Oh arse

Last week, I discovered that my F650 needed a tax disc so I put it in
for an MOT this afternoon. It failed on the head race beaings[1]. It
looks like I'll be TOG touring on the bandit[2].

[1] Once he demonstrated it, he was right[3]

[2] It's not like it's a bad thing, just something that wasn't in my
plan.

[3] Very notchy from centre to about 10 degrees[4].

[4] It was a 'charatarsitic' to me.

 

F650s are notorious for this. They carry the oil in the main frame tube.
Oil gets hot, melts grease in head races, grease runs out, head races
nadger.

 

*Now* I know

 

Prolly just whatever the manual says to use, but you should service it
as least as often as recommended. I'll bet most folks leave them be
until they notice they're loose or notchy, as it is somewhat of a pain
to take out head race bearings.

I am thinking you might want to try Sil-Glyde if it gets really hot up
there, the thought being that *some* grease, (high temperature plastic
non-melting, normally used for disk brake caliper sliders) even if it's
the wrong type, is better than no grease at all.

 

It can do. Regular greasing with moly grease is the best preventative.

If you don't fancy dismantling half the steering to get at the head
races, use a syringe or something to squirt grease into the races, and
then douse the area with chain lube, which helps to carry the grease
into all the nooks and crannies.