Had a strange feeling from the back wheel of the 1000 over the last few weeks. Felt a bit like going over a pebble mid corner, nothing excessive, but starting getting worse in the last few 100 miles, as if the back was going to slide, especially two up.
Quick check of the rear end, but nothing obviously wrong, removed caliper and wheel bearings felt fine, Removed link arm nothing wrong there, checked the top shock spherical bearing fine (S1000RR Shock) as the link arm was off, no side play just the normal up down bit of the spherical bearing, checked swinging arm, it was fine, removed the wheel, right side bearing had a little bit of play, sprocket bearing no play, took off the sprocket hub found a bit of play in the needle roller bearing. Pulled out the axel and put it in part way from the left to check the needle bearing on its own, quite a lot of play in the needle bearing compared to the right side roller bearing using the same method, but no play in the sprocket carrier bearing.
Decided to order a full set of rear bearings, collar and seals from Marksmans Bearings.
Take note, the Collar for the needle bearing has to be ordered separately.
Arrived Thursday and decided to fit them Friday. Removal was going fine, seal out circlip off, roller bearing out, but what a pain in the arse of a job trying to get the needle bearing out
. We eventually had to use a dremel to cut it (carefully) before we could get it out, sprocket carrier bearing was easy to remove..
All bearings pushed back in, circlip in and seals in. Wheel back on. Out for a spin total transformation, no more weird movements from the rear.