How much weight is too much?

[The Snowman]

Yeah, I'm a heavyweight at 210 pounds, but the recent self-distruction (as PK put it) of my rear wheel bearing makes me wonder . . .

Am I putting too much weight on my bike for the bearing (or any other parts, for that matter) to handle?

Combined, my wife and I weigh 325. I do lean the bike over pretty far when she's on there, but not nearly as far as when riding solo. How much wear does this put on the bearings? Would the additional 115 that my wife weighs cause things to wear faster?

BTW, the 96-97 shop manual says maximum load capacity is 353 pounds. So, with my 210, and her 115, and gear, we're coming pretty damned close.

[bigred875]

i got 20k on my Z and a lot of them are 2up....we are bigger then the 2 of you...i think you are fine....having the suspension set up for the 2 of you wouldnt hurt

[The Snowman]

i got 20k on my Z and a lot of them are 2up....we are bigger then the 2 of you...i think you are fine....having the suspension set up for the 2 of you wouldnt hurt

I set it up for the heavier weight of both of us. A little more preload and compression damping in both the front and back.

[bigred875]

nice, you also have to figure the bike is 10 years old....things will probably start wearing out

[The Snowman]

nice, you also have to figure the bike is 10 years old....things will probably start wearing out

As long as the motor doesn't seize. That would be bad.

[stoinkythepig]

I'm at 265lbs (maybe 285 with all my gear) and have 53,000 on the original 2001 ZX9R bearings. They feel fine. I suspect a seal failed on yours and that led to the bearing failure, that is, unless they were undersized from the start in a design mistake.

New bearings are pretty cheap if you buy at a bearing store, even if you ask for a top name, like FAG or Timken, with double seals. The only bike bearings I've been unable to procure outside a dealership are steering head bearings and that's due to the unusual seal design they have.

[imkindafkedup]

Lets say it is to much weight? How are you going to go about telling your wife to lose a few? HAHA JK. I'd say its just normal wear, it all depends how many lil potholes and raised dewer drains you had hit, with or with out her on the bike.

[SSearchVT]

Bearing life is affected by load. But - the weights you're talking about would not have a significant affect. Stoinky is right - the bearing failed because because of age, and dirt (and or water). If you do go to the bearing store - make sure to explain they are going to be used for motorcycle wheel bearings.

[The Snowman]

I ended up getting a set for PK and I trust his judgment. Now, time will tell.

I will say that the dust shield was destroyed, so I'm not sure if it went beforehand and that caused excess dirt and water in. Then the bearing failed. Or, if the shield was destroyed when the bearing failed.

[bigred875]

ya, the jamoke that replaced it probably screwed it up putting it in

[richw]

If it had a shield as in a sheet metal donut over the balls it was NOT original and the wrong bearing.

It may be nomenclature a sealed bearing has a rubber seal that contains grease and prevents moisture.

POWER washing can force water past the seal and its trapped inside.
I love to hear someone who proudly announces his bike was never ridden in the rain but he washes it with powerful detergents once a week.

The only loading question is whether the bike bottomed out. Then the impact inertia forces can be many times the combined weight.

Also sometimes the balls just split in 2

[The Snowman]

If it had a shield as in a sheet metal donut over the balls it was NOT original and the wrong bearing.

It may be nomenclature a sealed bearing has a rubber seal that contains grease and prevents moisture.

POWER washing can force water past the seal and its trapped inside.
I love to hear someone who proudly announces his bike was never ridden in the rain but he washes it with powerful detergents once a week.

The only loading question is whether the bike bottomed out. Then the impact inertia forces can be many times the combined weight.

Also sometimes the balls just split in 2

A lot to answer here. I didn't get a chance to view what bearings were pulled out. PK could answer that. I assume they were the stock ones that came on the bike. The dust shield I'm talking about is the separate piece that assembles on top of the actual bearing, not the part that's actually part of the bearing and prevents dust and debris from entering the bearing.

I have pressure washed the bike, but only twice since owning it last June. The rest of the time, I hand wash it. I don't know what the previous owner used to do to wash it.

To my knowledge, the bike has never been bottomed out. I have the preload and compression damping set pretty high. (6 of 7 for the spring preload and only 1 turn out on the compression damping)

I think Red is right. It's probably age, as the bike is now just over 10 years old.

[Currently]

I have never washed my bike.

Once a week, a rag with K1 for the chain and wheels.

Honda Spray and Polish for everything else.

I put 19k miles on the bike last year. Had a ball.
Powerwashing anything is a recipe for problems.

It is hard on clearcoat and if the bike is really dirty, the dirt combined
with that water pressure is like sandblasting it.

It is a bit more time doing it by hand, but you get to really examine your
bike and the status of its bits and pieces so that it is easy to stay on top
of its condition.

[bigred875]

how are your swirl marks using that pro honda stuff on a dirt bike?

[Currently]

how are your swirl marks using that pro honda stuff on a dirt bike?

Hunh ... you got that wrong!

That is the patina of a well used tool instead of a polished jewel!