Patching spoked tires
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 4,667
Likes: 3,965
From: Near Yosemite
I have a local tire shop down the road a bit that does tons of cars every day. Local chain, and fast. In fact, it's called Fast Tire, lol. But they can't balance motorcycle tires, just car/truck. They charge $25 to remove and mount my tire and then I would take it to some place like Cycle Gear an hour away to get balanced. I had CG or a Honda shop in Fresno do mount and balance before for a little more $$/tire but they want the wheels left overnight. 4 hours of drive time in the Jeep. HD Dealership prices are stupid high and still the same drive time. For me, I think I might be ahead a few bucks, plus have the puncture protection of using the Ride On. Plus I can get it all done local while I wait. I'll try it a few times and see how it goes.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 17,548
Likes: 7,173
From: Oxford, Nc
On a trip from OH to TN, after spending a night in Harlan, KY with a flat in the dark, I have learned to carry a new tube (not just a patch kit,) on tube tire road trips.
I found an auto shop that let me use their lift to get the bike up in the air, but the patch didn't hold because I used aerosal sealant to first get me off the road and to their shop in the first place, And with what turned out to be several cans of sealant blowing out all over the back of the bike, I ended up with a new rear wheel and mufflers when I finally got the bike back home.
I found an auto shop that let me use their lift to get the bike up in the air, but the patch didn't hold because I used aerosal sealant to first get me off the road and to their shop in the first place, And with what turned out to be several cans of sealant blowing out all over the back of the bike, I ended up with a new rear wheel and mufflers when I finally got the bike back home.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,143
Likes: 11,211
From: San Diego, CA
I have a local tire shop down the road a bit that does tons of cars every day. Local chain, and fast. In fact, it's called Fast Tire, lol. But they can't balance motorcycle tires, just car/truck. They charge $25 to remove and mount my tire and then I would take it to some place like Cycle Gear an hour away to get balanced. I had CG or a Honda shop in Fresno do mount and balance before for a little more $$/tire but they want the wheels left overnight. 4 hours of drive time in the Jeep. HD Dealership prices are stupid high and still the same drive time. For me, I think I might be ahead a few bucks, plus have the puncture protection of using the Ride On. Plus I can get it all done local while I wait. I'll try it a few times and see how it goes.
Have you ever considered balancing them yourself....??
I saw a video of balancing motorcycle tires on a balancing stand.... Not as fast as a spin balancer, but if you take your time it seems to be just as accurate... pretty simple and cheap..
I a getting ready to get the tools to change my own tires and a balance stand will be party of those tools...
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 4,667
Likes: 3,965
From: Near Yosemite
Have you ever considered balancing them yourself....??
I saw a video of balancing motorcycle tires on a balancing stand.... Not as fast as a spin balancer, but if you take your time it seems to be just as accurate... pretty simple and cheap..
I a getting ready to get the tools to change my own tires and a balance stand will be party of those tools...
I saw a video of balancing motorcycle tires on a balancing stand.... Not as fast as a spin balancer, but if you take your time it seems to be just as accurate... pretty simple and cheap..
I a getting ready to get the tools to change my own tires and a balance stand will be party of those tools...
However Hat, Once you get yours all set up, I may take a ride down south and have you do them for me to help you hone your changing/balancing skills, lol!
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 4,816
Likes: 1,320
From: Good roads, cold beer
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,143
Likes: 11,211
From: San Diego, CA
I've used ride-on before, and will again... Personally I like using it as an aid to the balancing, I like to start with the balanced tire and let the ride-on fine tune it, and adjust for wear...
I've heard good things about the Dynabeads, but....
There's just something about beads rolling, spinning, banging around inside the tire doesn't appeal to me as much as the thick Ride-on liquid slowly flowing around and sticking to the inside the tire... Plus I like the extra puncture protection (however minimal) of the Ride-on...
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 4,667
Likes: 3,965
From: Near Yosemite
Edit: Pretty much what Hat said, lol.......
Last edited by MotoJockey; Feb 26, 2023 at 11:51 AM.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,249
Likes: 565
From: Utah
I've been stuck in various places before with flat tires on my RKC. The roadside assistance works pretty good for those times, although it can take hours for the right truck to show up. I had a flat tire in Yellowstone NP several years ago, and because of the time of day, and their contracted flat beds, etc, it was 3 days before I finally got to the HD dealer in Belgrade, MT.
It's time for some new tires, and I think I'm going to try RideOn, because why the hell not? My closest HD dealer in SLC is really expensive for tire changes. There is a Yamaha dealer in my town that will mount tires for HD bikes but only with the wheel off the bike. They have screwed up a couple tire changes for me in the past too, so I'm really hesitant to use them again.
I may just do my own changes and use RideOn to help balance.
It's time for some new tires, and I think I'm going to try RideOn, because why the hell not? My closest HD dealer in SLC is really expensive for tire changes. There is a Yamaha dealer in my town that will mount tires for HD bikes but only with the wheel off the bike. They have screwed up a couple tire changes for me in the past too, so I'm really hesitant to use them again.
I may just do my own changes and use RideOn to help balance.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 6,080
Likes: 1,957
From: Somewhere on the Bourbon trail
I use the balance beads going on my second set of tires on my King. No issues with them so far. I did get a flat a few years ago when I was in the four-corners. Easy tire repair with the tire plug kit.
