Factory-Links

10/14/2026

Even high-quality motorcycle bearings can suffer premature damage when installed incorrectly. Excessive force, improper alignment, or pressure applied to the wrong bearing race can compromise performance before the motorcycle ever hits the trail.

Watch for these warning signs:
• Rough or restricted wheel rotation
• Unusual noise or vibration
• Excessive friction or heat
• Premature bearing wear
• Unexpected play or movement

These symptoms can have several causes, but improper installation is one that can be prevented.

Proper installation starts with the right technique. Applying force to the correct bearing race, keeping the bearing square during installation, and using controlled, even pressure help protect internal components and support long-term reliability.

LEARN MORE
Read our latest technical article:
Motorcycle Bearing Installation: Why Fit, Force, and Alignment Matter, for practical guidance on proper installation techniques.

Read the article:
https://shopfactorylinks.com/bearing-installation

EXPLORE FACTORY LINKS BEARING SOLUTIONS

Shop our website:
https://shopfactorylinks.com

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shopfactorylinks.com/amazon

FACTORY LINKS | SEAL YOUR RIDE.

09/28/2026

Fit. Force. Alignment. They all matter when installing motorcycle bearings.

Proper motorcycle bearing installation requires clean surfaces, controlled force, correct alignment, and proper final adjustment – whether you’re servicing wheel bearings, steering stem bearings, linkage, swingarm, or lower shock bearings.

Our latest Technical Article covers:
• Applying installation force to the correct bearing race
• Keeping bearings square during installation
• Understanding bearing fit and interference fit
• Correct internal wheel spacer positioning
• Steering stem bearing installation and preload
• Linkage, swingarm, and lower shock bearing installation
• Proper bearing removal and installation tools
• Final inspection before reassembly

The article also features a linkage bearing replacement demonstration from Dirt N Iron, showing the removal, preparation, installation, lubrication, and reassembly process in practice.

Read the full article:
https://shopfactorylinks.com/blogs/tech-articles/motorcycle-bearing-installation

Explore Factory Links bearing solutions and workshop tools at https://shopfactorylinks.com/pages/oem-series or visit the Factory Links Amazon Store at shopfactorylinks.com/amazon

SEAL YOUR RIDE.

OEM and Race Series bearing kits for off-road motorcycles—built to handle mud, water, and hard miles. Shop Factory Links for performance and reliability.

09/13/2026

Pierre is on 🔥at Le Mans training day.

09/09/2026

BUD RACING CLOSES THE EMX250 SEASON WITH A 1–2 🇹🇷

Venum BUD Racing Kawasaki wrapped up the 2026 EMX250 season in dominant fashion at Afyonkarahisar, Türkiye, with Francisco García and Jake Cannon finishing 1–2 in both motos. García went 1–1 for the overall win, while Cannon backed him up with a pair of second-place finishes.

The weekend capped an extraordinary season for García, who had already secured the 2026 EMX250 European Championship. He also made history as the winningest rider in the category since EMX250 became a support class to the FIM Motocross World Championship in 2007.

Cannon’s strong 2–2 performance completed a perfect BUD Racing 1–2 at the final round and capped an impressive season for the team.

Factory Links: race tested with Venum BUD Racing Kawasaki.
Explore Factory Links bearing kits on the Factory Links Amazon Store:
shopfactorylinks.com/amazon

09/08/2026

ENGINE CHANGE. PODIUM FIGHT. P5 AT ABESTONE HARD ENDURO.

Mario Román battled through a difficult weekend at Round 5 of the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship, overcoming bike issues on Saturday before an overnight engine change helped put him back in the fight on Sunday.

After struggling with a power-valve problem in the Sprint Race, Román returned for the Gold Final with a fresh engine and fought with Teodor Kabakchiev and James Moore for the final podium position. He ultimately finished 5th overall,and was the fifth and final Gold rider to complete all six laps.

Abestone’s steep climbs, square-edged rock and repeated impacts also provided a fitting backdrop for a deeper look at the parts that rarely get the attention: wheel, steering stem, swingarm, and linkage bearings.

Read the HEWC feature with Mario on what those components endure over the course of a Hard Enduro season:
https://fim-hardenduro.com/news/mario-rom-n-the-part-nobody-photographs

Watch Abestone race highlights:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSxpbSy4WiA&t=533s

Factory Links:
Official Bearing & Linkage Partner of the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship.

SEAL YOUR RIDE.

09/02/2026

Wheel play isn’t where bearing failure begins.

A wheel bearing can already be deteriorating long before you feel noticeable movement at the wheel.

Contamination can compromise lubrication, leading to corrosion and surface damage. From there, increased friction, roughness and noise may develop before excessive play ever becomes obvious.

In our latest Tech Article, we look inside the progression of wheel bearing failure and explain why sealing, lubrication, bearing precision and regular inspection all matter in demanding off-road conditions.

THE KEY TAKEAWAY:
Don’t wait for the wheel to move before paying attention to what your bearings are telling you.

Read the full article:
https://shopfactorylinks.com/blogs/tech-articles/motorcycle-wheel-bearing-failure

Explore Factory Links wheel bearing kits at shopfactorylinks.com or visit the Factory Links Amazon Store at shopfactorylinks.com/amazon.

SEAL YOUR RIDE.

08/25/2026

🏆 2026 EMX250 EUROPEAN CHAMPION!

Congratulations to Francisco Garcia and Venum BUD Racing Kawasaki on securing the 2026 FIM EMX250 European Championship at the MXGP of the Netherlands in Arnhem.

Garcia clinched the title with a second-place finish in the opening moto, capping a dominant championship campaign that has included six overall victories and 15 moto wins through the first 11 rounds.

Teammate Jake Cannon also continued his strong season at Arnhem and currently sits 3rd in the EMX250 Championship standings with one round remaining.

Factory Links is proud to support Garcia, Cannon and the entire Venum BUD Racing Kawasaki team throughout an outstanding 2026 season. Congratulations to Francisco and everyone at BUD Racing on an incredible achievement.

Factory Links: Race Tested. Championship Proven.

08/17/2026

🇸🇪 PERFECT WEEKEND IN SWEDEN!
Francisco Garcia returned to EMX250 competition in dominant fashion at the MXGP of Sweden, sweeping both motos at Uddevalla for a 1–1 overall victory aboard his Venum BUD Racing Kawasaki.

After missing the previous round due to injury, Garcia wasted no time getting back to the front, earning his sixth overall win of the season and extending his EMX250 championship lead to 87 points.

Teammate Jake Cannon battled back from a difficult opening moto to deliver a strong P2 in Race 2, putting the two BUD Racing Kawasakis 1–2 at the finish.

🏁 Garcia: 1–1 | P1 Overall
🏁 Cannon: 13–2 | P6 Overall

Another impressive weekend for our partners at Venum BUD Racing Kawasaki and another demanding test for the equipment beneath them.

Factory Links. Built for racing. Proven at the highest level.

08/10/2026

P2 AT RED BULL ROMANIACS

Five days. The Carpathian Mountains. Some of the toughest terrain in Hard Enduro.

Congratulations to Sherco Factory Racing's Teodor Kabakchiev on an outstanding 2nd-place finish at the 2026 Red Bull Romaniacs, with teammate Lorenzo Gandola also putting his Sherco inside the Gold-class top 10 in 7th.

Romaniacs is more than a test of rider skill. It's an extreme test of the entire motorcycle — through water, mud, fine silt, heat, impacts and relentless terrain.

As an Official OEM Supplier to Sherco and Official Bearing & Linkage Partner of the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship, Factory Links is proud to support machines and riders competing where reliability matters most.

Congratulations to Teodor, Lorenzo and the entire Sherco team.

Factory Links. Built for conditions like these.
Learn more: shopfactorylinks.com