Wheel balancing

[5PYD3R]

For anyone that has had to have their wheels balanced, is an authorized Spyder dealer the only place that can do it? I cant find any place that can do mine and just figured that only an authorized Spyder dealer has a way to do it. One shop told me not to worry about the fronts since they are so small it might not matter. But, now I have the rear wheel back from powder coating and no one can do it either. By the way, I dont have a dealer in my area thats why I have been checking tire shops and motorcycles shops. I have a Can-Am dealer (not authorized in Spyder's) but could not get over there in time to check. Not that it is really far away, but my closest dealer is 40mi away and after doing my first service there...I DONT want to go back! Might not have a choice I am guessing?

 

[Firefly]

For anyone that has had to have their wheels balanced, is an authorized Spyder dealer the only place that can do it? I cant find any place that can do mine and just figured that only an authorized Spyder dealer has a way to do it. One shop told me not to worry about the fronts since they are so small it might not matter. But, now I have the rear wheel back from powder coating and no one can do it either. By the way, I dont have a dealer in my area thats why I have been checking tire shops and motorcycles shops. I have a Can-Am dealer (not authorized in Spyder's) but could not get over there in time to check. Not that it is really far away, but my closest dealer is 40mi away and after doing my first service there...I DONT want to go back! Might not have a choice I am guessing?

Many of us just use Ride-On to balance the tires and it works great. There's plenty of info out here on what amount to use and where to order them.... I think you can still get a discount for using the 'Lamonster' code.

I've run the last 30,000 without having them balanced--- other than by using the Ride-On.

I would be far more concerned about balancing the fronts than the rear. If they are out of balance-- you will notice it. My dealer doesn't balance them... they take them to the local Belle Tire and have it done. My local Belle tire can't do them...

Most motorcycle shops should be able to balance the fronts.... but again.. I'd just use Ride-On and everything works great.

Here's a link for more info:

http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/showthread.php?19153-Ride-On-for-your-Spyder&highlight=rideon

 

[cjackg]

A BRP dealer I used recently has all his tire work done at an independent tire shop just down the street. Also, I was told that Pep Boys has the equipment to service Spyder tires/wheels.

I used Ride-On in my first Spyder but never again because the wobble for the first few miles from a cold start just is'nt worth it!

 

[5PYD3R]

Many of us just use Ride-On to balance the tires and it works great. There's plenty of info out here on what amount to use and where to order them.... I think you can still get a discount for using the 'Lamonster' code.

I've run the last 30,000 without having them balanced--- other than by using the Ride-On.

I would be far more concerned about balancing the fronts than the rear. If they are out of balance-- you will notice it. My dealer doesn't balance them... they take them to the local Belle Tire and have it done. My local Belle tire can't do them...

Most motorcycle shops should be able to balance the fronts.... but again.. I'd just use Ride-On and everything works great.

Here's a link for more info:

http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/showthread.php?19153-Ride-On-for-your-Spyder&highlight=rideon

Did not realize that a product like that would balance the tire. Might have to look into it. Not sure I want to deal with the wobble either though. My local Belle tire can't do fronts or rear.

A BRP dealer I used recently has all his tire work done at an independent tire shop just down the street. Also, I was told that Pep Boys has the equipment to service Spyder tires/wheels.

I used Ride-On in my first Spyder but never again because the wobble for the first few miles from a cold start just is'nt worth it!

Pep Boys is one place I have not checked. Hopefully they can or my other dealer I have not checked yet. Also, I have purchased black powdercoated weights since no one around has them either. So I might as well find a way to balance.

Thank you both for the response.

 

[TuckMiddle]

Balance and Ride on

I had our local tire (superb) shop do the fronts. I have ride on, after rotating the tires, and it wobbled some of the time. I finally realized that one tire had double the weights of the other. Rotating them messed it up more. Took off the weights and ride-on did ok most of the time. I finally used the tire folks and they are perfect. He said ride-on was great, but the tires needed such a difference in weights that it probably was overwhelmed. Smooth as can be now. Ride on is like having three spares with you all the time, per their endorsements. We'll see. When you're 1,000 or more miles from the nearest tire store, it very well might make your day - at least that's my plan for the first nail or whatever. They claim it seals up to 1/4 inch bolt or whatever. They were very helpful during my "wobble events", called right back twice.

Tuck

 

[CyncySpyder]

Share'n our tire experience

I called our local WalMart & as soon as I told them the Spyder was considered a motorcycle, they promptly told me nope, we don't touch bikes. I called back later & spoke with a manager & explained that even tho its considered a motorcycle, the front tires are actually directional car tires & was then told sure, we can do them if you bring them in on the rims already off the bike. Which I did, and had both the front tires rotated/swapped & balanced in about 20 minutes for $23 out the door & they run nice & smooth. At 21000 miles, the rear was shot so I just had my dealer put a new one on. Know that doesn't help for the rear, but any tire place should be able to do the fronts, if you take them in, already unmounted from your Spyder. Good Luck :thumbup:

 

[Firefly]

I had Discount mount the fronts once.... But they could not balance. Tried to have them do it again and as soon as they saw the words 'motorcycle' on the sidewalls---- no way would they touch them.

Mounting is the easy part-- you should be able to find a local shop that will do it---- ride on will take care of the rest.

 

[Grandpa Spyder]

Dyna Beads

Has anyone used the Dyna beads for balancing their tires. They worked great on my Goldwing.

 

[Trickie Dick]

Discount Tire

I just had my fronts balanced at Discount Tire. I am using Yokohamas that I bought there so I guess they have to balance it. They did have to get a special small cone to use. I also have Ride-on that up until recently was more than adequate for balance. In fact, last year when I put the Yokohamas on, I just added Ride-on and nothing else. However a couple of month ago in this I developed a pronounce wobble in the front so I had them balanced. Seems to work.

 

[NorthStar]

Has anyone used the Dyna beads for balancing their tires. They worked great on my Goldwing.

I had a Toyo Proxes 4 car tire installed on my rear wheel last summer. The dealer added the 3 ounces of Dyna Beads as per my instructions and mounted the tire on the rim. No balancing issues observed at any speed.

 

[Bob Denman]

Another Dumb question... I've got soooo many! :roflblack:
Why is it that the tire shops seem to have to much trouble with our wheels? Is it because of how they mount to our hubs? :dontknow:

 

[dannymax]

I mount and balance my own motorcycle tires and use a bench top static balancer stand which works really well. The center hole on the Spyder wheel is larger than a bike so a larger centering cone would be needed, but seems like it should do the job nicely.

I'll let you know when my :ani29: needs tires cause I'm planning to change them here.

 

[zbunker]

FRONT WHEEL BALANCING

For anyone that has had to have their wheels balanced, is an authorized Spyder dealer the only place that can do it? I cant find any place that can do mine and just figured that only an authorized Spyder dealer has a way to do it. One shop told me not to worry about the fronts since they are so small it might not matter. But, now I have the rear wheel back from powder coating and no one can do it either. By the way, I dont have a dealer in my area thats why I have been checking tire shops and motorcycles shops. I have a Can-Am dealer (not authorized in Spyder's) but could not get over there in time to check. Not that it is really far away, but my closest dealer is 40mi away and after doing my first service there...I DONT want to go back! Might not have a choice I am guessing?

Interesting, I been having trouble with my RTS since it was new (700miles now). I brought it to the dealers attention and he rebalanced one of the tires that he said was 1 gram off:sour: and everything in the front end was up to spec. I felt that wasn't the cure and it wasn't. I get a vibration that comes then goes.
Between 30 to 40-ish MPH --Then goes away. Then comes back around 50 to 75MPH-ish.
In speaking to a sports car guy, he mentioned he had the same condition and suggested going for a "High Speed" wheel balance. which was the answer to his problem.
That sounds good to me, but my concern is would a speed shop know how to correctly lift the baby without bending the stuff underneath, and would the wheels fit their tire mounting equipment :dontknow:
I was also tempted to ask the pay the mechanic a days pay (on his off day) to drive the baby around and let him him experience the trouble (I guess it is becoming obvious this condition is becoming quite annoying to me):banghead:

 

[groundeffect]

A BRP dealer I used recently has all his tire work done at an independent tire shop just down the street.

Same here.

 

[billybovine]

right adapters

Another Dumb question... I've got soooo many! :roflblack:
Why is it that the tire shops seem to have to much trouble with our wheels? Is it because of how they mount to our hubs? :dontknow:

The front wheels mount like cars wheels but much smaller and the rear wheel mounts like a motorcycle. So the shop you deal with needs the proper size and type of backing plate, tapered cones and shims to get our wheels to fit on the balancer equipment. Many shops will not invest in equipement they think they may never use.

 

[NancysToy]

Interesting, I been having trouble with my RTS since it was new (700miles now). I brought it to the dealers attention and he rebalanced one of the tires that he said was 1 gram off:sour: and everything in the front end was up to spec. I felt that wasn't the cure and it wasn't. I get a vibration that comes then goes.
Between 30 to 40-ish MPH --Then goes away. Then comes back around 50 to 75MPH-ish.
In speaking to a sports car guy, he mentioned he had the same condition and suggested going for a "High Speed" wheel balance. which was the answer to his problem.
That sounds good to me, but my concern is would a speed shop know how to correctly lift the baby without bending the stuff underneath, and would the wheels fit their tire mounting equipment :dontknow:
I was also tempted to ask the pay the mechanic a days pay (on his off day) to drive the baby around and let him him experience the trouble (I guess it is becoming obvious this condition is becoming quite annoying to me):banghead:

Vibration that comes and goes, and exists only in a defined range of speed or rpm, is not likely tire related. It is usually harmonics. Check for engine mount/torque rod clearance problems and check the drive belt tension. You may even want to consider a drive belt tension device.

 

[Bob Denman]

The front wheels mount like cars wheels but much smaller and the rear wheel mounts like a motorcycle. So the shop you deal with needs the proper size and type of backing plate, tapered cones and shims to get our wheels to fit on the balancer equipment. Many shops will not invest in equipement they think they may never use.

Thanks for the information; I had never given much thought to the balancing of tires before... :thumbup:

 

[Firefly]

I just had my fronts balanced at Discount Tire. I am using Yokohamas that I bought there so I guess they have to balance it. They did have to get a special small cone to use. I also have Ride-on that up until recently was more than adequate for balance. In fact, last year when I put the Yokohamas on, I just added Ride-on and nothing else. However a couple of month ago in this I developed a pronounce wobble in the front so I had them balanced. Seems to work.

Are you saying you had them balanced after you had ride-on installed?

 

[TuckMiddle]

Ride on

In my case, the ride on couldn't get the front to completely stop periodic "wobble", due to the huge difference in tire/wheel combinationsweights after they were swapped. The ELKA folks and Ride-On said to try balancing and it did the trick. The original right tire had 10 or12 weights and the left 4 or 6. Kept the right and left wheels where they were, of course, and mounted the tires from the other side in both cases and took weights off. Then I immediately added 13 oz in the front tires and 18 in the back. The rear was always ok, the front acted up even after the daily 10 miles or so with temps in 20s and 30s overnight. The local tire guru balanced them and all is perfect. Bike is literally smooth as glass now. ELKAs and belt tensioner helped too. Coming up on 10,000 miles and I'm a happy guy.:yes:

Tuck

 

[5PYD3R]

Well, I ended up taking my rear wheel to my closest dealer after work today and had it balanced (with black powder coated weights to match). Just finished putting everything back together and going for a ride and no wobble! I ended up not having anything done with the front wheels and even though I only got going to about 70mph, there was not even a slight vibration. I figured if there was any wobble then it gives me an excuse to ride it to the dealer I like and have it taken care of. But, seems all is well.