| Author | Message | ||
     Hugie03flhr |
This may sound strange but I just realized...It has been over 10 years since I have had a motorcycle tire mounted! I used to mount them myself and then pay $10 to have it balanced. Whats the going rate for a tire install & balancing and has their been any advancements that I should look for in the mounting or more importantly the balancing department??? | ||
| Kyrocket |
Ohhhh, are you in for culture shock! Jk. I have a local, semi-retired guy change mine in his garage. He takes the old one off and puts the new one on and balances for $20 a wheel. I don't think that's bad at all, especially since he's local and saves me a 70 mile round trip to the dealer. | ||
| Preybird1 |
I was at a Kawasaki dealer and was charged $39.95 for just a balance, I had the wheel off allreay! | ||
| Hugie03flhr |
That sounds like a deal! What way does he balance the wheel? | ||
| Andymnelson |
I take my wheels off and bring them into my local HD/Buell dealer along with my new tires (purchased elsewhere). They charge me $60 to remove and dispose of old tires, mount and balance new ones, shop fees, taxes etc. That's only $30/tire....not worth my time and effort to try to do it myself for that much! | ||
| Kyrocket |
I have absolutely no idea how he balances them. Scary to say but he's a Harley nut by all means, has the oldest, I believe, known '36 Knuckle in the US. I've seen his tire removal and mounting machine, I just assumed he has one in the back for balancing. The wheels have never had a problem so I never questioned it. I have to add, I take my wheels off myself also and take him the tires. Most recently a set of Metzlers I've been happy with. | ||
| Skntpig |
My guy charges $20 per wheel when I take the wheel to him. He uses the simple gravity method. That's what all the tire manufacturers use when you buy race tires at the track. Works well, sometimes the new technology isn't necessary. | ||
| Phelan |
Gravity can be more precise sometimes, too, depending on how often the machine it's compared to is calibrated. I'd much rather use a machine like what we had at WalMart though. We calibrated them every morning even though they never seemed off. They are very quick and easy to use. They should be at $5K a pop. | ||
| Kyrocket |
Kinda off topic but here's the guy that mounts my wheels. http://www.knucklehead-bobbers.com/1936_knucklehea d/1936_harley_el_knucklehead_by_larry.php That bike is very cool. He still rides it to the river on Thursday nights which is a semi-local (about 20 miles away) gathering biker spot. He always draws a crowd when he goes through the process to get it started. It's neat to see these old bikes still on the road. | ||
| 14d |
I paid just over $50 bucks at a local shop for front and rear, mounted, balanced and some chrome looking valve stems that match the PM's. I don't know what the dealer would have charged, other shops I called were significantly more though. | ||
| Hugie03flhr |
I called my stealer and they are backed up so I'm going to call some local shops to see what balancing method they use. I had a problem with a bubble balance on a touring bike. Anything over 76mph it would bobble. After telling the guy 3 times to pop the bead and rotate the tire 180 degrees then balance I had to do it then it finally balanced out. It took me two hours too get that sticky tape from the weights off my rim. THANKS GUYS!!! for your imput. Now I know about the going rates for stealers and Indys  | ||
| Hugie03flhr |
Well $75 a wheel at the Kaw, Yam and triumph dealer if they take it off so I said OK... Then I asked if he ever worker on a buell before because the belt has too be just right? He said with the up most confidence "Oh Yes, most people don't realize how tight the belt needs too be" I then closed the tailgate and asked how much if I bring you the wheel. $35 ....Ok I'll be back. I can't believe the BS that goes on now a days. This guy was going to open up a can of worms and possible wreck my bike for $35 dollars in labor! He could of just said bring me the manuel and I probably would have let him do it. | ||
| Loki |
I figure my bead breaker and static balancer have already paid for themselves. | ||
| Hugie03flhr |
Yea, I'm ready to hit Harbor Freight myself. LOL | ||
| Phelan |
Hugie, why not get some goo-gone and have the tape off in a matter of minutes? | ||
| Ebutch |
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiCDbHLI9Zs | ||
| Matrim |
Cycle gear will balance any wheel free of charge. Mounting costs 20 bucks a wheel. | ||
| Yo_barry |
I pay $16 for mounting balancing if I bought the tires there, $25 if I bought tires elsewhere. Those are per wheel prices with the wheels already off the bike. The stores I've frequented use a dynamic spin balancer. | ||
| Loki |
Time, mileage, convenience means I do it myself. The HF static balancer works exceptionally well. The bead breaker could use a little extra throat for the rear. Yet it will do the job. |
