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BMW Quality - Wheel Bearings '04 RT

RPGR90s

RPGR90s

Member
I'm doing some preventative maintenance on my 2004 RT (110k miles) during the cold winter.

I've thought about replacing the front wheel bearings for a few years now as they are not serviceable and are original.

So I got the new bearings and set about pulling the old ones out. No problems.

What surprised me is that the original bearings roll and feel as perfect as the new ones and probably didn't need replacing. (but I replaced anyway)

Very pleased with the quality though and wanted to share.

RPGR90s
 
Last edited:
RPGR90s said:
I'm doing some preventative maintenance on my 2004 RT (110k miles) during the cold winter.

I've thought about replacing the front wheel for a few years now as they are not serviceable and are original.

So I got the new bearings and set about pulling the old ones out. No problems.

What surprised me is that the original bearings roll and feel as perfect as the new ones and probably didn't need replacing. (but I replaced anyway)

Very pleased with the quality though and wanted to share.

RPGR90s
Click to expand...

We have gotten more than 100,000 miles on the factory installed front wheel bearings on several motorcycles: a couple of K75s, a couple of R1100RSs, and an R1150R for sure, and maybe another K75 or so. These are all post top-hat and wedding band versions in Airheads though.
 
PGlaves said:
We have gotten more than 100,000 miles on the factory installed front wheel bearings on several motorcycles: a couple of K75s, a couple of R1100RSs, and an R1150R for sure, and maybe another K75 or so. These are all post top-hat and wedding band versions in Airheads though.
Click to expand...

Good to know Paul, I've got 145k on the oem bearings on my R90s. Just routine greasing every 4-5 years.
 
They last a very long time.
I changed mine out at 161,000 miles.
No detectable issues with the originals. (now emergency spares I'll never use)
I did carefully pull the seals and add a smear of bearing grease at about 100k.
I have yet to see a bad set on any 1100/1150 I've worked on.
 
My '03 has about 68k miles. On every tire change I stick my fingers into the bearings and try to detect any wiggle. Then with my fingers still in the bearings I give the wheel a spin while holding it off the ground and feel for anything that is not silky smoothness. Is that a sufficient test?
 
rogerc60 said:
My '03 has about 68k miles. On every tire change I stick my fingers into the bearings and try to detect any wiggle. Then with my fingers still in the bearings I give the wheel a spin while holding it off the ground and feel for anything that is not silky smoothness. Is that a sufficient test?
Click to expand...

Yes. If the bearing is going bad you can feel it and maybe even hear it.
 
Several years ago, I hit something one night, no idea what it was, but it left a small dent in my front wheel.
When I got home, I spun the wheel and heard something other than brake drag.
It was about time for a tire change anyway, so I pulled the wheel a few days later...
By "finger spin", the glitch in the bearing was pretty obvious.
 
wheel bearings

On my 1998 1100rt/p in the rain on the highway doing 70+ I felt my front end doing goofy things.At closer inspection the seal was gone,the cage completely gone and all the balls bunched up together.When I removed the bearing looking at the remaining inside seal it said "Made in Taiwan"I contacted BMW Berlin inquiring about the bearing and they confirmed using such bearings from Taiwan.I was disappointed to say the least.Bike had only 56k on the clock.
 
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