Which bearings to buy OEM or aftermarket ?

[still2smokin]

So I picked a 05 wr450 and I want to replace all the bearings- steering,

shock, wheel, linkage and swing arm. My question is which ones aftermarket

or OEM ? I have used All Balls and Pivot Works in the past on my old 2 stroke

but they never seem to last longer than 2 years. Do you guys think the OEM

Yamaha bearings will last longer than the aftermarket replacment sets ?

Thanks

still2smokin

[tsorpi]

mine has pivot work in swing arm and linkage prety good bearings

[camman]

Do you guys think the OEM

Yamaha bearings will last longer than the aftermarket replacment sets ?

No they will not. Dirt wears out bearings in dirt bikes.

[GuyGraham]

As said above, its not the quality of the bearings that is making them fail but the ingress of water and dirt

Keep out the water and dirt, and aftermarket bearings will last years

Yamaha don't make bearings, or have 'special' quality bearings made - they are just off the shelf std engineering bearings

I buy Koyo bearings where possible, coz they are a quality brand often used by the Japanese for wheel, suspension and engine bearings

The other brand often used by the Japs is NTN

either of these or makes such as SKF will be fine

Its your seals letting you down

[BajaFool]

I agree with GuyGraham's comments. I would add that sticking with bearings manufactured in the USA, Japan or Germany (not China, countries of the former Soviet Bloc, India, etc.) is an extra ounce of caution. The country of manufacture is noted on each bearing.