Any truth to "improved" style of oem rear swingarm bearings?

[macx]

I read someplace recently that BMW has upgraded the replacement bearings.

Any body know?

I've got some play in mine and am laid off right now so not really anxious to spend the $ for those bushings, altho I'd like to.

If those replacement bearings are a significant amount less than the bushings, maybe I'll opt for those for now.

If BMW is still too proud of them for my pocketbook right now, I guess I'll just have to readjust them (am swapping trans
so will have to disassemble them anyway) for now and get the bushings when I get back to work.

Thx!

[CNorris]

I put the bushing kit in myself, figuring I only wanted to do this once and it looks like a significant upgrade. The old bearings were in very bad condition when they came out. I can't remember the price difference though. I got it from Rubber Chicken Racing.

[macx]

After I posted this, I found that one can look up part prices on the A&S cycles parts fiche.

I looked up the bearings for the rear of the swingarm, the search for the part number for one side
brings up a "needle sleeve" and a "needle bearing" at $35 each, so it would be $70 just for one side,
so of course $140 for both.

THAT is more than the bushings, so - - - . No sense putting them in, even if they are an improved
version - they're still needle bearings.