Front Wheel Bearings (and in that case the rear)

[masterjml]

I was talking with Dave Dodge tonight and he informed me that my year magna had wheel bearings that tended to eat themselves (1996).  What's a good way to check this/ prevent this? would that be causing the drifting in my turns?
I jacked up the bike and shook the wheel and it didn't shake back so i think i'm OK as far as that goes but anyone else have this problem?

Thanks in advance.

[lragan]

I don't really know how one is supposed to evaluate the condition of wheel bearings.  I have two '96 Magnas, and I have replaced the front bearings in one of them.  I was cleaning up after an unscheduled get-off at MOOTMAG 7, had ordered the bearings, and put them in.  I don't think I really needed them. 

Every time I have the bikes up on a lift, I turn the front wheel and listen carefully.  I have even put a stethoscope on the front axle to listen.  So far, they both sound smooth to me, so I leave them alone.

I also check the fork bearing for smooth operation.  Either the wheel bearings or the fork bearings can cause very nasty falls if they start to seize up.  I am actually more afraid of the fork bearing, as the stability of the whole system depends on its smooth operation.

[hootmon]

I have a '94..
Soon after I purchased the bike (used) I was replacing the front tire.. I noticed that when I ran the bearings around with my finger, there was a noticeable bumping feel instead of a smooth feel.. The bike had something less than 20K miles on it..

For the cost of the bearings (I had a local Bearing store available) which wasn't much, I thought it to be a GREAT investment.. (A seized front tire doesn't seem like a good idea to me!!!)

I have since put close to 60K miles on the replacement bearings, and they still seem smooth.. I have on a couple of occasions and when they were new, squeezed a little extra grease under the grease seal on the bearings..

I'm still running the stock rear bearings..