Is it normal for frames to come from the factory with dry bearings?

It defenetly shouldn't come like that, thats really weird that it did...

you've probably never washed the bike eh?

Well, did you check the "Yes, grease my bearings" box when you bought it?

I had the same issue with my Trek. All I did was undo each of the pivot bolts one at a time, then using a pin carefully lift the seal off and repack with grease then put it all back together and repeat till all was good. Did it the other day again and its good to go for another 6 months. I have ordered some new ones for next time I get the shock rebuilt.

Sandwich said:

I was also under the impression that most bearings were sealed and not re-lube able.

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That's probably just because you never tried it.


It's no rocket surgery.

IT can happen,the bearings come from a supplier.

Supplier will have oddball amounts of defects that pass like anything else.

I really don't see much to complain about. You got a couple months out of your bearings which went through bike washings and then sat...

If you get water in your bearings and let them sit, they rust/correct/seized faster than if you regularly use them. Further more, most bearings last no more than a few months running smooth before they start to get rough due to their limited rotation, although most of the time it is tough to feel it without pulling the shock or bearings.
Have you ever gone on a really nasty muddy ride where there is mud caked all over your bike, you get done riding and hose it off, give it a bit of a scrub and hang it up for a week only to pull it down the next weekend only to find your bottom bracket/hubs are seized or have extra resistance? Same thing.

It's not anything that's Transitions fault.

what color were the bearing seals?

most likely enduro steel ball bearing.

My 2 cents: call the shop where you bought it and give them the full story. 9 times out of 10, they will either hook you up or at least give you some bearings for wholesale or something. It has been about 7 months so unless you are letting water run through the bearings after each ride, the shop should help you out. and even if you are, they should help out of good faith.

My TR450 bearings were stuffed when I replaced them after a year of riding and jet-washing my bike. But they still had grease in them, so I can only assume yours was stolen - probably by midgets.

dfinn said:

No, actually I've never had a bottom bracket or hub seize up from washing the bike and then letting it sit for too long. I don't believe I hosed the bike off before putting it away for the winter but let's assume I did, my hubs, BB and headset were all smooth as new.

I'm not saying it's anyone's fault, and if it was I guess it would be whoever transition uses for a bearing supplier. I guess I just assumed that this wouldn't be something I'd have to worry about for a while on a new, high end frame.

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This.

Sheesh.

Friggin republicans!

grease stealin' midgets..

you heard it on RM first..

Deano said:

grease stealin' midgets..that can do "rocket surgery"

you heard it on RM first..

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Fixed

dfinn said:

I would hate to see what a couple of seasons in the PNW would do.

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Bearings don't last a couple of season up here. I pull mine apart every few weeks and have to re-grease them. They are almost always dry and crunchy after that amount of time. I don't even have a hose to use for cleaning my bike, I have to use a bucket and a brush. Water, dirt, and hard riding does lots of damage to moving parts.

People spent time worrying about sticktion in their shocks and then will neglect their bearings.

-KT