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- - Steering head bearings ( https://www.xt660.com/showthread.php?t=15938)

So I thought sod it..... its booked in for new ones, the notch (it just feels like the one) is so severe I can't imagine a good greasing sorting it out.

I've had this problem and it's very disconcerting at low speeds. Just over 10,000 miles so seems a bit early on to be having this issue

My head bearings were shot at about 12k miles. It took ages to get the lower ones off, well rusted.

Well just before I went away I decided to go back to the dealer and I booked the bike in for replacements under warranty...... Now all sorted and grease squeezing out of everywhere!!! Smooth as you like steering and the bike feels like it did when new. I was starting to avoid riding it, now you try keeping me off it!

Getting mine replaced by those nice guys at Charles Hurst Yamaha in Belfast. Seems that Yamaha have pretty much accepted the issue that they're old before their time.

Regreased mine last week.same problem fitted new tyres thought tyre were faulty.felt like front was stuck in mud especally at the 5mph/ 25 mph.did not want to turn in at all.bit scarey on roundabouts.bottom bearing rusted.this on 08 bike with 1700 miles only.now greased up bike sorted back to normal.

Head bearings and lack of grease.

Can I firstly thank all you guys for posting this info on here, because without it I wouldn't have known why my XT was suddenly handling like a barge.
My bike has 4350 miles on the clock and is a 2010 model.
It was becoming bloody scary to ride as it just wouldn't turn a corner and always wanted to straighten up half way round a bend.
Anyway I stripped the bike down and discovered theres no grease on the upper or lower bearings.
The lower bearing had virtually no grease on the highest side (away from the engine) and the lower side just a small amount of congealed water damaged mess on it. The upper bearing probably only has the grease on it that it had in the packet from the Koyo factory- which is only enough to stop it going rusty!
I've seen more grease on a happy meal than there is in these bearings.
I wouldn't mind if the bike was high mileage or 10 years old but this is ridiculous.
I think I've caught the problem early and have cleaned ,greased and reassembled it all but it's work I shouldn't have to do.
Ive posted some photos below.
Pic 1 shows the upper bearing, just after i took the top cover off it - hardly any grease.
Pic 2 shows th front of the lower bearing which is clean of dirt (and grease) Because
Pic 3 shows the back of the bearing where the small amount of grease has collected and held in the moisture you can see on the shaft 9the cause of the stiff,notchy steering.
Pic 4 shows the upper seal plate as it was when removed -no grease of any quantity.

And the Cush drives are knackered as well.

mine have 39,000k on them.... regreased at about 25,000
but I did notice a couple weeks ago when it was on the work stand
there is a slight roughness to them..
they are comeing out soon for the new fork up grade...

When I regreased them I mixed up lithium grease with about
10%? Honda molly paste..just used the old eye-omitor