wheel bearing injuries
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 17,548
Likes: 7,199
From: Oxford, Nc
They apparently give warning as they're coming apart so I doubt very much in the way of injuries. ( Helluva' lot of money and inconvenience though.)
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 6,508
Likes: 169
From: WPB, FL
I'd argue with that statement!
I had it towed in Wednesday and bought new tires and had ALL the wheel bearings replaced with American made SKF bearings (I supplied). I'll be picking the bike up tomorrow and will be getting back all the old wheel bearings. The one front one was missing the outer shield and the ***** and cage were all chewed up. I'll be documenting and posting pics. I also think that I'll be taking apart the other 3 bearings to see what's going on inside of them.
By the way - a week before the failure the wife and I were plowing down the GS Parkway doing between 70 - 85 MPH. I would hate to think what the consequences of a failure of that magnitude would have done at those speeds. AND Once more for the record - THERE WAS NO WARNING!!!
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 11,226
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From: St.Louis Mo.
yes this is what i mean, complete failure instantly. i know they have been using these shitty bearings since 08 but there may be some with older bikes that don't know this. talking to a tech at a local dealer and he was telling me they see alot of failures of these wheel bearings. i hope no one ever gets hurt by the motor companies cheapness. i know my own bearings were not very far from total failure with no warning what so ever. if it were not for a bad tire those bearings could have very well put me on my head at speed.
I've wondered if there's been an accident (one vehicle) where it appeared that the rider "failed to negotiate a turn" causing the acident if maybe there was a failure of the bearing that actually caused the accident. When my bearing failed the bike was bone stock I don't think I would have heard it if I had after market pipes on.
I've not read of any accidents being caused by wheel bearing failure, but see above.
I've not read of any accidents being caused by wheel bearing failure, but see above.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 17,548
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From: Oxford, Nc
By "warning" I mean what guys typically describe when they discover it: Visual grease marks, grinding sounds or perhaps a wobble feeling. I haven't heard of an accident yet personally when someone actually went down because of it.
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 6,508
Likes: 169
From: WPB, FL
According to my daughter it would be a product liability issue.
I'll admit to hearing it the moment of implossion because I was going slow but, there would be no way you couldn't feel it!
Again, for the record, I was well aware of the many other reports on the forum talking about the wheel bearing "problems" that others had. It was for that reason that I had made bearing inspection a focal point when inspecting the bike, particularly when washing it or checking tire pressure seeing as that I was already down on my hands and knees with my nose no more than 6 inches from them!
There is a wealth of information here on this forum. I'm not saying that you can believe EVERYTHING that you read here, but if you read enough you can pick up on "trends" on what is happening and possibly save yourself some headaches down the road.
I've wondered if there's been an accident (one vehicle) where it appeared that the rider "failed to negotiate a turn" causing the acident if maybe there was a failure of the bearing that actually caused the accident. When my bearing failed the bike was bone stock I don't think I would have heard it if I had after market pipes on.
I've not read of any accidents being caused by wheel bearing failure, but see above.
I've not read of any accidents being caused by wheel bearing failure, but see above.
There is a wealth of information here on this forum. I'm not saying that you can believe EVERYTHING that you read here, but if you read enough you can pick up on "trends" on what is happening and possibly save yourself some headaches down the road.
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Jan 3, 2013 07:02 PM