Quote Originally Posted by 2wheelsforme View Post
Biglry are you sure the OEM F6B bearings are round? It was my belief they are roller bearing themselves referred to as needle by some. Not everyone thinks the All Balls are an upgrade to the more expensive OEM. Just recently changed out the neck bearing on a Yamaha Venture with 120K on the odo and the stock bearings were roller just like the aftermarket replacements I put in. I do know one thing I will not use any Chinese made bearings.
Yes, I am sure 2wheelsforme...
I belive Honda uses BALL bearings in the steering stem bearings in a majority of Honda motorcycles. The only model I know of to use the tapered roller bearings is the VTX1800... even the VTX1300 uses ball bearings in the stem bearings and then they along with the GL1800 & F6B may gain much front end stability improvement by switching to the tapered roller bearings found in the "All Balls" bearings replacement kit.

For those who do not know the difference here is pic of the ball bearings Honda uses in the F6B and pre 2018 GL1800 steering stems. This pic is from Honda and the GL1800 Parts fiche.




and here is what a set of tapered roller bearings look like.


I can not comment on what other MC manufactures use for their steering stem bearings.