Replacing Steering Head Bearings

[SFC1000]

Up on the centre stand and they are as notchy as.
I haven't removed them yet, can anyone tell me if the K4 has ball bearing or have they been upgraded to tapered rollers.
Also are either type available from my local bearing supply or are they some odd size only available from Suzuki.
Thanks

[SA14]

Have you got all the manuals? There's a free set available in the download section if not. They should tell you everything you need to know about bearing types.

[Hooli]

K3 onwards were taper as far as I recall.

I got my last set from somewhere online, so not checked if the are an odd size.

[seth]

If tapered bearings as @Hooli  says are readily available online just search gsx1400 steering head bearing there's loads of choice .
I always go for the more quality ones and grease them well as Suzuki didn't do a good job on the grease anywhere really.
Good luck

[Hooli]

I always over grease the bottom one. I'm sure condensation appears in the frame from the heat of the engine and runs down to them. It'd explain why they all go rusty when the top one is fine. A thick ring of grease above them fixes that if you drop them out each time you do the fork oil and regrease them.

[mlivkovich]

I replaced ball bearings with roller ones on my k2. 32006 and 32005 are bearings you need

[SFC1000]

Thanks everyone.
I'm taking them out tonight and will go to the bearing place tomorrow and see what they have.
If that doesn't work out it's online purchase I go.
I'd like it back together tomorrow afternoon though.

[grog]

SFC, youll prob need seals as well. $20 genuine both. If you order online, been told not All Balls.

[grog]

SFC, meant to tell. 20yrs ago spotted orange Jota under blokes house. Lives near the ocean. Another lot of spares with it, frame, tank, exhaust etc. Have been back a few times, it all just rusts/ corrodes away. Offered to buy right from start, no mate, ill fix it one day. Now its just fucked, still not selling. One of the worst wastes ive come across.

[SFC1000]

All done. Had to use die grinder on bottom inner, two hits with chisel, split and off.
Top one was worse than the bottom, so that may be a first.
Mlivkovich those numbers are the same as mine, tapered rollers top and bottom.
Should be no reason I can't get them from the bearing shop.

Grog seals OK and being a low km bike I'm going to reuse.
Grog some people just need to be taken out and flogged.
Actually as a parts bike he's still got a gold mine.
I've got enough parts including a frame less motor to build another bike, but will get around to selling it all now I don't have bikes.
Always had it on hand just in case, but never used anything.
By the way I lived at Flaxton as a kid when there was a dirt road there from the turn off from Maleny, just some bitumen thru Montville.
Actually I remember when the PO burnt down there. Showing my age now.

[grog]

SFC,gravel b4 me, turn off from Maleny road, late 70s, a great race track. My old Ducati struggled with Jap bikes up the hill, where i live now, but across to Flaxton, it loved it. All very sedate, low speed limits now. Jota i talked about is at Kings Bch. Ive only spent 300ks on a 1000, mate had one , can remember thinking how big n powerfull. We had Jap 750 in those days.

[Irish in Oz]

@SFC1000
I take it you are a regular visitor to the Laverda Concours.

[SFC1000]

Not for more years than I can remember.
Last time I went it was still at the Story bridge.

[SFC1000]

Righto job done, pretty straight forward.
Picked up two Timken bearings, 32005 and 32006 for $25 from the bearing shop this morning.
Made a stem nut tool.
Lock to lock nice and smooth.

[grog]

Well done, super quick. Good brg choice. Maybe a dumb question but, can you compare Lav handling with 14?