Installing a new tire? and balancing.

I am going to order a new tire for my bike. I have seen some tutorials on youtube, just wondering if it is worth doing it my self. Is it very difficult or some thing I should do my self if I have the resources to? From the looks of it I am sure I can manage with no problems.

Also was considering getting this. I plan on using it probably a few times a year. Although I may just put the new tire on the bike, then send it to my mechanic and have him balance it. Normaly I remove the wheels from the bike, and bring him just the old wheels and tires then he orders the tires and replaces them for me. I think it would be nice to be able to do all of my own work from now on. Learning to replace tires, and balance would be last on my list. Now I can do pretty much any repair on my own bikes.

http://www.harborfreight.com/motorcycle ... 98488.html


In your opinions is doing this worth it?

 

I say go for it and let know how the balancer works

MN

 

Yea, not a bad investment considering I will be using it a few times a year. At the moment I only have the xj, but I ride it every day. It is also about time for another bike. I also know of a few freinds that wouldn't mind using it as well.

 

I asked the same question a few months back. Even referenced the same hardware from Harbor Freight. The vast majority of the respondents suggested that I just take the wheel(s) in somewhere to have it done, and I eventually did just that.

If you decide to do it yourself, chairs or sawhorses were suggested in lieu of a purpose-built balancing stand. Alton Brown, on his "Good Eats" show, dislikes what he refers to as "unitaskers" -- devices meant to do one thing, and one thing only.

 

As Schmuck so eloquently pointed out, there are a myriad of opinions both ways.

But simple science dictates that a high-speed spin balance on a computerized dynamic balancer will be more accurate than any static or DIY "spin" balancing you can do.

I guess it depends on how fast you ride. A minor imbalance may not become noticeable until 70~80mph.

 

IMHO: if you use it more than once, its worth purchasing..... and if you do it on your own stuff, and know that its good, you can save someone else money. i got a nice mom and pops down the road that charges me 5 bucks to balance a motorcycle tire..... alot less than what the dealer wants.

 

Once I learned how (right here on XJBikes TV) I balanced 6 tires right away. I used the "2 chairs" method similar to this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-g8fE51Z ... re=related

I've read that you can't even FEEL an inbalance @ 1 OZ or less, and this next guy claims an accuracy of 1 GRAM!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=6Rk8h_r5y3A

My V-Star 1100 was out of balance by 3 1/2 OZ and made an immediate improvement.

 

valid point timetoride. i work at a tire shop and after 10 years, we CANT TOUCH a tire, let alone look at a tire... so id assume it would be less for a motorcycle tire. id be apt to put a 20 year old tire on my truck, but not my bike!

 

I use one of these http://www.wikco.com/mc110.html

With a benchtop static balance stand from ebay, something like this http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Motorcyc ... 43a335c7a3

These work very well....even for the V Max & FJR tires which sometimes see speeds well into the triple digits.

The key is the teflon tool ends and no-mar technology.

 

Static balancing to zero just about always leaves a dynamic imbalance

In saying that 600 and 1000 race bikes only ever static balance at the track when they do tyre changes and don't seem to have any problems

 

In school they had us set the spin balance to "static" mode. As narrow as motorcycle tires and wheels usually are there won't be a lot of dynamic imbalance.

As far as spin versus a gravity operated static balancer: wheel weights come in 1/4 oz. increments. No matter how accurate the balancer is you're not going to reliably get inside 1/4 oz unless you make your own weights. I can easily get to 1/4 oz. with the axle and a couple saw horses (bearings need to be in good shape though).

 

It's easy to cut one of the 1/4 oz. weights in half with a razor knife.....plenty close enough for the street.

 

I do it myself. Mount with some 16 or 18" levers and a spray bottle of soapy water. The soapy water makes a HEWGE difference! Mind you, I usually end up with a few scratches on my rims from the levers, but my bike ain't no beauty queen.

For balancing, I have some axle stands that are perfectly notched to accept a 3/8" steel rod I found in the shed. As long as the bearings turn smoothly you should be able to balance it easily. And if they don't... Well, I guess you'll be wanting to replace them anyway.