Tapered Steering Bearings?

I plan to upgrade to the tapered bearings at some point this year. My question is this, Is the installation if these something I can accomplish on my own without specialized tools, or should I take the bike to a more qualified mechanic? Info on said process would be appreciated as well. Thanks!

You can definitely do it. If I did, anyone can. You just have to use a very subtle bland of cautious patience and extreme violence...

Do a search, this has been talked about tons...

Don't forget your BFH to pund the races out. It's easy and you will feel good doing it yourself.

You can do it relatively easily really. I don't know how much has been discussed on the subject here, but all you really need to do is remove your front wheel, then the fork legs, then unbolt your top triple clamp and find a way to safely move it out of the way far enough to remove the steering stem then simply pound out the old bearings, then pound in the new. This is where "simply" sometimes turns ugly as there is not a lot of area on the bearing races to beat on and they can be rusted in place. Eventually you will prevail and have new bearings after a little swearing and sweating.

RonKZ650 wrote:

...then pound in the new...

Tap!
*Tap* in the new....

how about TAP with authority?
Thanks for all the input guys.

Easily performed. So easy, even a Caveman can do it!!!

CoreyClough wrote:

Easily performed. So easy, even a Caveman can do it!!!

:blink: Uncle Henry?!?:blink: :woohoo: :laugh: :whistle:

Hardest part is getting the old races out of the frame. Try to keep them coming out even so you don't roll up a bit of steel in front of the race. If that does happen, re-seat the old race and carefully sand/cut/grind out the small roll of steel. If you get the old races going out crooked, you will hate life.

76LTD wrote:

... If you get the old races going out crooked, you will hate life.

Yes, I can vouch for this. I've done these bearings twice now: once it came out perfectly even and was actually kind easy; the second time it got a bit crooked and started to dig in without me noticing. I was thinking, "this is alot harder than I remember"...
...you have to be sooooper-even...