Motorcycle & Scooter Bearings: How to Buy a Set at a Good Price
Decode the marking
A bearing has a numeric marking, and it explains almost everything. For example, in 6204-2RS the series is 62, the inner diameter is 20 mm (04 × 5), and 2RS means rubber seals on both sides. A 6301 has an inner diameter of 12 mm. The marking is stamped on the ring and you can see it once the part is removed. If it is worn off, measure three sizes: the inner diameter, the outer diameter and the width.
Where the bearing goes
On a motorcycle, bearings sit in the wheels, the steering head, the swingarm, the crankshaft and the gearbox. The conditions are different in each place. For a wheel, take sealed ball bearings (2RS or ZZ). The steering head usually has tapered roller bearings, and it is better to buy them as a set with the races. The swingarm often uses needle bearings. In the engine and gearbox the bearings are more expensive and must match exactly, so saving money there is dangerous.
What to put in your request
- bearing number — for example 6204-2RS, or the dimensions;
- where it goes — wheel, steering head, swingarm, crankshaft, gearbox;
- bike model — for example Suzuki DR 650;
- type — ball, tapered roller, needle, sealed or open;
- quantity — for example 4 pcs;
- maker — for example SKF;
- delivery city and budget.
Example: “I need 4 bearings 6204-2RS for the wheels of a Suzuki DR 650, sealed, preferably SKF or NSK. New. Delivery to Ottawa, budget up to $17.”
How to compare offers
The main thing is a known maker and a clear marking. No-name bearings from unclear batches easily reach the market, and they do not last long. Ask about the seal type, the precision class and whether it is genuine. Pay attention to how it is sold: singly, in pairs or as a set with seals and spacers. For the steering head it is better to take a set, because the upper and lower bearings wear out together.
- Whether the quantity matches what you need: a wheel usually takes two.
- Whether seals and spacer sleeves are in the set.
- Whether there is a warranty and a chance to exchange.
A typical mistake is to replace one bearing of a pair: the other, worn one will soon fail. Another is to hammer a bearing in without a drift: it is easy to damage the ring or the balls. A drift is needed for pressing it in, so this is better done at a workshop.
How BlaBlaPrice works
You write one request with a list of the numbers, and sellers reply in the chat with price and terms. Each of them sees where their offer stands, so they often cut the price or add more to the set. The site shows the best-value one first, with reviews beside it. Contacts are hidden. More in “How it works”.
Related: drive and running gear and frames, brackets and swingarms.
