Well, I had sworn off posts in Tech, but this looks fairly non-controversial, so here's my take on it.Just put them in Frank a couple weeks ago. No riding experience on this bike with them, but I have put them in several other bikes, and the change was well worth it-much more contact area, the result being a more solid feel in front. Now these were older bikes, but with good condition front necks and bearings-I don't doubt there will be similar results on the feej, not at all. Install is straightforward, the only real touchy part is getting the lower inner race off of the stem-I used a dremel cut-off wheel, cut the race at 90 degrees to it's mounting ( in other words, the disc was in line with the stem), use care, and a steady hand, you don't need to cut it off completely-get about 2/3 of the way through, and you'll hear a sharp CRACK from the race-the pressure of the press fit will split it and you can just pop it off with a set of pliers. I used a long brass drift to pop the neck races out-there are circular notches in the neck to facilitate locating the drift against the races, you'll see it when everything is out. Use the old races as protectors when hammering in the new ones, be sure to fully seat them, easy to tell as the sound when rapping them changes to a more solid sounding tone, get them started as evenly as possible and work in a circle till they're fully in, then a couple more raps around to be sure. The old race will just lift out, a taper in the neck ensures they won't be trapped. The lower bearing has to be pressed onto the neck shaft, don't hammer this one-if no press available have a machine shop do it, there is no substitute for this install IMHO as the stem is a press fit into the lower clamp-get carried away and cock the stem in the lower tree and you're fooked. The upper is a close slip fit-no need for pressing this one. Be sure to install the supplied seal before pressing the lower bearing on-forget and back off it comes, probably junked in the process. Some have suggested more torque on the nuts than oe for this app, I don't know about that. Tapered roller bearings don't like a lot of preload, I set mine at 15lbs, we'll see how that works. Be prepared to retorque after a few hundred miles of seating anyway-if it felt a little loose, add a pound or two but don't get carried away-there should be no drag when turning the forks side to side with the wheel suspended. Grease the bearings like a wheel bearing-press it through so that it is forced through the rollers and out each end from the back of the rollers, don't forget to grease the surface the seals ride on-be generous as this is what prevents dirt and water intrusion. Pretty much it. The bearings and races are the same top and bottom, as well as the seals, so no mixing those up. All in all, pretty straightforward. Hope this is what you were looking for.
