[DanF]

Should I just go ahead and install new bearings at 30,000 miles?

I've been told a couple of things.

1. If you wait until you notice that you need new wheel bearings you will have gone way past the point of when you should have done the job.

2. So just go ahead and replace them at 30,000 miles.

Plus (is this true?): you'll pick up a couple of mpg to boot.

How big ($$) a job is this?

Dan

 

[Gilles]

Maybe they should at least be checked for tolerances and wear.

A bit preventative maintenance is warranted, What does the service schedule say?

 

[GHTE]

I always check for bearing wear befor a tyre replacement. if out of spec I have them replaced along with the tryes

 

[w0mb2t]

which begs the question ..... just how many Ducati's across the entire range have actually been ridden more than 30,000 miles

 

[Turkishexpress]

Pull the wheel off, buy the bearings separately, take it to a reputable shop. They'll get it done very quickly. When was the last time you got your suspension serviced at that mileage?

 

[DanF]

which begs the question ..... just how many Ducati's across the entire range have actually been ridden more than 30,000 miles?

I'll tell you why the above comment worries me.

With 30,000 miles coming on hard and fast on my Multi (and another planned on 40,000 on top of that) I have to ask the following.

I too know a lot of riders (maybe most) with six or eight or even more year old bikes and having 5000, and a lot less, miles on them.

I have read about members here who go on cross country and continent rides and still have less than 10,000 miles on their bikes!

Therefore am I supposed to believe that even if I maintain and swap out parts from time to time that this thing will evaporate or disintegrate after I put let's say 40 or 75 thousand miles on it?

I'm clocking 500 miles on a slow week.

Is the clock running out as to how many miles I can add to this bike?

That don't sound right.

Dan

 

[Dr. Greg]

I am following this discussion...

As someone who would be well over the 30,000 mile point by now (if I hadn't totaled MTS1200S #1), I'm following this discussion.

The Uly crowd is used to replacing wheel bearings, but this is the first I've heard of among this bunch... A fragged wheel bearing is indeed a showstopper; but seems like PM (actually replacement) at 30K miles is a little premature?

--Doc

 

[mollycbr123]

I don't think replacing wheel bearings needs to be part of any PM regimen, but they should be examined when the wheels are off. I tend to wait for any sign of trouble, and have been lucky, I guess, in that I've never had to replace any. And I sold my old VX800 years ago with 97k miles on it.

When I had new tires put on the 1200, the fellow at my independent shop said the front wheel bearings were very stiff, and he recommended replacing them. I looked at them, and yes they seemed a bit hard to turn to me also, so I bought replacements. I have yet to get the wheel back down to him for the bearing swap, and that was 11k miles ago. So far, so good.

 

[Gilles]

...

When I had new tires put on the 1200, the fellow at my independent shop said the front wheel bearings were very stiff, and he recommended replacing them. I looked at them, and yes they seemed a bit hard to turn to me also, so I bought replacements. I have yet to get the wheel back down to him for the bearing swap, and that was 11k miles ago. So far, so good.

I would check the temperature of your wheel hubs after a ride (just once in a while, touch them with your hand).

 

[eye.surgeon]

I'll tell you why the above comment worries me.

With 30,000 miles coming on hard and fast on my Multi (and another planned on 40,000 on top of that) I have to ask the following.

I too know a lot of riders (maybe most) with six or eight or even more year old bikes and having 5000, and a lot less, miles on them.

I have read about members here who go on cross country and continent rides and still have less than 10,000 miles on their bikes!

Therefore am I supposed to believe that even if I maintain and swap out parts from time to time that this thing will evaporate or disintegrate after I put let's say 40 or 75 thousand miles on it?

I'm clocking 500 miles on a slow week.

Is the clock running out as to how many miles I can add to this bike?

That don't sound right.

Dan

Traditionally Ducatis have not been thought of or used as high mileage bikes by most owners, unlike BMW for example. The multi 1200 is changing that. Having 15k valve intervals and an upright riding position makes it possible. You will see lots of high miles multis in the years to come. I know I typically ride 10-15k/year, so I expect to cross the 30k miles mark before the factory warranty runs out.

 

[mollycbr123]

I would check the temperature of your wheel hubs after a ride (just once in a while, touch them with your hand).

Did that for the first half dozen rides or so after the tire change, and it wasn't even warm.

 

[Skidfin]

I've always changed my wheel bearings at 20,000 miles or so on every bike I've owned....very easy to do and cheap insurance. Anyone change steering head bearings yet? ( I know...just changed topics....shoot me! ) I went to tapered rollers on my ST2 at 12,000 miles, I think the Multi 1200 has ball bearing races? mmmm.....

 

[Motorider]

Wheelies.... slamming down are a good way to shorten wheel bearing life.

See if frequently in my tire service.

When the wheel is spinning on a wheel balancer you will feel small pauses or notchness in the wheel as it spins, indication its time to change the bearings.
I have never seen constant drag in a bearing but I am sure its out there. You cant properly spin balance a wheel with bearing in that condition.

I would "run with what ya got" until you experience the above.

Your tire installer should say something to you if this condition occurs unless there just installing the tire without balancing the wheel.

 

[RUNnDUC]

I change mine when I change the brake pads; at about 30k to 35k. They’re cheep for the piece of mind that I have for doing it. If when you change the wheel bearings and you realize an increase in mileage you have waited too long. All IMHO.

 

[A320driver]

Very interesting topic about wheel bearings. I have done over 50.000 km and this is something to look into.

From the maintenance manual (and also the parts manual), you can clearly see that the rear wheel has no replaceable bearing. You must change the entire hub. (See the picture from the maintenance manual). You can see that when doing a tire change, there is no bearing on the rear wheel. the bearing is located inside the non-serviceable rear hub assembly.

As for the front wheel there is a procedure to check the wear and these bearings can be ordered as a pair. (see picture.)

From reading the maintenance manual, one can make up that the rear wheel hub assembly doesn't need replacement often. The maintenance manual does ask for checking the front wheel bearing wear. But there is no specified interval in the owners manual. I guess its by judgement of the dealer when doing a tyre change.

 

[Turbo]

I've ridden 26,000 miles on my MTS 1200 so far and I'll be putting on a lot more miles over the coming years. I have no fears and qualms about using a Ducati as a long distance, high mileage tourer.

I toured my '02 ST4s for 82,000 miles and then traded it for the MTS 1200. It wasn't all plain sailing though! My extended warranty saved my butt numerous times and kept the ST4s rolling.

Actually, one of the big problems I had with the ST4s was wheel bearing trouble! I always checked the wheel bearings at every tire change and never saw signs of trouble, but at 42,000 miles, my right rear wheel bearing blew while I was 300 miles from home on a tour! It happened on a very windy day when the bike was being blown around all over the place and I didn't notice the problem until I entered a town and slowed down. I could then feel the rear wheel moving around!!

The bearing shattered and shrapnel destroyed the wheel hub! The ST4s has a rear brake caliper bracket that acts as an axle spacer and the spacer was ground down. The axle was also beaten up. Thankfully, the swingarm was OK. I needed a new rear wheel, axle and caliper bracket!

Since that incident, I resolved to replace the wheel bearings every 24K miles, whether they needed it or not! Cheap insurance!

Now the MTS 1200 is very different. I also have BST carbon wheels. The front wheel is a different setup to the OEM wheel. I'll follow my mechanics advice when it comes to bearing replacement.

 

[Nickpilot]

Just to add something here. My whole rear rear hub was changed under warranty at the 24000km service...as was the axle.
For those saying changing wheel bearings is simple and cheap...not on the back of this bike it's not! It's the whole hub...you can't change the bearings. (Well I am sure someone will tell me how you can...but Ducati say you can't).
Nick