| Author | Message | ||
     Badrap |
I just had a new front Michelin PR2 mounted at the local bike shop but they were unable to balance the wheel because of the perimeter brake rotor. So I tried to do a static balance but the bearings are firm so it didn’t spin super freely. I ended up removing all weights from the wheel and after riding the bike, it appears the balance is pretty close. There might be some balance issue around 80 MPH. I was wondering if anyone has used one of the Harbor Freight balancers or used some sort of balancing beads / media and what they thought of it. I like the new PR2 in front. It feels real confident in the corners, smoother on the road (feels softer) over the old worn out Strada (like any new tire should) but feel a little slower to turn but wants you to go deep in the corner. Haven’t had a chance to push it yet since it’s new but over all, it’s an improvement. BTW: The guy at the bike shop couldn’t stop raving about the tire. | ||
| Andymnelson |
I don;t get why he couldn't balance it....either way, it's my opinion (and experience) that you'll be just fine without. | ||
| Froggy |
I forgot to balance my last tire, and then the one before that was close enough with the old weights that I didn't touch it. Both are just as smooth as the perfectly balanced ones that were on just before it. More proof that the dynabeads crap is indeed crap. | ||
| Etennuly |
My front wheel has four little stick on weights spread out a little. Two would do if I put them in one spot. I have not moved them at all for two PRII tires. I think the tires are at near perfect balance and the rim/rotor are off by an ounce or so. I am on my third PRII rear and have not balanced one of them yet. When I ran Syncs they usually needed an ounce or two. It seems that every time I put Michelins on my four wheel vehicles they are so close that they need no weight or the smallest available. They make good tires right. | ||
| Towpro |
I have the harbor freight balancer and it worked great on both front and rear of my buell, and Honda, and Husky, and BMW F, and my buddies bike. HF sells the stick on weights also. | ||
| Wbrisett |
I have the Cycle Hill tire changer (No Mar really), and I've been able to balance my Uly tires without any problems. Their balancer clamps down on the axle holes and uses bearings on the stand for rotation. See: http://www.nomartirechanger.com/pages/cyclehill | ||
| Crusty |
I have a NoMar balancer, and I have balanced numerous Buell wheels with no problem at all. Both with the ZTL rotor and with conventional hub mounted rotors, as well. I had to replace a tire on my '06 Uly a couple of days before a 2500 mile ride (I ran over a big chunk of metal, and couldn't plug the tire), and I didn't bother to get it balanced. The vibration at 70 - 75 MPH was severe, and it made for a long, uncomfortable ride. As soon as I got back, I pulled the wheel, and had it balanced; and the improvement was drastic. Since then, I always balance my wheels. I bought the NoMar soon after that. | ||
| Someday |
I'd like to add my $.02 here. For those of you with your own balancers it's a good idea to check the balance of the wheel with the tire off. I've found the heavy spot on the XB wheels isn't always at the valve stem. I mark the heavy spot on the rim with a Sharpie pen then place the red, or yellow, dot on the tire at that point. I've found you'll use a lot less weight to get it balanced than if you put the tire dot at the valve stem. Try it! | ||
| Froggy |
Put a tire pressure monitoring system on, your valves WILL be the heavy spot  | ||
| Bluzm2 |
We did a set of X1 wheels last week using the HF balancer. Checked the rims before the tires were put on. They were so close it wasn't worth messing around with a weight. Less than 1/4 oz for both front and back. Interesting point, the wheel bearings were so smooth they turned before the balancer shaft did. We found the same thing when we put the tires on. No weights were needed. They were within 1/4 oz. | ||
| Andymnelson |
Hey I resemble that! ^^^ Additionally, I once had a shop put 6 weights (!) on my XB9S. They fell off and I never even noticed. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
I have had shops put crazy amounts or weights on my wheels too. It always seems like they cancel each other out! I have to start mounting and balancing my own tires. Too many monkeys out there. I might as well be one of them. | ||
| Road_kill |
After all these years busting down street and dirt bike tires with spoons I finally bought a No Mar tire changer and balancer a couple of years ago. Man, this is sooo easy and quick. I love it! I check the wheel without tire just to confirm where the heavy spot is. Line up the "light spot dot" on (most) tires to minimize tire weights. Note that the PR2's don't have the dot. They say they are so good they don't have too. Hmmm, I say not so. The PR2's require more weights than the Scorps or the D616's I've used. Anyway, to those who say you don't need to balance tires - I hear you. Back in the day, I just mounted the tire with light spot next to valve stem - like everyone else. Worked good for decades. Now, with my new tools, I can't resist setting the tire up just right. I feel good about it but I can't honestly say I notice a significant change in vibration levels or tire wear patterns. The again, my a$$-O-meter vibration gauge in not calibrated!! |
