I was considering replacing my wheel bearings on my 03 ST1300 with 80,000+ miles. My question is are Niche bearings a good choice? I see they are American made...
Niche wheel bearings
- Thread starter mageerc
- Start date
I have never heard of them, and usually buy only name brand bearings. I did a quick search online and Trustpilot (I know nothing about them) posted users comments. Three stars or lower got 13% of the ratings. It sounds like a major attraction is low price, and their customer service is not great. Niche also sells carbs and axle parts and these contributed to the bad reviews...bearings might be a different story.
These are not ‘break the bank’ parts; OEM seems to be solid and readily available. Am I missing some reported problem with OEM bearings?
Niche brake pads are very popular on the Goldwing forum. I just put some on mine and I think they stop better than the oems. I would not be afraid of the bearings.
Did you happen to notice how well they were greased?
An old riding buddy bought some bearings and they came very poorly greased, as if for warehouse storage or shipping. They lasted fewer miles than his tire he installed at the same mileage.
One of the problems folks have with bearings, is they don’t think they have enough grease and either add a grease that is not compatible with the grease in them, and they separate, or they pack too much grease in them and don’t leave enough air space and they foam up etc.
The OEM made in Japan bearings often last way past the 100,000 mile mark without issues.
The Chinese stuff, not so much.
The OEM made in Japan bearings often last way past the 100,000 mile mark without issues.
The Chinese stuff, not so much.
I have run into a lower count of balls in the cheaper bearings,..... just saying
- Joined
- May 30, 2006
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- 3,139
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- Pensacola, FL. USA
- Bike
- 06/ST1300 19/R1250RT
- 2024 Miles
- 047734
My original front wheel bearings rolled for 252,700 miles.
My original rear wheel bearings rolled for 332,507 miles.
They did not fall apart but I thought they were "feeling rough" and needed replacement. I replaced them with expensive Honda parts because the Honda parts never failed and lasted so long for me. I don't think the old bearings had brand names on them but I'll look later today. I think still have them if I can find them.
I carry spare Honda parts with me.
The spline hub bearings get the cheaper bearings but still I have only replaced them twice (on my third set) with non-Honda bearings.
My original rear wheel bearings rolled for 332,507 miles.
They did not fall apart but I thought they were "feeling rough" and needed replacement. I replaced them with expensive Honda parts because the Honda parts never failed and lasted so long for me. I don't think the old bearings had brand names on them but I'll look later today. I think still have them if I can find them.
I carry spare Honda parts with me.
The spline hub bearings get the cheaper bearings but still I have only replaced them twice (on my third set) with non-Honda bearings.
True in my experience. I just replaced some headstock bearings in our 1953 Monarch lathe, covers had never been off the machine as far as I could tell.