is this normal ?
 

service and mot due shortly.was warned after last service of a notch in the steering headrace bearings and it may not get through the mot.am having them replaced but is it normal to only last 28,000 miles?

Depends how well adjusted it's been, lose bearings would wear faster...

Overtightened ones too.

I meant to say that :oops:

I thought notches were due to bad bumps, like landing a wheely too hard.

Bearings can certainly get damaged from landing a wheelie, (or two :D ), a bit too heavily, but it's more common to find that they've never been regreased or adjusted since Suzuki put them in there, a regrease is a scheduled item in the service, but it's exceedingly rare to find them get done, as such at 28,000 isn't uncommon for them to want replacement.

The sv has ****ty ball bearings in the steering head instead of tapered rollers. So as you are riding along the balls are wearing grooves in the races, This happens to tapered rollers as well but they have a much larger contact patch.
I short they don't last long