How to identify a faulty ball racer / steering (handle bar) bearing

By

Hunky

– March 8, 2011Posted in: 150cc (Hunk / CBZ / etc), Avenger 220 DTSi, Bajaj, FZ-16 / FZ-S / Fazer, HeroMotoCrop, P150, P180, P200, P220 DTSi / DTS Fi, TVS RTR, Yahama YZF R15, Yamaha, ZMA & ZMR

The handle bar or steering bearing / cone set or rather the ball racer is present in all of our motorcycle and bikes. This bearing and cone set is responsible for smooth steering / handle movement thus contributing to the overall handling of the bike.

However the bearings need periodical greasing and may need replacement if faulty.

How to locate or identify a faulty steering / handle bar bearing or ball racer / cone set ?

Most prominent syntom of a problematic cone set or ball racer bearing would the hard feeling of jammed steering / handle bar movement and sound (khat / kat) from the handle bar joints when hitting the front disc break hard or hitting a pothole in bad road. You may feel that something is lose in the handle bar setup of the bike.

Secondly when you open up the handle bar for periodical maintenance and greasing / lubrication, compare your ball racer with a new one of faulty one to figure out, if you need a replacement or not.

This article is applicable for most of our Indian bikes, namely,

• Bajaj Pulsar (P220 DTS-Fi / P200 / P180 / P150 DTS-i)
• Bajaj Avenger 200 / 220 DTS-i
• TVS Apache RTR 160 / 180
• Yamaha YZF-R15 / FZ-16 / Fazer
• Hero Honda Hunk / eXtreme / CBZ / Karizma (ZMA) / ZMR
• Honda Unicorn / Dazzler

You may also like to read,

• Handle bar / steering bearing / ball racer lubrication or greasing and replacement process for Bajaj Pulsar (P220s /P180 / P200) series
• Handle bar or ball racer greasing and overhaul of Yamaha YZF-R15.

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About Hunky

4 Comments

1. Reply

   pranav

   Posted October 10, 2012 at 8:15 PM

   i have the honda dazzler .. in 2 years i have change conset for 3 years …which is best conset company for honda dazzler

2. Reply

   seo vps

   Posted April 8, 2013 at 5:40 PM

   Improve your google rank, email me for help if needed..

3. Reply

   ravi

   Posted May 11, 2013 at 12:14 PM

   Hi, thanks for the explantion.

   My R15 v1.0, 2years old bike has the ball racer problem. I did not do any racing and roads are fine and I daily commute only 10 Km. Ran only 6000 Km in 2.2 years.Did all servicings as specifed , but still,had to face the problem and Kolkata Yamaha(Its own shop) always wants to replace with a new one than to repair, My question is, does this happen so early since mine is only 2.2 years old? and it costs nearly 3.2k INR.

   Thanks in advance.

   • Reply

     Hunky

     Posted May 11, 2013 at 12:22 PM

     Hi Ravi,

     Please note, if the racer broken or if the racer has started to rust then there is not much can be done to repair apart from replace..

     Now the question comes why it happens..

     Not just stunt or poor road, but kms clocked and age too are one of those factors.. Since you clock less kms but age is more, once a year greasing should have been done, regardless of the kms..

     By greasing, I mean this, http://nexgenbikes.com/site/2010/10/23/yamaha-r15-handle-bar-bearings-overhaul-for-maintenance-of-ball-racer-inner-t-racer/ as this keeps the bearing lubed and handle bar in proper tension (not too lose, not too tight)..

     Thanks..