Why are bearings so expensive?? (all balls)

My 2000 cr125 needs all NEW linkage, swingarm, and steering/shock bearings.

I add up the "kits" on all balls and it comes out to 242$!!!

Holy crap!


Any alternatives? Without knocking out each one and trying to find a mate?

I have my own special grease that will literally last forever . I just unfortunately bought this bike with shot bearings notchy/loose cages etc.

The all balls is going to be the best value. The bearings alone cost about the same as their kits and the kits include seals and pins.

I went to my local bearing shop for fronts for the wr300. $70+ each for Timkens, & $40 each for Peers. WTH, I'll be getting AllBalls or Moose kits($25). But now the bike has to sit on a stand until they show up, arrrrgh.

Darnit.... Anyone got a extra bolt for the shock linkage that connects to the swingarm, or know if they are the same as other models?

i just installed the moose swinger and linkage kit in my 360. made by all balls in china. the price was right and it was complete with pins and seals. it all fit well but the quality was for sure not the same as skf or toyo. you get what you pay for. that being said, im sure they will hold up decent with good grease. i washed out whatever was in them and packed it all with bel ray waterproof.

dont feel bad, its part of riding a dirtbike. happens alot unless the bike has zerk fitting for each bearing or the bike is stripped down at least every season and thouroughly cleaned and regreased..im sometimes amazed that stuff lasts as long as it does, for what bikes have to go through

The cheap chinese bearings are junk. Spend the money on good bearings- that's why we bought Euro bikes with good ;usually german bearings as OEM., in the first place.
The chinese bearings will not keep your wheels and shock linkage straight under load and do not last.

Well instead, I bought a used swingarm with good bearings, used linkage with good bearings, and a used shock with good bearings....all for less than the price of buying the all balls bearing kit. imagine that!

So I will just carb cleaner the shit out of the bearings, dry them and grease with super special grease and run the bike for a few more years!

Good shopping mate. However in prniciple Steady dirt is correct. Buy quality German or Japanese bearings next time.

I don't know if it is because they have a facility locally - but we can get FAG bearings for less than half what the All Balls cost. The local machine shop looked up the cross reference numbers and one we just had to measure. I have been using these on a number of bikes with zero issues. The set on my BMW (bike - not a highbrow cage lol) have a gazillion miles through mud, rivers, hail - you name it.

Not sure I'm comfortable walking into the local NAPA and asking for a set of FAG bearings...

They're German - so say "I would like some of those FOG bearings please".. Otherwise you may have issues...and you'll sound so cultured to boot.

Excellent bearings. Score on the pricing.

When replacing bearings and seals try to use good quality items such as FAG, Timkin, SKF, etc. Local bearing shops can provide these for a reasonable price using the number off the old bearing or you can bring it in and they can match it up. Avoid Chinese bearings if at all possible as their quality is hit or miss!

I have had bad luck with AllBalls. Pivot works seems to be a little better quality.

I've posted years ago over 80% of the bearings sold here in the USA are COUNTERFIT Chinese.
No quality bearing is going to be cheap.
Every High quality name bearing manufactur is being ripped off.
When the guy behind the counter at the bearing house tells you they are not chinese, so how the hell does he know?
Because he was told they were good and being a good customer that's why were giving you such a good deal on the price
Slowly say this( Counterfit is Counterfit)
Later George

Well.....this sucks.....I now have a ton of all balls bearings!....In they go...as the cr125 will only be used probably 4-5x a year....