Hey all,

Need to replace my lower headset bearing as it's getting rough. Struggling to find this model. It's from a specialized allez 2020

Any places I can source in the UK?

I typed those numbers, from the photo, into my browser and did a search which turned up a gazillion sources for that bearing.

You're not even trying here.

Edited to add: I just noticed that you made TWO identical posts about this. Wouldn't it have been easier to just do a google search for your bearing?

For the most part, bicycle bearings aren't that special. I did a Google search for: "49x7mm bearing 45degree" That is 49 millimeters across, 7 millimeters tall & 45 degree angularity.

Does this look like it?

You might check out the Will-Call window at a local automotive/industrial bearing supply warehouse. The guy behind the counter will likely use a pair of calipers from the top drawer of his desk to measure the original & return in about 5 minutes with an acceptable substitute.

Hey, I noticed that I posted the wrong image. I was referring to the top one which doesn't have many numbers on. It only states the angles 45/45

Type the freaking numbers into a browser, for pete's sake. You'll find only about a gazillion hits. It's not rocket science.

https://lmgtfy.app/#gsc.tab=0&gsc.q=...B%9A%20bearing

I'm sympathizing with the OP. I have a Specialized Diverge that needs new headset bearings. I first asked my LBS about this in July and they said bearings for my bike were on back-order. They would let me know when they had the bearings. I've ckecked back from time to time. Still on back-order. I also emailed Specialized in December. They told me back orders would be shipping in January. I'm still riding the bike, but the steering has some rough spots. The OP is one up on me, as I haven't disassembled the headset. I'm just waiting (ever less patiently) for my LBS to do the job. It's been six months now. My thought when I bought the bike is: I'll ride it, and have my LBS maintain it, but that's not happening in this case anyway. Should I consider trying to do this myself, or would I just be likely to bring a bunch of parts to the LBS to have them reassemble the bike?

Not hard for me to believe. My Diverge (see the post just above) is a 2019 and I started noticing the problem when I'd had the bike about two years (and about 10,000 miles). I don't know how long headset bearings typically last, but I noticed the issue after about the same amount of time as the OP.

Nobody said the part in question was of higher price, the bike maybe but the actual headsets that Specialized uses and other manufacturers use isn't always of high quality. Sometimes yes but sometimes not really it is a good place to save money because as long as the thing turns right nobody would really notice it. Specialized has not been a company to focus on headsets and has had past issues but they are bearings, bearings a replaceable item and a common one at that.

Specialized makes no headsets. Tange has made them for a long time; I have Specialized threaded headsets from the early 90’s. Well more accurately, Tange merely stamps Specialized on a Tange product.

John

It's the bottom bearing that's tired out. I serviced my heqdset and the bearing was noticeably rough when turning by hand. Once it's back in the headset it spins fine but the rough noise is amplified through the handle bars. I don't think it affects the steering at the moment so may just keep it in there until it affects the handling.

I've only had it a year but where I live it's rather dusty and when I took the bearing out it was extremely gritty. I believe if you rode just for a month through such conditions it would enough to contaminate the bearings.

Likely an accident

Why do people feel the need to write a time wasting comment and then delete the post, you do know that I get the email notification of what I wrote right? At least don't delete it after you have written it.

Here's a non-time waster - from an effortless google search: https://365cycles.com/collections/he...tainless-1-1-8, as well as a UK source: https://www.totalcycling.com/en/FSA-...g/m-21231.aspx

Thanks. I rang Specialized and for anyones future reference the bearings for the Specialized allez are:

upper: MH-P08F
lower: MH-P21

The upper bearing apparently is the only on the market with a small inner lip, any other bearing with the same measurements wont fit.

That's pretty rich, coming from a person who created two entire threads rather than type a few numbers into google.

Good job.

That is really all you need. There is nothing special(ized) about those bearings. I’m pretty skeptical that the bearing industry decided to manufacture a proprietary bicycle mfg spec.

Now just search for those and you’re set.

John

I have some sympathy with the OP as well. If you don't know what those numbers mean they're pretty darned confusing. It's all very well typing numbers into Google, but if it comes up with a number of options, none of which is stamped exactly the same as the one in your hands, how do you know which is correct. I've had exactly the same issue.

By the way, I was somewhat skeptical about that top bearing too, but then I came across this. So it looks like Specialized really do use a fairly unusual bearing.

Why didn't you just ring your local bike shop and ask if they had them?

Thanks! Yes so the MH-P08F is the unique bearing with the small lip.

That was the first thing I did and they told me they can order it at a cost of £40 but wouldnt give me the serial/ID of the bearing.

So why didn't you just order it and be done with it? Sometimes I don't understand why people think their LBS is not a viable parts source, especially for what seems to be a proprietary part...

Correct me if I'm wrong but I think £40 is pretty steep for a single bearing. Wouldn't you want to shop around?

No. For that price, I would buy it and be done. But then, I value my time.

Sure, shop around all you want, if it were my bike that money is not excessive, and I'd be surprised if the cost you got from the shop doesn't include install. Prices (and I am sure quality) of that bearing ID are all over the place (I saw it as low as $7). Hopefully your cheaper option holds up over time. It would have been nice to know you already had a source at your LBS, details like that help the people on here trying to help you. Best of luck with your headset.