Hi Folks.

I need a new set of Steering Head bearings for my XTZ. Being in Peru, I can't get OEMs for another 5-6 weeks, so I am looking to get a set of non-OEM such as Koyos.

A statement of the obvious - I need to ensure I get exactly the right ones! I found the serial numbers of the bearings on another thread - SKF32005XQ and SKF 32006XQ. But not being very familiar with how parts are serial numebered, here's my question...

Are these serial numbers universal for all brands, or specific to OEM? And if the latter, how best to ensure I get the right bearings if I am buying non-OEM.

Thanks in advance. (I'm very eager to solve this, so I can enjoy the WP forks I've just fitted - photos to follow!!!)

Paul

The bearing number is universal.

For example the Timken references are:

Upper: 32005X

Lower: 32006X

The KOYO (Yamaha OE) references are:

Upper: 32005X or JR

Lower: 32006X or JR

SKF are:

Upper: 32005XQ

Lower: 32006XQ

Looking forward to seeing the WP forks...

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Thanks P,

That was the simple answer I was hoping for!! Should be able to find some in Lima.

I never intended to turn the Ten into a rally bike, but with the latest addition of some secondhand WPs and the OTR triple clamp, I almost have now!!

I'm toying with a new 2015 project, which is to spend some time training in the deserts of Peru and Chile, riding up to California for some more training and then entering a few rallies - the Baja Rally in Sept with the ultimate objective of the Africa Eco Race in 12 months time. Ideally I'd buy a second hand 450 to train and race on, but that will present major logistical challenges. So maybe the 'rallyized' Ten will be a good machine to do all this on. And if I can ride a Ten through the desert, when I eventually get on a 450 it'll feel like a BMX!!

I'll be doing a new blog post on the bike's mods soon - I'll share the link and phots here.....

Funny what happens when you start to tinker... Once you get the bug, you just can't stop!

The Baja sounds an interesting challenge, as does the Africa Eco Rally. If you don't mind me asking, what's the "Eco" bit all about?

I think a rally-ised Ten will do the job, just ask Jmo, Stoic Bloke, or JaumeV - they all seem to have made the Z work pretty competitively.

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I'm yet to work out why the Africa Race is 'eco' - maybe it's an essential marketing requirement in the C21st!!!

I've been following JaumeV's build and chatting with him, and Jenny's Heroe's bike was a bit of an inspiration for my ongoing mods, I guess. All I need now is a 18" rear rim, a steering damper and a solution to mount a roadbook holder, and my bike is effectively the same as Jenny's (with touring accessories fitted of course, but without the paint job!)

If I can raise the cash, I've got my eye on one of these beauties if I ever get to do a big rally like the Africa Race (staying true to blue)...

http://www.rebelxsports.com/yamaha-wr-450-f-rally/

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Blogging @ www.horcamoto.com

Maybe it has an economy element to it? Perhaps you have to complete the stages on a fixed allowance of controlled fuel? These sort of events are becoming quite common, particularly in Japan.

If it's an economy event, then the Tenere is probably well placed to be pretty competitive I should imagine.

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Hi Pleiades,

A quick ques... just checked the serial number on the current bearing - Koyo 32005JR. Despite the different last two digits, after checking around the Internet this bearing seems to be correct - the dimensions are the same as those you posted previously in a separate post.

Any thoughts? ??

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Blogging @ www.horcamoto.com

Sorry, just to clarify, yes this is the correct bearing, watch out for the 'X/26' has a 26mm ID, not 25mm - you need the 25mm 'JR' or the normal 'X'. I've amended the OP.

To confirm, the dimensions are:

Upper: I/D 25mm x O/D 47mm x W 15mm

Lower: I/D 30mm x O/D 55mm x W 17mm

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Thanks Pl..

I think we found the problem today - the washer that sits between the two ring nuts is missing, hence why everything wasn't tightening up nice and snug. Also neither bearing has its gasket, although I don't know if that would make much difference (never seen how thick one is).

I'm hopefully off to Chile in a couple of days and will raid the Yamaha dealer to get new everything for the steering head - all this Peruvian heavy-handed wrenching is taking its toll!

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Blogging @ www.horcamoto.com