I recently bought a 2014 1200 Custom with the standard five spoke cast wheels. I noticed the other day that the front wheel has eight square metal pieces attached to the inside of the rim, which I assume are weights for balancing the tire. Eight seems like a lot. Was wondering if this is normal or is there a problem with the way the front wheel is mounted and all the weights are compensating for it. To be clear, the ride seems completely normal.

Todd

 

Yup, sounds like a strip of taped balancing weights. If the wheel runs right, no worries and you will be fine. Tires can have quite some imbalance to compensate for.

 

K9, when I mounted this Commander II last Feb. I installed DK's balancing beads, 1 oz, they did the trick. 18 wheeler company's are starting to use balancing beads, it eliminates the down time required to remove and re-balance them as the tires wear.

 

Your tyre is fine, ride and enjoy! Those stick-on weights have been used on vehicle wheels since the alloy wheel was invented. Take a look around your dealer's showroom next time you're in.

 

Yep, sounds like balancing weights. You can get some Dyna Beads ( click HERE for more info on how they work), to get rid of those ugly weights AND have a smoother riding bike!

 

How can the beads work in a tube tire?

 

Beads work fine in a tube, if you can get 'em in. Good luck.

 

Great. Thanks guys.

 

DK's Dyan Beads come with a little bottle the puts them right in through the valve stem, no problem.

 

I'm guessin' the problem will arise when you get a new tire. If you don't want to reuse the old tube in the new tire, you've got to shake those little suckers out of that tiny hole. Or else buy more.