Tire Balancing Too good to be true?

[HardDriveUSA]

http://www.innovativebalancing.com/motorcycle.htm

It looks good, but is it?  I'm needing a new tire for my front side, this caught my eye.  Might try it if it's really a decent product.

[Magnum Magna]

A friend that will be commuting to work 100 miles round trip he was going to look into the beads.  He has not tried it yet.

I was going to look into the liquid one that claims to fill puncture to prevent blowouts.
their web page is http://www.ride-on.com/prod_mot.asp
should be installed in tires and wheels that have been professionally mounted and balanced.
On their web page is says it will improve balance and maintain the tire so you do not need periodic re-balancing

[Curtis_Valk]

It lists one to two ounces for motorcycle tires.  I've seen some tires take a couple of ounces or more of lead weight in ONE SPOT to get a good balance, I can't imagine how two ounces spread out would work.  Call me skeptic, but to me it has gimmic written all over it.

On a positive note, at least they used a Magna for the motorcycle link on the specs page.
 
Curtis

[HardDriveUSA]

Thats why I ask these things.  

Due to limited experiance.  

Actually I saw the BMW's in the lower pic.

[Magnum Magna]

I finely found the Magna.  
http://www.innovativebalancing.com/tirechartmap.htm

I got to the chart page a different way so I did not see the Magna.

[Magniac]

Just remember one thing: If it sounds too good to be true . . . it probably is.

[surplusart]

I have a general question about tire balancing.  I am going to buy a simple tire machine and mount my own tires.  There are several tools that are for sale for balancing tires. The one most recommended by others on the web looks like an axle with two cone shaped pieces that "chuck" the wheel in tightly. You then place the shaft (with the newly mounted tire and rim "chucked" in) between two bearings and give the tire a few spins.  After a few revolutions-the tire ends up heavy side down and you simply add weights to the top of the rim.

Ok, looks like it would work, and they sell for around $100.  My question is...why couldn't you just take your rim with new tire on it-put it back on the bike with the front raised, and just spin it and do the same thing between the forks? My thoughts are-why not just use the bearings and the forks on the bike to do the same job without spending the $100 on a shaft and bearings(that you already have)?  Anybody got any opinion of this or had experience doing this?

Art Moot Member #599

[Charles S Otwell]

I think it would pretty hard to get the front of your bike steady enough and the axle level enough not effect the balancing. the least amount of movement or uneven pressure from the forks would cause a gyro effect which I think would change the out come. the more precision the balancer the more accurate the balance. I never balance mine because I've never been able to tell any difference. So far I've never experienced any shack, wabble or shimmy, but then I've never had mine over 120 mph and I was probably shaking to bad myself to notice the bike.

[Greg Cothern]

I agree with Charles' statement, the beginning, I do it the simple way, take the wheels to the dealer and have them mount and balance hehehe..

[Curtis_Valk]

I have a general question about tire balancing.  I am going to buy a simple tire machine and mount my own tires.  There are several tools that are for sale for balancing tires. The one most recommended by others on the web looks like an axle with two cone shaped pieces that "chuck" the wheel in tightly. You then place the shaft (with the newly mounted tire and rim "chucked" in) between two bearings and give the tire a few spins.  After a few revolutions-the tire ends up heavy side down and you simply add weights to the top of the rim.

Ok, looks like it would work, and they sell for around $100.  My question is...why couldn't you just take your rim with new tire on it-put it back on the bike with the front raised, and just spin it and do the same thing between the forks? My thoughts are-why not just use the bearings and the forks on the bike to do the same job without spending the $100 on a shaft and bearings(that you already have)?  Anybody got any opinion of this or had experience doing this?

Art Moot Member #599

I did something like that when I mounted the car tire on my Valk.  I just stuck the axle through the rear wheel and put it on two jack stands.  I gave the wheel several gentle spins and marked where it stopped.  After about ten or twelve spins I had marks all around the tire so I considered it balanced good enough <shrug>. 

More on the topic of Lonnie's original post, I'm getting ready to try the Dyna beads even after being quite skeptical at first (well, to be fair I'm still a little skeptical).  There was more discussion on the Dyna Beads in this thread: http://www.magnaownersoftexas.com/forums/index.php/topic,1721.0.html

If the Dyna Beads work then I'll start mounting my own tires.  Mounting is not a problem, but I didn't want to spend $100 for one of those balancing fixtures.  Once I have some impressions of them, I'll follow up on the other post.

Curtis

Curtis

[Magnum Magna]

I would be nervous that I would scratch that soft aluminum rim trying to take the tire off..

[Greg Cothern]

I hear Allen can do it in 5 minutes!!!   

[Curtis_Valk]

I would be nervous that I would scratch that soft aluminum rim trying to take the tire off..

Definately a concern.  I made some plastic rim protectors by splitting some small lengths of 1/2" poly-flow tubing.  Still dinged the rim a little when the protector slipped out of position.  If you have never taken tires down, you should learn on cheap steel wheels first if possible.

Curtis

[Curtis_Valk]

I hear Allen can do it in 5 minutes!!!   

I liked the considerate way Allen kept starting over so those of us that were a bit slow on the uptake could soak it all in!!

Curtis

[roboto65]

Oh I missed this ONE I said TEN minutes HEHEHEH and it WAS cold outside that did not help...