So glad it was something simple. Just goes to show you cannot take anything for granted regarding mechanical reliability. Bit surprised though it failed so early.

Yes, well, bike has done around 26k miles and is 13 years old. Of course, there are two bearings, and the other one looked fine (though both replaced). As has been said, bearings usually wear, though this one seems to have failed quite suddenly. They showed me the bearing and it had rather fewer ball bearings inside than it should have had!

MrGrumpy wrote: Tue Jul 12, 2022 4:03 pm So....workshop back in business today. They collected it at lunchtime, problem was a collapsed wheel bearing, and now all fixed! I was beginning to have nightmare visions of CVT failures and weeks of waiting for expensive parts, so I guess things could be far worse. Phew!

That's what it always sounded like! Front wheel I'm guessing?
Glad you got it sorted OK.

MrGrumpy wrote: Fri Jul 15, 2022 8:18 pm Yes, well, bike has done around 26k miles and is 13 years old. Of course, there are two bearings, and the other one looked fine (though both replaced). As has been said, bearings usually wear, though this one seems to have failed quite suddenly. They showed me the bearing and it had rather fewer ball bearings inside than it should have had!

Oh, didn't realise it was 13yrs old. Still, 26k miles isn't much. Does sound as though it was a less than perfect bearing. My GSX1400's both did 170,000 & 190,000 miles. Replaced front wheel bearings at around 120,000. Rears at 140,000. Scoots tend to wear them out a little sooner due to the smaller wheels, but not by much. Did a front hub bearing on a GTS250 at around 78,000 but only because it was in early stages of wearing and the bike was going to Germany on a tour. So you definitely had a rough bearing from the factory. Now all is good, enjoy!

Greyerbeard wrote: Sat Jul 16, 2022 9:09 am
That's what it always sounded like! Front wheel I'm guessing?
Glad you got it sorted OK.

Yeah - one of the front ones

Usual cause of early bearing failure is water ingress. I had to replace one on a Peugeot Elyseo at only a few thousand miles because it had no proper seal and was reliant on the bearing itself being the blind type. I try to do a bit of preventative greasing even on new machines but I probably didn't bother with the little 125 scooter. Pressure washers can be very destructive too.

The Japanese went through a period of not putting enough grease on anything
a few years back maybe it was one of those.

They also switched to a non petroleum type of grease that is more environmentally friendly. It doesn't last over time or big mileages.

Ralph wrote: Sun Jul 17, 2022 2:05 pm The Japanese went through a period of not putting enough grease on anything
a few years back maybe it was one of those.

When it was in my care I regreased once a year and never used a pressure washer on it however pot holed roads are a thing so it may be down to that.

You cant say better than that, it must have just
been one of those things maybe one bad bearing
ou of a batch that failed before it's time.