250-500cc Linkage bearing Q

Is there any reason y the tie rod uses loose needle bearings as opposed to caged type needle/roller? Pain in the arse to regrease wen they all bloody fall out! Was thinkin mite swap em over

Agree- All Balls seem like low quality. Certainly there is a cross reference for a bearing with a retainer, cage.

The full compliment bearings are designed for higher load bearing.
Personally I went phosphor bronze bush on my kmx an never had an issue.

A bushing has got to beat needle bearings for surface bearing area-

true but needle bearings help eliminate stiction and the linkage is therefor smoother

I will have to stick my neck out here an say I would go phosphor bronze in all my linkages over needles, there is more then enough leverage to overcome stiction.
Also once the needle cages get rusty then the bronze will be far smoother.
Ever wondered why your ground sleeves always wear in a rollers length thats because the needles don't go through a whole revolution when suspension moves sooooo they wear in grooves.
Its even more pronounced with caged needles rather than full compliment.

R talkin a sleeve that replaces the bearings n still use the inner bush/pin juicy? Interference fit?

Sort of yes, phosphor bronze bush replaces the needle rollers then std seals and then new unworn sleeves.
Better if you can get them made out of some hard stuff like en24t and get them ground to size after hear treating.
Throw a grease groove in the bronze bush whilst machining then your all good.