| Author | Message | ||
     Swordsman |
Okay, so I know I'll need a No-mar bar for mounting and removing the tire from the wheel, which is about $100. What about balancing? I have no idea what equipment is used for that. Thanks for any input. ~SM | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
I'm sure I'll get blasted for this.... but I've had a few racers,riders, service guys and mechanics tell me that you don't REALLY need to balance a sportbike tire.... believe me, I also have a hard time with this... So I tried it.... I just put a set of Conti Sport Attacks on my XB12R and cranked it up to triple digit and not a shake, wobble or vibe.... just a thought. | ||
| Slaughter |
Look at the NoMar: No Mar Balancer (click)  | ||
| Reepicheep |
Ditto... I check for a gross out of balance condition, but don't balance. Just line up the paint spot on the tire opposite the valve stem, and take the first few higher speed runs carefully feeling for a wobble. I keep meaning to cobble together a balancer, but haven't yet. And you don't even need the no mar bar. The harbor freight stand helps a lot to break the bead and hold things in place while you wrestle, but three motion pro spoons, and some cut up milk jugs are all you really need. Four spoons and a neighbor work even better, and he only needs one hand (so he does not have to put down his beer). The secret is using lots of lube (I use dawn dish soap) and getting the edge opposite of the one you are wrestling with down in the center of the wheel. Several good youtube videos showing how it's done. | ||
| Slaughter |
One thing on the lube - try to keep any lube out of the tire! Any water-based lube will expand when the tire heats up and will drive the pressures higher than you'd like. I think spoons are the way to go and a clamp-type bead breaker. If you had to do it once or twice a week, you might be better off putting the bux into a machine. | ||
| Just_ziptab |
I use the Marc Parnes balancer. I've even rigged it to balance my mower blades.  | ||
| Tnxbrider |
A good dealer. T | ||
| Loki |
heaven forbid..... I use a good set of spoons, A HF bead breaker and a HF static balancer. The balancer is in no way sub par item. The cones are steel. The shaft has a little flex to it though. Rolls on a good set of roller blade bearings. One thing I do, is check the wheel for its true heavy spot an d mark it. I use that instead of trusting that the valve is the the spot. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Since the harbor freight base is so cheap, its a nice platform for wrestling. Mounting it to the floor is a PITA though. If I had a truck, I would weld a hitch mount to the base and do it that way. I didn't know harbor freight had a static balancer... I'll have to go look for that. | ||
| Loki |
It is something they just started to carry last fall. Every bit as good as the other static balancers out there. The bead breaker is also a newer item. Works great for skinny tires as is. For the rear it needs some more throat height. It will get the fat rear though. Just a tight fit and squeeze. Balancing stand item number is 98488-2vga $60 Bead breaker item number is 98875-2vga $20 | ||
| Loki |
  | ||
| Loki |
they also have various other adapters for the balancer. Ducati, BMW, Honda(single sided swingers), HD | ||
| Macdiver |
There is good info on mounting and balancing in the thumper section. This link was posted there. I have not and will not mount my own tires but the info on the website seems good. http://www.clarity.net/~adam/tire-changing.html | ||
| Reepicheep |
Thanks Loki, I will look into that balancer. The breaker is already on the base I have, and that makes a nice clamp for "wheel wrestling". | ||
| Bluzm2 |
Another note on the tire lube. I used dish soap for a long time. After using the "real deal", I'll never use it again. I bought a gallon jug of tire mount lube from NAPA, it works MUCH better than the soap. The working time is much longer and doesn't get tacky like the soapy water did. I have the Harbor Freight changer, I modified the rim clamps and flipped them around backwards. I'll post a picture in a while. I mount it to the floor in the garage when I need it. I drilled holes in the floor and inserted expansion plugs. When I need to use the changer, I place it over the holes, and fasten it down with 4 lag bolts. Takes about 30 seconds with the air wrench. When the changer isn't in place dirt and sand gets in the holes but a little blast of air takes care of that. Brad | ||
| Bluzm2 |
Bill, I just reread your post and noticed something. Some tire manufactures have you line the paint dot up with the valve stem, others have you place it opposite the valve stem. Make sure you know which is which... I have to look it up online everytime as I can never remember which is which. It sucks getting old..... | ||
| Aldaytona |
I'll second the HF tire changer and tire irons. But for balance? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eq263AYgyYg This is a new century, static balancers are last century items.  | ||
| Smoke |
if you've been to the races you will notice that static balance is how the pros do it. you won't need any beads if you balance it first. tim | ||
| Aldaytona |
and if you put the beads in first, you won't need to balance it. No I don't go to the races and I feel confident we don't have many "pros" on this site. I do ride everyday since I don't own a cage and I sold my static balancer when something better and easier came along. beads: no stand to buy and store no weights to buy no unsightly weights on wheels beads don't come off or leave sticky crap on wheels leaves more lead for bullets more time for another beer advantage beads * not knocking guys who still use a static balancer, I like old things too, I still ride an "AirHead" and a "ShovelHead" but I balance their tires with beads. | ||
| Nutsosane |
www.cyclehilltirechanger.com Made by No-Mar, warranteed, free shipping, made in USA. Ordering mine this week. NUTS | ||
| Deadduck |
man, thats not such a bad deal there. Thanks Jason! | ||
| Froggy |
The used a Blast wheel for the pic, awesome | ||
| Jasonk |
The No-Mar works great, I bought the original earlier this year. My riding friends are lining up to use it once I showed them how easy it is... | ||
| Ccryder |
At three sets of tires/ year and B-in-laws with a dozen bikes and fellow Buelligans, I'm VERY happy with my No-Mar. Granted if I was closer to my Dealer, I would use him (thx Tim). I have their changer and balancer, works for me. Neil S. |
