Weird handling, unusual cause.

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   Had my '05 Tuono for about a month now and it feels like I'm running a partially flat front tyre.Feels like the front end is vague and moving around, as though the tyre is following a small rut in the road.
Decided to get to the bottom of it this w/e after having the rear linkage apart, re greased and PTFE washers fitted.
The back end has no play in it at all; moved onto the front and again no play in the wheel bearings, head bearings or Showas themselves.
Then I noticed that the steering could be moved very slightly with no resistance, which I thought was odd because the bike's got an Ohlins steering damper fitted.
Even on the minimum setting the damper provides a fair bit of resistance.
When I put my finger on the damper rod end at the spherical bearing, the attachment bolt was moving slightly independently of the rod end itself; this was allowing a few mm of 'free play' at the handlebars. I removed the damper and then pushed out both spherical bearings; the rod end one was well worn and the main body one was on the way. 
I've idented the badly worn bearing as an SKF and had a look on t'internet. It's the cheapest plain unsealed bearing you can buy in it's size, which is a bit disappointing considering the cost of an Ohlins damper.
The main body bearing has no ident marking, so will visit the local bearing shop this week to find a replacement (at least this bearing has O rings sealing it).
Hopefully new bearings will sort the problem out. 