I bought a 1997 standard in April, changed a leaking front fork seal after I rode it home from Montreal. I've ridden about 10000 km on it since I bought it. Found last week someone had run into the back fender,wrinkled it behind saddlebags where I didn't see it until I was cleaning up the bike.
Split fender from wheel well up about six inches, getting that welded and repaired, no damage to lights just kinda ripped the side of the fender. I figured it was time to change out the rear bearings. I bought a set and removed the exhaust, when I got to taking off the rear wheel, I found that in the past a wheel bearing had seized I guess and spun in the hub wearing a space around the bearing. Someone had put another bearing in then reassembled the thing. The bearing was sloppy but the right side kept the wheel straight. The result was severe wear on the splines, both on the wheel side and in the final drive. The rear tire was new when I got the bike, an E3, now has an area in the center worn fairly flat with noticable ridges at the edges. I guess when I was cornering the whole rear would shift to maintain a flat rear angle. I'm just grateful I found it before I got into a mess. As it is I'm replacing the rear wheel, and splines on both the final and wheel. I figure I'm out about $1800.
I'd been complaining about a noise since I got the bike, I may have finally found the source.
not so Quicksilver
