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2008 1200 Sport

Cheers Scott...

...One big issue I realize owning the Sport for 13 years is that there is very little grease in any of the bearings from the factory.
Regards
Stewart

Thanks Stewart.

I hear that complaint a great deal but all modern bearings are made nowadays pre-lubed by the bearing manufacturer. In my experience, all motorcycle manufacturers do not add additional grease to any bearings on the assembly line. It’s not necessary and would just create a mess I’m sure.

I’ve read a great deal here about the Stelvio rear swing-arm and shock bearings, but I've never seen one fail myself. The range of motion is so little to begin with. However, all the time guys tear it apart to slather them in what I consider to be, excessive grease. To each their own I guess. This does not mean that the problem and failure hasn’t been observed by others, it has, just not me...which means nothing in the grand scheme btw! :wait:

I think the greatest threat to any bearing on a Moto Guzzi, is pressure washers and those damn pressure wash hoses at self service car washes. That kind of water pressure is terrible tor any motorcycle, and also causes 95% of electrical switch issues I have diagnosed and repaired.

My motto is never use those things to wash your bike but if you must, keep 4-5 feet back from the motorcycle surfaces at all times.
 
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Scott, I get to see quite a few CARC bikes at my shop as you might guess. The early CARC bikes were devoid of any grease on the swing-arm bearings and needle rollers for the suspension. I’ve had many of them fall out in rusted pieces. I agree on sealed bearings being greased, but none of these are. Out of the bag new, they have zero grease on them, including the headset rollers. The swing-arm axle pivot design allows everything that shouldn't get to bearings, in onto the back of the unsealed side. A terrible design that I’ve rectified on my GTM frames.
I’ve serviced quite a few Stelvio that get ridden off road (including my friend Andrea who looped the world on his), and while movement is limited, the bearings take a beating. Grease is your friend on all of them. ;)
I replace the steering head bearings with tapered rollers as needed. Verboten in the engineering world, but has served me well for decades, lightly greased. :happy:
 
Scott, I get to see quite a few CARC bikes at my shop as you might guess. The early CARC bikes were devoid of any grease on the swing-arm bearings and needle rollers for the suspension. I’ve had many of them fall out in rusted pieces. I agree on sealed bearings being greased, but none of these are. Out of the bag new, they have zero grease on them, including the headset rollers. The swing-arm axle pivot design allows everything that shouldn't get to bearings, in onto the back of the unsealed side. A terrible design that I’ve rectified on my GTM frames.
I’ve serviced quite a few Stelvio that get ridden off road (including my friend Andrea who looped the world on his), and while movement is limited, the bearings take a beating. Grease is your friend on all of them.

I replace the steering head bearings with tapered rollers as needed. Verboten in the engineering world, but has served me well for decades, lightly greased. :happy:

Ah, this is good solid information to add to my brain. Thanks Todd! I love learning new things from those in the know. ;)

I just see so often, people who fill everything, (crankcase, gearbox, bearings, reservoirs, etc) to the absolute maximum they possibly can squeeze in there, and I just shake my head and wonder.

I do see significant damage from those damn pressure washers though! Evil things indeed.

Seems to me that a quick drill and Zerk grease fitting would be a simple and effective remedy for those bearings, but in truth that may already be covered here and I just haven’t stumbled upon it.

Thanks again!
 
"Seems to me that a quick drill and Zerk grease fitting would be a simple and effective remedy for those bearings, but in truth that may already be covered here and I just haven’t stumbled upon it."

Scott, it was. It is covered somewhere in the Stelvio section.
 
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