Suzuki V-Strom 650XT Steering Head Bearing Service

[@wm973]

Your maintenance videos are great! I'm planning to get one in a couple months because of your vids. I'm really impressed with what the V-Strom can do. I'm getting to old to handle big touring monsters anymore and I'm not in a hurry to get anywhere. I use back roads as much as possible because I have seen some pretty awesome places. I do my own maintenance, one reason I don't trust the dealers. They pretty much say goodbye after your payment is completed. I still try to visit them and just maybe I'll find one I can trust but I like knowing how my bike works and know it's done right. Now I have to look for a helmet.... again. :) Thank you again for all the vids you have made.

[@jonsmith9892]

Good to hear from you sir, glad you liked the video... good luck on your bike search.. thanks for watching.. keep safe out there... :)

[@murraycharters6102]

Great video, very well explained I have a 2017 VStrom 650 XT which I purchased new in April 2018. I have done 53,000 km a month ago and have never checked the valve clearances. I decided that it was overdue, so I have done it. I am 79 years old so if I can do it most people with some mechanical skills can do it. Only one intake valve was in the middle of the specification, the other seven valves all at the very bottom of the specification range. I decided to put the seven valves in the centre of the specification. I did a shim swap with my local dealer. Cost $32 to change my shims for the appropriate smaller shims. Interestingly the workshop manager said that he would have said the clearances are still in specification. I suggested to him that I had come this far I may as well put them all in the centre of the specification. The hardest part of the job is removing and replacing the cam chain tensioners. It is a real PITA. On the rear cylinder I ended up removing the rear wheel, it is an awkward sucker to get to. The front cylinder is easier to get to, however there is a spring that just drops out of the bolt and an aluminium washer that can also fall off as you are trying to put the bolt in I tell you how I did it. I got a length of thin wire and slid the spring down the wire into the hole. As for the washer, I stuck the washer on to the bolt with a small piece of blue tack. Success. I followed an excellent tutorial from a website called circlenz. They are a New Zealand company who hire motorcycles, mainly VStroms for touring around NZ When you open the website in google, click on website in the home page. It takes a bit of patience to get to the tutorial but it is there and it is excellent. If you can’t find it hit me up and I will supply step by step instructions to get to it. And when you find the tutorial and you click on it don’t expect it to open. You have simply got to scroll down, I had trouble figuring that out. My bike is running beautifully and I won’t have to worry about valve clearances for a long time Of course I changed the spark plugs, the air filter and the long life coolant at the same time.

[@ozarksbackroads5484]

Good to hear from you sir, Glad to see you got your bike all sorted out... good for another 50k I reckon... thanks for watching... keep safe out there.. :)

[@Kyle-sr6jm]

"It is in spec" when it is at the very edge of the range. Exactly why I do my own.

[@gt7500]

keep rolling the dice. You are in an era of super reliable bikes. 1970 models truly needed them checked everywhere from 7000 miles and up. They are actually very satisfying thing to check and not hard to do. Its neat seeing the cam's condition, as well as seeing the intake valves, etc. The rear most cylinder is very easy to get to.

[@toby7504]

Easy way to do this. Thanks for sharing sir

[@coconuciferanuts339]

"Up on the chopper block",haha. Suzuki in Japan should use your bike as a show seller because of it's mechanical service history. Great vid mate(Sir).

[@Rinkydink73274]

Love these Vstrom vids,i have a 2014 model in red,when i got it ,it only had 2000 miles on it and now it as 5000 miles on it and like you i do all my own servicing..in truth my bike is completetly over serviced but thats how i like it..i look forward to the valve service video thanks again..

[@ozarksbackroads5484]

Good to hear from you sir, glad you liked the video... I am working on the valve check video now... thanks for watching... keep safe out there.. :)

[@patmurphy8118]

Nice work my man, that's a job I must do soon, and I appreciate you're excellent video. I will watch the swingarm procedure now, as that's another task on the priority list. Thanks also for you're vid on the footpeg lowering kit, which I got done last year, and it's made such a difference, as my '17 model came with a low seat... Fab ! Best wishes from Ireland , and I hope you enjoy many happy & safe miles in that beautiful countryside. Sláinte Mhaith ( Good Health ). 🧑‍🔧☘

[@zbynekanders8779]

Thanks for another excelent mechanic video. Please keep making them.

[@ozarksbackroads5484]

Glad you liked it sir... thanks for watching... keep safe out there... :)

[@tedsalmon2533]

A very usefulvideo indeed. Actually it's not much more complicated than the same job on a bicycle!

[@jonsmith9892]

Glad you liked it sir... yes it is pretty much the same as a bicycle... just a little bit bigger stuff... thanks for watching... keep safe out there.. :)

[@roundabout136]

Nicely done

[@jonsmith9892]

Thanks sir... thanks for watching... :)

[@rudolfkarl1100]

Good job , Sir !👍 and very helpful. Thank you very much and many greetings from Thailand. R.K.F.

[@ozarksbackroads5484]

Thanks for watching sir... :)

[@gt7500]

There isn't any videos on servicing ball bearing steering head bearings, it's all tapered rollers. So thank you! A couple of improvements would be to be more precise on torque specs, when you tightened the handlebar bolts, you say ah, that should be enough now. Or when you explain how to tighten the steering stem nuts, you say tighten till it gets firm, then give it another half inch. What if my wrench is only 6" long, or 18" long, itll be totally different measurement. If you say give it another 25 degree turn, it'd be easier to do.

[@trekkingwithmohan]

Very intresting video. Thank you so much

[@ivanguenelcalisto9734]

excelente trabajo !!! te sigo desde Chile

[@ozarksbackroads5484]

Thanks for watching sir ... glad you liked the video... keep safe out there... :)

[@666dualsport]

great job mate--- i certainly wont be attempting it lol

[@xiaolou8877]

great work！you solve my 650 problem.thank you for your Instructional video

[@ozarksbackroads5484]

Thanks for watching sir... :)

[@wm973]

Another great vid! Thank you.

[@motulgranpasso5416]

Great Job with a lot of useful tips. Will do it this way on one of the following cold weekends her in Germany 😉😀

[@bellsix]

Hi great video! I have the same bike and love it. Thank you for making these videos . I'm curious about the rox risers you installed, what size are they and did you have to replace the break line?

[@ozarksbackroads5484]

Hello there sir.. good to hear from you... no I did not have to replace the brake line. My risers are 1.5 inch ROX risers, I routed the brake line around the outside of the right hand fork tube not over the top of the upper triple tree. I removed the clamp holding the brake line to the front of the lower triple tree and I may have had to adjust the angle of the line where it attaches to the brake cylinder but I don't remember on that for sure but I have plenty of play in the line from steering stop to stop. Hope this helps... thanks for watching.. good luck with all your projects... :)

[@bellsix]

@@ozarksbackroads5484 Thank you for getting back to me. This is very helpful. I look forward to more great content . Thanks again :)

[@toddwerndli7378]

Thanks for these great service videos! Does anyone know if this same general procedure would apply to a 2014 V-Strom 1000? Mine is nearing 30K miles and I'm going to try to tackle it this coming winter. Same question applies to the rear swing arm service video that was also so well made. My 1000 has a flapper valve in the exhaust which would need removal but hopefully not re-adjustment. Thanks.

[@ozarksbackroads5484]

Hey there sir, good to hear from you. yes your V-Strom will be very similar if not identical. Thanks for watching and good luck with all your projects... :)

[@hoaraumartinstefsylvelise7946]

Excellent !

[@ozarksbackroads5484]

Thanks for watching sir... :)

[@dperry7606]

Well done. Thanks.

[@jonsmith9892]

Glad you liked sir... thanks for watching... :)

[@arc001]

They actually have ball-bearings instead of tapered type, I'm really surprised by this. I wish I had more kilos on my 2021, it's still too new and nothing major to service. Not far off from a valve check though, can't wait for the 25000km check, checking mine at about 10000.

[@r13gbs]

Great vids,Over here in Uk I bought a Castelated socket for my 20 XRT only £18.00 but gives you the optionto torque it up to the specs

[@ozarksbackroads5484]

Good to hear from you sir... good luck with all your projects... thanks for watching... keep safe out there... :)

[@jorgeiturbe953]

Great video, at what mileage do you recommend to change the bearings?

[@ozarksbackroads5484]

Hello there sir, good to hear from you. If the steering head bearings are serviced regularly they may never need to be replaced. Inspection during service will determine if they need to be changed or not... the condition of the races can easily be seen when the grease is wiped off of them... thanks for watching... :)

[@gt7500]

I have 100,000 km's on my 2007 model. Am in the process of replacing them. But after removing them, all I needed was to tighten them up! They're still in excellent condition! Even still had grease on them. I ride mostly gravel, or two track type stuff. My answer would be to replace them at 160,000 km or 100,000 miles.

[@moris_kh]

Hey, Video r interting, and I have a few question (Also owner of XT650) I saw you have risers installed, could you pls tell a little bit more what brand and what is your heihg. I'm 178cm and the bar isn't really fit to me. thanks in advance and GL!

[@ozarksbackroads5484]

Hello there sir, I installed a set of 40mm rise ROX risers on the V-Strom. The riding position is now very comfortable for me. I am 181cm. The standing position is about right for me now but I have lowered the foot pegs about 40mm as well. You can check out the lowered pegs video here... kzbin.info/www/bejne/gGjHqpudhtGLaKs I also have the SW Motech lowered pegs that lower the pegs 20mm and the lowering plated which lowers them another 20mm for a total reduced height of 40mm. hope this helps... thanks for watching and good luck with all your projects... :)

[@moris_kh]

@@ozarksbackroads5484 Hi, have an another question, when you installed the risers, did you adjust cables somehow? or they feet without any changes?

[@jonsmith9892]

@@moris_kh I believe all I had to do was remove the cable brackets holding the throttle cables and wiring from the front of the upper triple tree to free up the cables and give enough play for full movement. :)

[@moris_kh]

@@ozarksbackroads5484 thanks, got my risers, install without any adjustment in cables 1inch top 1inch back. Much better position, next will be pegs lower kit. thanks!

[@rjeepster8640]

Great job! It’s surprising how little grease they put inside. Mine has 17,000 miles on it and it’s never been a part. I just bought it from a guy a month ago and I went through it and did all the service. he had never even changed the air filter but it looks good on the outside lol

[@ozarksbackroads5484]

Good to hear from you sir, you have great taste in motorcycles... glad you liked the video.. good luck with all your projects... thanks for watching... :)

[@oychoppa]

Just wondering if you still have the FJR?

[@ozarksbackroads5484]

Hello there sir, good to hear from you. No I sold my last FJR and wound up with the V-Strom and now I have sold my V-Strom and will be revealing my newest bike coming up soon... Thanks for watching... keep safe out there... :)

[@oychoppa]

@@ozarksbackroads5484 Thank you for the update! Just picked up my 2nd FJR and stumbled onto your videos while researching Gen 3 FJR's. Big fan of your channel! It's really cool to watch someone else's videos of places that I've been as well. Mainly your western destinations (AZ, UT, CO, WY, MT). Keep up the great work!

[@gregorbabic7664]

Shame Suzuki is still using ball bearings here rather than tapered roller bearings. I know people have swapped to roller bearings and they say the bike is more stable with that set-up.

[@Kyle-sr6jm]

Yea, if I am tearing the front end appart AllBalls tapered are going in.

[@gt7500]

I'm at 100,000 km on my 07' model. All I needed was a tightening, as the bearings are in good shape. With the punishment I've given this bike, this is excellent service life! I'm putting in ball bearings again! Even if they "only" last 100,000 km, I will be happy!

[@TheWonderfulStevieP]

You really overpack the bearings. This is not correct. It's a great video otherwise, but over packing bearings causes early failure. Look it up.

[@gregorbabic7664]

For bearings that don’t turn at speed there is no way to overpack them. And even then they need to turn at a significant speed to be overpacked. You want to just fill them with grease to help keep moisture and contaminants out. No harm other than maybe a dirt issue as the oil is seeping out of the grease with time and leaving an oily residue at any leak points below.

[@TheWonderfulStevieP]

@@gregorbabic7664 the issue with slow moving parts like these and swingarm linkages is the displaced grease forces seals open and then attracts dirt, hardens etc. allowing water and dirt ingress.

[@gregorbabic7664]

@@TheWonderfulStevieP so the excess grease is being pushed out past the seals (which are elastic and want to be in a closed position). So while grease is being pushed out, how is water and dirt coming back in against that pressure? Also, when the “excess grease” pressure is done pushing out, guess what those seals do? Yup. They close up and seal like they are supposed to. It’s not like a door that gets opened and stays open.

[@TheWonderfulStevieP]

@@gregorbabic7664 no they don't just close up, grease is highly viscose and the seals fail. It's a well known failure mode. I've worked years in reliability engineering, but by all means Imagineer what you think happens over what engineers know happens. Over packing bearings forces the rollers against the outer race where metal-metal contact damage can occur, the ejection damages seals and causes premature failure. All well known, but you make your own stuff up. Good luck.

[@gregorbabic7664]

Sure Stevie. I am a licensed PEng that also has the ability to use common sense. So your argument is that the seals are being held open by the grease. Did you see the grease he was using? Not what I call a thick wheel bearing grease. And if the grease is holding the seals open, well do tell me how the water and dirt is getting in. And are you seriously thinking the slight back and forth movement that a headstock experiences would not gently move out any grease and give plenty of opportunity for seals to close back up? Wow. Ok then. And just what metal on metal contact do you think will be happening?! Lol. Yeah. The balls will roll in their races and the plastic cage will contact metal. Note, I never said it wasn’t bad to overpack bearing, but only ones that are spinning at speed. The grease in this case is to prevent stuff from rusting and keeping contaminants out. But sure. You pack your headset how you want. I never had a single one fail on my pedal bikes or motorbikes from my overpacking. Same with suspension linkages. Oh and unless you are a licensed engineer, don’t call yourself one. Feel free to take on the imagineer title though.