose that's what you get when you buy the first ones off the production line

[chameleon]

yes they still try to rip off girls in the automotive trades. Girls and anyone who looks a bit flakey. If it's under warranty you should be able to take it to another dealer anyway I would expect. Perhaps one who isn't such a dog!

[Stereo]

I would give them a bloody roasting....

or deal with another dealer.... bollicks is that normal wear....

my 03 ZX6R still has the origional chain and sprockets.... and the sprockets are in good condition.... (the chain is a bit munted because I dont look after it)...

[photomike666]

I just had the stearing head bearings done at 50,000k, chain & sprocket at about 40. I think they were all original, as the bike only had 12,000k on the clock when I got it.

To check stearing head "notch", get a friend to help, put the bike on it's side stand and pull the bike over onto the stand. The back needs to stay down and the front lift. With the front in the air move the bars slowly side to side. It should be a smooth sweep side to side, 1 central sticking point would suggest a notch.

As for chain; get the rear airbourne as you would to lube the chain (race stand, trolley jack under swingarm (close to shock mount). With the motor off, check chain movement, roll the wheel 1/4 turn and check chain movement again. repeat several times. If the chain is screwed it will have tight spots and the tension will change depending on where the tight spot is. Try lubing the chain (after a ride of best effect) and checking again. If a chain is just a little dry, tight spots can be worked out.

Sprocket teeth should be even, almost triangle shaped. If one side is more curved than the other then it's worn. It's always best to change chains and sprockets together.

[stonneville]

I would give them a bloody roasting....

or deal with another dealer.... bollicks is that normal wear....

my 03 ZX6R still has the origional chain and sprockets.... and the sprockets are in good condition.... (the chain is a bit munted because I dont look after it)...

yeh hoisted the bike up last night and it really 'jumps' into the groove not notch. I'm thinking the learner mechanic might have tightened it a little too much at the 24k service

[Glen]

When they grease them at the factory they use shit grease and they put hardly any on.

With new dirt bikes the first thing we do is pull the steering head bearings and rear suspension linkages apart and regrease everything. Most times the original bearings come out with barely a smear on them. It's critical on a dirt bike because they get submerged and mud and shit get's every where which you need to blast off.

With a road bike though I would've thought less than a year regardless of klm's is ridiculous unless you've been cleaning it with a pressure washer.

Bash it up them until they fix it.

[matchan]

Normal wear and tear after only 26k's of riding, *@*@ I ask you is this a crock of shit or not?

Yes

there is one member here who had similar trouble with a zx9r clutch, you can probably find the thread in a search, but bottom line was went to another dealer and got it sorted.

I've been through consumer affairs (successfully) with aprilia, but I won't bore ereryone with the details again same issue though considering this kind of stuff "consumable" PM if you want any more info.

Good luck with it.

Matt

[Rusty]

I'm betting on the monke ... err mechanic overtightening the head bearings, too. That is, if it was noticably different when you got the bike back from the service.

When I got my bike, it had JUST had its 30000 km service from Midclown. One of the things wrong was the steering head bearing having been WAY overtightened. Mine was caught in time (and still fine 20000 km odd later) - from the sounds of it yours is past saving.

Definitely a warranty or dealer freebie repair. After all, from the sound of it they damaged it.

[Jonno]

When they grease them at the factory they use shit grease and they put hardly any on.

With new dirt bikes the first thing we do is pull the steering head bearings and rear suspension linkages apart and regrease everything. Most times the original bearings come out with barely a smear on them. It's critical on a dirt bike because they get submerged and mud and shit get's every where which you need to blast off.

With a road bike though I would've thought less than a year regardless of klm's is ridiculous unless you've been cleaning it with a pressure washer.

Bash it up them until they fix it.

In fact they don't put much on at all just a blob of grease to hold the bearing race in position while they assemble it. First thing I did with both new bikes was to grease em up properly as you described and that also meant the swing arm too. But 30k and a shot headstem bearing is just wrong!

[Neka79]

wow...i thought 24,000km was ok for headstems....
i replaced my 1st set at abt that mark..and there due to be done again...
i didnt put stock ones in last time- i put in tapered roller bearings- supposedly much better, tho last time i tightened em it didnt seem to help, so mybe i should bite the bullet and get sum more...
i kno mine dont last long...apparently wheelies stuff em..and apparently i should stop doin wheelies...

[stonneville]

ha ha yeh Neka wheelies do stuff them, but I don't do wheelies would love to though

Took the bike in yesterday arvo and they kinda admitted that they had been a bit slack and that they maybe should have changed the bearings at the 24k service. Trying to get it done in time, mechanic did one end the Apprentice teh other, umm guess where the apprentice was .

So anyway they are putting new bearings in for me to day, I have to pay for the bearings, but they'll put them in free of charge.

I'm kinda happy with that as they're local, and they will definately watch what they do with my bike next time, gave me an 05 ZXR1200 to ride around on today, pity I have to be at work

They ain't getting no bottles of Bourboun for chrissie presents this year, that should sharpen them up

[Neka79]

ha ha yeh Neka wheelies do stuff them, but I don't do wheelies would love to though

Took the bike in yesterday arvo and they kinda admitted that they had been a bit slack and that they maybe should have changed the bearings at the 24k service. Trying to get it done in time, mechanic did one end the Apprentice teh other, umm guess where the apprentice was .

So anyway they are putting new bearings in for me to day, I have to pay for the bearings, but they'll put them in free of charge.

I'm kinda happy with that as they're local, and they will definately watch what they do with my bike next time, gave me an 05 ZXR1200 to ride around on today, pity I have to be at work

They ain't getting no bottles of Bourboun for chrissie presents this year, that should sharpen them up

u give ur local "stealer" a bottle of bourbon at xmas??...geez i dont even give em a card...hell u can give me a bottle of bourbon tho..im good at drinking it...