Kawi2strokes.com Forum

Not a new subject but, what are the real advantages of tapered v. ball headstocks?

cliff

New or near new.
Performance wise.

Tapered roller bearings usually have higher load capabilities than ball bearings. But if you keep the stock type clean and greased, they last a very long time. I put a grease fitting in my frame's head tube in the '70s so I can easily keep the bearings lubed, and the original bearings are still fine. The problem comes from lack of maintenance. Once the bearings get dry and dirty they fail quickly.

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If it surges, that's normal, upshift.

Thanx!

I installed tapers years ago (mostly because I kept losing my balls ). Only issue is the tree was spaced slightly taller and the stock headlight ear was loose. Some used large o-rings as a spacer, I found a toilet tank rubber washer worked well. Not aesthetically pleasing but works for me.

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This is true. Where I grew up the hills were so steep and long, when your ball rolled down the hill you just said "screw it"...

So not improvements like many said changes the world.

Well, if you have worn out ball bearings that are notchy, and you replace them with new tapered rollers, you'll feel a big improvement.

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If it surges, that's normal, upshift.

Also, when/if the ball bearings get a touch loose, the balls can be rammed into the races, causing "dents" in the races, and "notching" in the steering. Rollers, even loose, won't do that. Just FYI.

Like was stated earlier...If your ball bearings and races are in good shape, you won't see a significant difference in handling by going to tapered bearings. However, if your ball bearings are notchy, you will definitely see an improvement. And you will need to take up some space on the headlight ears with taper ed bearings

The tapered bearings spread the load over a greater area than ball bearings do from all those H2 wheelies dropping the front back down...Just saying!