Pivot Works Bearings...P-U!!

Many bikes have bearings without the cages that Kawasaki uses. The advantage of the loose needes is you get more needles and surface to carry the load. Yeah, its a hassle if you drop them.

I wish I could find the post, but I think it was before the conversion to new forum software - several months ago someone was posting numbers for generic caged needle bearings that worked. The number for the linkage bearings:

HK1612 equivalent to p/n 92046-1192

HK2216 equivalent to p/n 92046-1216

The brand was INA .The part #'s are an INA number. Supposedly both cost less than $3 each, but I can't vouch for the above since I've not personally tried it so I'm just passing along the info.

btw, the numbers on the side of the stock bearings break down into I.D., O.D. and width (not necessarily in that order) in mm.

(92046-1216 BEARING-NEEDLE,22BM2816)

I don't know what "BM" means.

You might take the bearing to a generic bearing supply house and give it a shot (but that won't help if you need seals to...). How much was the pivot works set? I don't like the idea of uncaged needles. When I replaced everything last year the price was steep: about $10 for each bearing, seal, and sleeve needed (about $250 if you replace every last thing):

Qty Part # Description
4 11012-1259 CAP,SWING ARM
2 42036-1056 SLEEVE,SWING ARM
2 42036-1245 SLEEVE,15X22X57
1 42036-1248 SLEEVE,10X16X19
1 42036-1309 SLEEVE,15X22X45
4 92046-1118 BEARING-NEEDLE,TA202715ZE
1 92046-1192 BEARING-NEEDLE,16BM2212
6 92046-1216 BEARING-NEEDLE,22BM2816
2 92049-1330 SEAL-OIL
6 92049-1402 SEAL-OIL,MHA22 28 5.7F-1