Wheel balancing question

[Y Rider]

I have a 2011 RT Limited that I got last April. Per recommendations from many Spyderlovers members I added Ride-On to all three tires. All has been well except that around 50 mph I get a little wheel wobble. I can rest my foot on the back of the fenders and feel the wobble. Both will do it but the right wheel is worse. So after reading several threads on Ride-On I decided to remove the wheel weights as suggested by others. This was a mistake. Now I will get the wobble anywhere between 45 and 60 mph. I rode it for 30 miles at 60+ so the Ride-On should have been redistributed properly. Luckily I marked the location of the weights and replaced them with new double-side tape so at least I am back were I was.

My question is can I have the wheels spin balanced with the Ride-On still inside or do I need to unmount the tire and remove the Ride-On first?

[NancysToy]

You cannot spin balance tires with a balancing or sealing liquid, or balancing beaqds, inside. It would have to be removed. I would check the runout both vertically and laterally before I dismounted the tires and removed the ride-on. I supect you will find a bad wheel.

[Y Rider]

I would check the runout both vertically and laterally before I dismounted the tires and removed the ride-on. I supect you will find a bad wheel.

Is this something I can do or does it have to go to a tire shop? When running at 60+ I can look at the wheels and tires and all is smooth. If it was a bent rim or bad tire wouldn't it wobble at all speeds?

[NancysToy]

Is this something I can do or does it have to go to a tire shop? When running at 60+ I can look at the wheels and tires and all is smooth. If it was a bent rim or bad tire wouldn't it wobble at all speeds?

You will tend to feel the wobble more at selected speeds. It could also be a tire with a heavy spot to one side, which will do the same. You can check the rims by jacking up the Spyder, and using a dial indicator or a wire marker (taped to the fender) to check closely for runout or indentations/lumps. Set the wire pointer close to the rim, and watch while you spin the tire. In extreme cases, like bent rims, you may want to check both sides separately.

[chris56]

have the problem on my RT .. if you do nothing - it will destroy your bearings ..

[fishcraz]

I had the same issue with our 2011 RT-Limited. Tried Ride-on, then removed the weights, still not good. Solution was to unmount tires, clean them out, and have my tire shop spin balance the tires....problem fixed. We also checked the rims to make sure they were not bent when the tires were unmounted.

[Y Rider]

I had the same issue with our 2011 RT-Limited. Tried Ride-on, then removed the weights, still not good. Solution was to unmount tires, clean them out, and have my tire shop spin balance the tires....problem fixed. We also checked the rims to make sure they were not bent when the tires were unmounted.

Your solution is what I found to be my solution. Not sure if the Ride-On caused the problem or the wheels were never balanced properly. But after the Ride-On was removed and the wheels spin balanced all is good again. Rims are good and the tires have very little run out. Now I have to think about putting Ride-On back in. Maybe I'll just carry a can of Fix-A-Flat in case of a tire puncture.

[capt.jim]

I've had good luck with Dynabeads, spin balanced then added 2 oz. in the front and 3 oz. in the rear, could see the difference in the mirrors. The auto tires help alot also, the kenda's were out of round, and the wheels are even worse, a cheap chinese casting. Like Scotty said, jack it up a little and spin it with a dial indicator, a lot of runout on the fronts.

[NancysToy]

I've had good luck with Dynabeads, spin balanced then added 2 oz. in the front and 3 oz. in the rear, could see the difference in the mirrors. The auto tires help alot also, the kenda's were out of round, and the wheels are even worse, a cheap chinese casting. Like Scotty said, jack it up a little and spin it with a dial indicator, a lot of runout on the fronts.

You are the first to report the out of round condition with the Kendas here. I have always suspected it. They also sometimes have a lateral imbalance condition, with one side of the tire having a heavy spot. That creates an interesting "wobble", and is difficult to balance properly. It is difficult to build a thin carcass (motorcycle) tire this wide, so this kind of thing is sort of expected. The out of round wheels are not forgivable, though. These should never pass inspection at the manufacturer.

[Motavar]

Maybe it's flatspotting?
I'm not sure if the Spyder tires are steel-belt or Nylon belt. Isn't Nylon prone to flat spots more?

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete....jsp?techid=42

[Y Rider]

When it comes time for tire replacement I will probably look for something other than OEM. The local tire shop that balanced my wheels didn't have a lot of good things to say about Kenda tires in general.

[JimBob]

Interesting that this seems to be an issue with the 2011 RT-Limited models. Mine is going into the shop Friday for the same thing. Wheel shake/wobble between 50-60. Smooths out around 65-75. Between 50-60 is shakes the console pretty bad. Initially thought it was some rough road I was on, but I road my RT-S on the same road and it was smooth as silk. Definately a Limited problem.

[chris56]

Interesting that this seems to be an issue with the 2011 RT-Limited models. Mine is going into the shop Friday for the same thing. Wheel shake/wobble between 50-60. Smooths out around 65-75. Between 50-60 is shakes the console pretty bad. Initially thought it was some rough road I was on, but I road my RT-S on the same road and it was smooth as silk. Definately a Limited problem.

no - I have a "standard" RT and need a new wheel ?? - not able to balance it ..
my problem was I didn`t "feel" the wobble with my soft 2010 shocks - now with the 2011 its really a problem...

[Firefly]

Maybe it's flatspotting?
I'm not sure if the Spyder tires are steel-belt or Nylon belt. Isn't Nylon prone to flat spots more?

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete....jsp?techid=42

The OEM tires are steel belted.

How much rideon are you all putting in? I've found that too much can cause wobble. 12-13 oz for fronts and 16-18 oz for rear.

[Rando]

Interesting that this seems to be an issue with the 2011 RT-Limited models. Mine is going into the shop Friday for the same thing. Wheel shake/wobble between 50-60. Smooths out around 65-75. Between 50-60 is shakes the console pretty bad. Initially thought it was some rough road I was on, but I road my RT-S on the same road and it was smooth as silk. Definately a Limited problem.

Was your problem ever fixed? I'm having the same issue with my Limited.

[Y Rider]

Was your problem ever fixed? I'm having the same issue with my Limited.

The problem turned out to be the front tires. Cowtown gave me a great price on OEM replacements. Absolutely no front end wobble or vibrations since they were replaced and the Spyder tracks perfectly. Must have been a defective set that shipped with the bike.

[Rando]

I'm thinking of going with after market. Any recommendations?

[Y Rider]

I'm thinking of going with after market. Any recommendations?

Lots of threads on this subject. Here is the current one: http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/s...-on-the-spyder

[Cavman]

I've got a 2010 RT and have the same wobble/vibrations around 50-60 mph. I put in the Rideon in my front tires too. Still does the same thing at the same speed. The Rideon smoothed out at other speeds but there is still enough vibrations going on that I can't use a video camera to film while riding.

[Sarge707]

http://www.counteractbalancing.com/counteract/

Solves balancing problems as the ceramic beads stay in place opposite the heavy area of tire for up to TWO weeks by the static charge between the rubber and ceramic. I use 2 ounces in front and their Great and just put 3 1/2 ounces in back with similar results!
Dyna beads fall to the bottom every stop and can irritate the inside tire after extended use.
Ride On is terrible for a few miles in my cold winter temps! And I won,t put up with it for that long.


Check out the Link and draw your OWN Conclusion?

[TuckMiddle]

I put it in my 3 tires about 10 weeks ago. Had to take the weights off, it was still pretty rough and every wheel had lots of weights. Bike had 10.000 miles. It got better with no weights, but still vibrated some at 53 or so. Rear was getting towards the end, at 12,500, so replaced it with a Kumho 225x50x15 H Ecsta AST and added Ride-on and no weights. As I suspected, it smoothed out perfectly. The original (junk) tire had from 3 mm to 5 mm in the very middle and I hoped that was the problem and it seems it was. Front tires still have 5 mm, almost 6 mm left in them at 13,200. Kumho is a good compromise all the way around - relatively inexpensive, directional, rides like a champ, seems to be giving better mileage to present users and readily available. 2or 3 work days from order till it was delivered to the dealer for me. The old Ride-on looked ugly when the tire was dismounted, but as they promised, it's water soluble and wasn't a problem at all. I'll probably go with Kumhos on the front when present ones get down to 2mm. Of course, if something more appropriate comes along........

Tuck