My little GS needs new headstock bearings.

Does anyone know the part number, and if it is a massive job?

Its a 98 GS500E.

Thanks.

Its quite an involved job for someone with no experience, but its not impossible. Best thing you can do is get a manual and decide for yourself its within your abilities. Removing the lower bearing from the stem can be tricky but its all been covered in here before.

You will get the Suzuki part numbers via Bikebandit but if you are going to source the 2 taper-roller bearings from elsewhere the ISO codes are 32006 & 32005.

Many thanks sledge.

Those are just the numbers I need. I was not going to pay Suzuki £65 plus for them. I will get them from Midland bearings.

I have had a quick look around and it seems an easy enough job to do myself. I have all the tools needed and a few spare hours this afternoon.

I may take a few photo's and have a go at doing a how to type thing while I am at it, Sort of my debut into techy webby stuff.

Wish me luck.

I second your idea to take photos; it would be great to see this procedure documented! 

Done it !

Took loads of photo's so I will have a goat writing something up over the next few days.

I got the bearings from a place up the road for £12. (thanks to the numbers supplied by Sledge) Much better than £65 plus  from the dealers.

Started the job at 2 pm and 6 1/2 hours later it was all done.  I know a shop would have probably done it in more like 2 hours, but it would have been a much bigger bill and I have the satisfaction of having done it myself, I did a few other nigling little jobs while I was at it as well.

Had about 30 mile test ride and she rides like a new bike.

Did you change the cups AKA races?











/

Yeah, I changed the whole lot.

I was advised that new bearings are prone to failing early if the races are not changed at the same time.

Correct..... the outer-race is matched to the rollers and inner-race at the factory. Swapping and changing races bearings is not recomended by the manufacturers.

Here is my take on these bearings : http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=38447.msg431492#msg431492