I've heard about Bearings, going bad in the touring bikes around 15,000 - 20,000 miles, on after 2008- was wondering if anyone goes ahead an changes the bearing while there doing a tire replacement, ? or just hope for the best...

 

Check them at regular service intervals and tire changes, replace as neccessary.

 

mine went out on my 09 flhtc at 26000 miles. Checked them at 16,000 and they were OK. I have a ultrasonic tester that will pick up the smallest irregularity. When you have tires that will last 20,000 miles, and wheel bearings that fail at 15,000 miles, It becomes a problem.