steering head bearings

badapple1 · Oct 16, 2014

Advice needed please. I have noticed on the last few times out when I pull away from a standstill I can feel a bit of movement in the bars that I haven't ever felt before. I'm assuming this is the head bearings although I'm not sure. Can anyone confirm what I think or what it might be and is it a job I can do myself or is it a trip to the doctors? Thanks in advance.

TTM · Oct 17, 2014

Could be, you'll need to get the front end off the ground to check. You can take the bellypan off and jack it up from underneath (make sure you don't mark the engine cases with anything sharp though) or get the front wheel off the ground by pushing the bike onto the rear wheel & side stand (might need a mate to help you with this). Worth checking wheel bearings and play in fork bushes too.

Changing the head bearings on the Mille is fairly straightforward so if the RSVR is similar in design you shouldn't have a problem. There's some nice big cut outs in the headstock to really get your drift behind the old races, and not too much stuff to take off to get access to the headstock either.

redratbike · Oct 17, 2014

also check the steering damper guy over on aprilia.me has disconnected his and the funning feeling went away so he is having that rebuilt as it was sticking

badapple1 · Oct 17, 2014

Excellent thanks for the replies guys! I'll get in the garage Sunday and check it out properly with a mate. I don't have a damper on the bike so that hopefully narrows it down to the bearings. I'll update next week cheers fellas

Jonny W · Nov 12, 2014

Sit on the bike, pull on the brake and rock the bike back and to. Any knock and head bearings are loose. Once you have the weight off the front, turn the bars slowly through their full range. If it feels notchy they need replacing.

badapple1 · Nov 13, 2014

Jonny W said:
Sit on the bike, pull on the brake and rock the bike back and to. Any knock and head bearings are loose. Once you have the weight off the front, turn the bars slowly through their full range. If it feels notchy they need replacing.

Thanks for the reply. I haven't done anything with it for weeks, work and kids keeping me busy. I'm fairly sure they need replacing but it's finding the time to get on with it.

Jonny W · Nov 13, 2014

Only takes 10 mins to find out if you need to order new bearings then you have Aprilia to blame til the parts arrive

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