Rear wheels need balancing?

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Mar 7, 2012 | 08:00 PM

Arizona Mike

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Joined: Nov 2007

Posts: 50

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From: Gold Canyon, Arizona

Rear wheels need balancing?

An indy mechanic I know justified his lack of a wheel balancer by saying bagger rear wheels really don't need balanced. Could this be true? Anyone have vibration problems from not balancing their rear wheel after putting on a new tire?

Mar 7, 2012 | 08:09 PM

DanDil

Cruiser

Joined: Apr 2007

Posts: 157

Likes: 3

Go somewhere else. Ever rear tire change I get a balance and the spokes tuned/checked. I have felt the improvement in the ride when it needed it.

Mar 7, 2012 | 08:22 PM

Arnold63

Intermediate

Joined: Mar 2010

Posts: 41

Likes: 1

From: Belle Plaine MN.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arizona Mike

Dump that clown. There isn't a tire on the road that doesn't need to be balanced. Some may need no weight,but they all should be checked.

Mar 7, 2012 | 08:43 PM

piasspj

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Sep 2007

Posts: 9,208

Likes: 374

From: Central Illinois, Between I-80 and I-74

So, what does he do for front wheels?
A balancer for bike wheels isn't an expensive piece of equipment.

Mar 7, 2012 | 09:16 PM

Ridewva

Grand HDF Member

Joined: Oct 2004

Posts: 3,842

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From: Northern WV

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arizona Mike

An indy mechanic I know justified his lack of a wheel balancer by saying bagger rear wheels really don't need balanced. Could this be true?

I say not true. I would be very surprised if the rear wheel assembly did not need balanced. I change and balance my tires and can say in both tire replacements on my 09 FLHT a *lot* of weight was needed to balance the rear. On the first replacement around 9,500 miles I was mounting a factory Dunlop replacement and it was so far out I quit after adding 8 of the large 15 gram weights! This was, for me, a record for a motorcycle tire being out of balance! Fortunately I just tape the weights to see what's needed first, so I took the weights off, removed the tire off the wheel, and balanced just the wheel/pulley assembly by itself to find the heavy spot. It wasn't at the valve but that's not unusual, what was unusual was just the wheel/pulley alone was over 3 ounces out of balance. I re-mounted the tire aligning the lightest part of the tire with the known heaviest point of the wheel and still ended up having to add just over 3 ounces of weights.
To put this in perspective, on my other bikes including the Dyna, it's rare when more than one ounce is called for. Nevertheless I balance them to within 3 grams (about 1/10 ounce)

Mar 7, 2012 | 09:40 PM

Bill03E

Outstanding HDF Member

Joined: Dec 2007

Posts: 2,403

Likes: 20

From: Indy

I did notice that when I got my Michelin Commander II was mounted it only needed .5 oz , I thought that was strange, because he took almost 3oz off the wheel , but it was a dunlop tire before.

Mar 7, 2012 | 10:53 PM

jrbean1

Tourer

Joined: Nov 2006

Posts: 327

Likes: 0

From: Upstate NY

try this

I use the danna beads in both front and rear tires. Now I am a true believer in them. My opionion is they are the cats meow!!!!

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Mar 7, 2012 | 11:06 PM

mkguitar

Extreme HDF Member

Joined: Sep 2010

Posts: 14,744

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From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill03E

I did notice that when I got my Michelin Commander II was mounted it only needed .5 oz , I thought that was strange, because he took almost 3oz off the wheel , but it was a dunlop tire before.

each tire has it's own balance, as does each wheel.

a great balancer will take the time to mount the heaviest point of the tire at the lightest part of the wheel ( usually where the valve goes).

the tires are marked for balance with a spot of yellow paint.

On my old Cadillacs, the specs are to balance the tire, wheel AND brake drum together to ensure the smoothest ride.

an out-of balance tire will oscillate and skip on the road surface, it is not only a comfort issue but traction control is compromised

OP, if you feel like running into town;

The Wheel Shop on McDowell and 18th street is pretty good and Moto Tire on Cave Creek at Sweetwater ( S of Stubbs) is doing good work at good prices.

Although MUCH to my surprise Arrowhead was running a sale last time I was shopping and they came in at the best price ( Arrowhead/Chandler and Tucson are the same group)

Mike