Wheel & Swingarm Bearing Maintenance

Bearings rarely fail without warning — they get notchy or develop play well before they actually seize or fall apart. The checks below take a couple of minutes and catch almost all of it early.

How to check for play

• Wheels: with the wheel off the ground, grab it at the top and bottom and rock it side to side. Any noticeable play (not just tyre squish) points to worn wheel bearings.
• Swingarm: grab the rear of the swingarm and try to move it side to side while the shock is disconnected or the bike is supported — play here points to worn swingarm or linkage bearings.
• Steering head: with the front wheel off the ground, tap the forks — any clunk, or notchy resistance when turning the bars lock to lock, points to a worn steering head bearing.

How often to check

There's no universal hour interval that fits every bike here — bearing life depends heavily on how wet, muddy or sandy your riding is, since contamination is what kills bearings faster than raw mileage. As a general habit:

• Quick play-check every few rides, more often after wet or muddy conditions.
• A proper inspection (removing the wheel, spinning the bearing by hand to feel for notchiness) once or twice a season for most riders.

Why it's worth catching early

A worn wheel or swingarm bearing left too long doesn't just get worse — it starts wearing the surrounding part it sits in (the hub or the swingarm/frame bore), turning a cheap bearing swap into a much more expensive repair.