Tire balancing

[h0gr1der]

This isn't always the case. I've mounted many motorcycle tires on wheels and the valve stem location is sometimes the heaviest part of the wheel, but not always. I finally got to the point that I would put just the wheel on the balancer and find the "real" heavy spot on the wheel before trying to mount the tire on the wheel. On my personal bikes, I would use a spring loaded center punch and mark the heavy spot with a little indentation so that I knew where it was at the next time. It happened more often than you would think that the heavy spot WASN'T at the valve stem.

I did exactly the same thing, then to add to that I put the wheel and tire assembly on the balance shaft before popping the beads, and almost got a perfect balance without weights. When I got it to move the least, I popped the beads and balanced as normal. Not a road force balance, but still smooth as can be.

 

[triplethreat]

I did exactly the same thing, then to add to that I put the wheel and tire assembly on the balance shaft before popping the beads, and almost got a perfect balance without weights. When I got it to move the least, I popped the beads and balanced as normal. Not a road force balance, but still smooth as can be.

I guess two great minds think alike...I've done the very same thing....tire and wheel together on the balancer....rotate the tire around the wheel and then set the beads. Thanks for sharing

 

[Bensonoid]

I do that with the bubble balancer also. It's a pain in the butt lifting it off, spinning, and putting it back on, but worth it.

 

[FastOldGuy]

I have Stayed at the Holiday In Express and was part owner in a Tire shop in the 1970's and early 1980's.

I bought my Spyder 2 weeks ago with 2,500 miles on the clock. Last week I went alllll over it and Cleaned it Top to Bottom. (Removed the front wheels and cleaned the backsides.)

The first weekend we rode it about 350 miles in 2 days. My opinion of the Kenda tires were they are Crap. Checking them when I cleaned it, they have Flat Spots that will Not come out. This bike sat for over a year when the original owner Passed Away. I expected after the tires got Hot and had a few miles on them they'd be OK. NOT!

If YOUR Tires Are Not Round, Balancing them is Not going to do Squat. You Can Balance a Square but it's going to ride like Crap. I see on need to try to do anything to my Kenda's but replace them. Before you start spending money on Balancing, ride your Spyder a few miles and quickly jack it up and check to see how Round your tires are.

 

[_..stiffler..]

I bought the counteract balancing beads. They have a kit specially for spyder. 2 oz in front and 3 oz in rear.

They suck. I get a wobble now at 75-85 km/h. I put them in through valve stem. It was easy and I didn't drop a bead. I'm thinking of adding another oz to each front to see if that works. But if not I have to take both front tires in and remove the tires, dump out the beads and rebalance. What a pain and a waste of money.

I hope I don't have to remove the rear again for this.

I wont use beads ever again.

Stiff

 

[bikerbillone]

My experience with Ride-On has been good, Lamonster Garage also has another product that he recommends.

 

[troop]

Ride-On also acts as a tire balancer. It looks like the Lamonster (AmerSeal) product is a sealant only.. I have been using Ride-On for many years in many different bikes. Like Ron, I haven't had any flat related issues, but I know the bikes (and Spyder) track nice and true balance wise..

 

[bikerbillone]

I would go to the Ride-On web site, it's a good read, then to Amazon to read the comments for other's experience. Here's a thought, put the Ride-On in the tires on top of the beads to save time trying to get them out. Having said that, I've never done it, I have no idea how it would work out, you could call Ride-On and get their professional opinion. Just a crazy idea, don't accept it as gospel, it may be a 'bad' idea.