Tire balancing

[shadowmagic]

So after much deliberation I've realized its probably better to do my own tire changes and balancing. I have no experience in this area aside from changing my tires on my bmx bike as a kid. Seems similar but my question is about balancing. I looked at some gadgets on amazon but was unsure what would work for the rear wheel. Will a normal tire balance gadget work for the rear tire? Anyone have any recommendations for a gadget at a decent price that will work for both wheels? Any help greatly appreciated. My plan is to do everything at once at the front end. I'm going to put my freshly polished new (used) forks on, paint some areas on the front end white. Replace the front tire and bearings and install the metal valve stems. I also plan on bleeding the brake lines and polishing the front rim or possibly painting the front rim black. If anyone has any advice or pitfalls to avoid doing any of this please feel free to help me out lol Yes i have a manual, I dont always look at it because it seems like there is always better advice here through experience. I plan on dropping the rear wheel soon also to do the back end and will use the method of leaving the exhaust intact. Thanks for any tips or recommendations.

Oh, I almost forgot I got an 8 pod led under glow kit to install also. If anyone has any tips on where to avoid installing these feel free to share 

[sixlow]

I use the balancing beads, different kinds out there but all work great.  Just be sure it is dry inside. Use 2 ounces in front 3 in back,  I put them in a sandwich bag twist off a corner full and drop it in before the bead is set.

[shadowmagic]

balance beads huh? I will look into that as I've heard of them but have no idea what they are. Thank God for youtube lol Thank you for the tip, I'm gonna check those out.

[..]

BB's.

3 oz in the rear

2 oz in the front

[f-Stop]

If you go with beads, make sure you chose ceramic beads.  Otherwise you end up with a mess.

[hubcapsc]

I've been using RideOn lately.

I have one of these: http://www.marcparnes.com/

A static balancer like that and an assortment of
clip-on weights is perfect for the kind of wheels
Valkyries have.

-Mike

[Bagger John - #3785]

I got a Marc Parnes balancer and a bunch of stick-on weights in various colors. So far it's good to go.

[shadowmagic]

here is a link to the one I was looking at but was unsure if it would work with the rear wheel. Anybody know?

https://www.amazon.com/Goplus-Motorcycle-Balancer-Balancing-Static/dp/B01969NEH6/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=motorcycle+wheel+balancer&qid=1624410649&sr=8-1

[vanagon40]

Check out this recent thread.

I'll repeat my post from that thread:

I did a static balance on my last four tire changes. I used a couple of 2x4s on two saw horses. I used the original axle (and maybe a couple of wood screws to keep the axle from rolling). If your tire does not spin easily on the axle, you might need new wheel bearings (I found a VERY GENTLE shove will produce multiple rotations). I alternated spinning the tire clockwise and counterclockwise; experimenting with the weights on the light side. I bought chrome stick-on weights online somewhere (maybe ebay). Attached them with painters tape until satisfied the weight was correct. Took at most 15 to 20 minutes, which for me is quicker than driving to a shop. Never had a problem once the tire was mounted.

[shadowmagic]

That seems like a good idea. I will give that a shot. Thank you to everyone who is responding. This is all very informative for us noobs. 

[Bighead]

Balance beads is your easiest option. Works flawlessly. Or bb’s they work the same. Dump ‘em in and forget about it.
No stick on weights to see and takes 5 second instead of 15-20 minutes.

[DeathWishBikerDude]

Just remove your wheel and take it to the local mom and pop tire shop.
The valkyrie wheels fit fine on an automotive tire machine.
Balance with stick on weights and support the mom and pop shops in your neighborhood.
Won't be very expensive.

[hubcapsc]

here is a link to the one I was looking at but was unsure if it would work with the rear wheel. Anybody know?

https://www.amazon.com/Goplus-Motorcycle-Balancer-Balancing-Static/dp/B01969NEH6/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=motorcycle+wheel+balancer&qid=1624410649&sr=8-1

That should work fine, as long as the cones are big enough to fit
the Valkyrie's axle hole. The static balancer has bearings that are
many times more sensitive than the Valkyrie's wheel bearings, you
can get a real good balance with it.

-Mike

[h13man]

Just remove your wheel and take it to the local mom and pop tire shop.
The valkyrie wheels fit fine on an automotive tire machine.
Balance with stick on weights and support the mom and pop shops in your neighborhood.
Won't be very expensive.

My Mom and Pop shop forgot CLEAN the Vulcan rim when they stuck the weight on. It fell off during reinstall  and fortunately the location of said weight was easy to see thus another reason to use ceramic beads. When they changed the Valk rear tire, they didn't wipe off the grease and off course I found it putting it in the back of the car. They offered to put the beads in but I declined. I since found another shop (KTM) to do my next change for the same money.

[MarkT]

I built a static balancer some 15 years ago when I got the HF tire changer to DIY.  Thought I had a great balance on my first 98 std, Deerslayer.  Until some years later I gave Ride-On a try. I was surprised, a buzz at speed was gone.  Turns out I wasn't getting such a great balance with the weights and my balancer.  Been Ride-On ever since.  Easier and bonus any punctures in the center 2/3 of the tread won't leak.  And I get a dynamic balance that doesn't get out of balance.  Tires last longer, a bit.

On painting wheels, I had mine powder coated, 3 colors (black, green, clear) on my 97 Tour.  Powder is much more durable than paint. You shouldn't have to tell the coater, keep the powder out of the bearing area, the drive cushion area, and all the threads.  Turns out my coater is an idiot and he did that even after I reminded him.

I have added hundreds of LED's to Deerslayer. They aren't a kit, I put them together myself.  Use lots of circuits, all fused if you add a lot of LED's, to ease maintenance.  I used 9 circuits.  Protect the wires from sharp corners by smoothing them, with grommets and heat-shrink tube.

[GWS]

I was in your shoes very recently and found the least expensive static balancing option was the Pit Posse portable balancer. $34 on Amazon or ebay, I forget which. Compared to the HF stand (and others like it), you can use your own concrete blocks, jack stands, or sawhorses and have lunch money left over.
Good luck.

[shadowmagic]

Thank you everyone for the great advice. I'm feeling more comfortable doing this myself now.

[old2soon]

        I painted the triangular openings on the wheels a sort of dayglo green and polished the rest. I've been using BBs fer awhile now. From launch to Well Over the ton smooth as a babies butt. With BBs no dust to plug the valve. And my tires Are livin a bit longer. RIDE SAFE.