Okay here is the situation. Bought my xl1200r used. Rims were clean with no visible weights. Put 5000 miles on her and never notice any dramatic wheel issues. Had to replace the tires today so i brought the wheels into the local metric shop and had em swap the rubber for a killer price. Once i picked em up i realized they have been defaced with groupings of fugly wheel weights.

Now does harley have a unique way to balance wheels so that there aren't these horrible eyesores taped to the rims? If not can i do what i assume the previous owner did and just pop these bastards off and roll down the highway?

 

I don't think the stock wheels/tires are weighted, but someone else will have to chime in. Stands to reason that Harley would have paired the tires/rims in a manner at which would balance them. But what the hell do I know.

My advice to you would be to look into Dynabeads. They might be the solution you're looking for to get rid of those weights.

 

Yea i asked the guy about bead balancers (dynabeads) he said he didn't recomend em. Those would also be a good thing to get opinions on.

 

Here's the link on DK Custom's page : http://dkcustomproducts.com/Dyna-Beads_c20.htm

 

This are definitely looking to be the way to. It would be pretty awesome to be able just to fix it myself instead of having to drop by the shop again. Has anyone used these and have any opinions about em.

 

Have no idea why your tech would not recommend them. They work great. No wheel weight can ever achieve/maintain as good a balance as the Dyna Beads.

Do a search on the forum, there are hundreds of positive reviews on them.

I run them in my bikes, trailers and wifes truck.

The difference is significant, plus, no more ugly weights!

You can put them in at install, or you can put them in via the valve stem after install of a tire.

 

Feel free to consider them to be more effective and reliable than wheel weights.

 

Well so far i like what what i hear. Feeling kinda relieved there is a solution to the situation, also glad the guy dropped the balance fee after i complained about the soap and water stains they left all over my rims. Didn't notice the scuff marks till i got home though.

 

Already lots of answers here but just wanna say my Iron 883 came with visible weights on the wheels.
I was gonna color them black with a marker to hide them haha.

 

My bike is in the other room and I still can't be bothered to check. My laziness is incredible.