Darkside riders - need help...

[cheeseman1969]

I have my 3rd darkside on the fat girl. The first was already on when I bought here. I got then change it out as something like 30K on that tire. I got a austone. Loved it. This last summer I was in  ID and a rock slashed the tire and ruined it. The closest tire (MC tire) was 4 hours away but got it on. 3500 miles later, it is capping and wearing out. I had 38-40 psi in it the whole time. Am not happy. So this winter got another car tire and the shop (HD shop) that I used before put in on for me but would not balance it as they said liability. They did last time. But at least they got it on. So now trying to find a shop to balance it. I tried just about every shop in town and either it does not fit there balancer or they will not touch it. I just got schooled by a shop about 5 min ago and saying that I am a danger. I tried to explain and they just walked away. Oh well.
What does everyone else do for balancing? I know it is not that hard. Do anyone make one out of wood or metal? I have access to a welding shop. I know that you can buy them online but seems like in the $200 range. If I can make it, that would be better and more fun as I like to make things.
NOTE: I am researching tools now to do this myself. I am a bicycle mechanic in my free time and this is just about the same as I have done a few car tires in the past.

[Jess from VA]

I don't have any great answer, but I know that all my car tires have balanced (at my dealer installer) with less wheel weights than any MC tire I ever ran in back.

Dyna beads, Ride-on??

[da prez]

Balance beads and be done. Tire tight is another (slime)alternative.

            da prez

[The emperor has no clothes]

Balancing beads for me also. But if you don't want to use those, old fashioned balancing is easy enough. Slide your axle thru the wheel, put each end on something to hold it up in place, spin tire and mark where it stops. If it stops in the same spot a few times your top will be your light spot. And a weight and keep repeating till your tire stops at a random spot each time. (Balancing beads really are the way to go)

[cheeseman1969]

I really really am considering Balancing beads. Might just balance it and see how far off. Easy to make a holder and put the wheel and axle on it and spin it.             

[old2soon]

BBs are cheaper and work as well if not better. RIDE SAFE.

[Firefight100]

Wheel balancer 40 dollars at harbor freight.  I have one and I see them at the tire shops also. https://www.harborfreight.com/motorcycle-wheel-balancing-stand-98488.html

[Firefight100]

On second thought I dont think I have tried it on me Valk rear tire.  But I have done the front.

[cheeseman1969]

Harbor Frieght!! $40 WOW.... But there is a problem, when I walk in I walk out a happy man but my bank account is not. LOL

[The emperor has no clothes]

I really really am considering Balancing beads. Might just balance it and see how far off. Easy to make a holder and put the wheel and axle on it and spin it.             

You don't even need to make anything. I used 2 of those cheap plastic chairs. Worked just fine.

[cheeseman1969]

If I don't set it up right, then something happens like, oh say... I set this up on two cheap chairs. I spin it, the bar moves and falls, the tub of used oil spills, then the tire rolls and hits my beer (the worst), then it hits something else in my shop that is not secure and busts that. The wife happens to come out, see the tire rolling out of the garage and hears a bunch of new cuss words. She decides this is not a good time to tell me that we won the lottery. Game over. LOL..

[Locomotive]

Someone above mentioned BBs as an alternative to DynaBeads - like any other tire or oil subject this seems like it has the makings of much debate and a great deal of heat but a shortage of light... but, for whatever it may be worth- in readings and research I've done on these subjects some seemingly-experienced-&-informed people expressed caution about metal within the tire, and potential wear, and suggested plastic airsoft BBs instead. Apparently you do want to avoid the biodegradable airsoft pellets, as they aparently can and do disintegrate into dust, and maybe gummy dust, from friction, heat, etc. within a tire over time. I replaced tires on a clean '81 GL500 Silverwing that I bought last summer for my son to be able to ride, and I used non-biodegradeable airsoft beads, and, in terms of results (no apparent vibration going down the road) they seemed to work very well. I forget the recommended total weight of pellets that I used, but I used what seemed to be consensus recommendations from some other forums and the results seemed to work well.

[The emperor has no clothes]

If I don't set it up right, then something happens like, oh say... I set this up on two cheap chairs. I spin it, the bar moves and falls, the tub of used oil spills, then the tire rolls and hits my beer (the worst), then it hits something else in my shop that is not secure and busts that. The wife happens to come out, see the tire rolling out of the garage and hears a bunch of new cuss words. She decides this is not a good time to tell me that we won the lottery. Game over. LOL..

sounds like you caught me on video.  (except for the winning lottery)

[hubcapsc]

Wheel balancer 40 dollars at harbor freight.  I have one and I see them at the tire shops also. https://www.harborfreight.com/motorcycle-wheel-balancing-stand-98488.html

I haven't used  the Harbor Freight one, but that balancing method in general works great.

http://www.marcparnes.com/

The trick is in the bearings... they need to be super sensitive, not like axle bearlings.

My wheel just sinks to the heavy place with my marc parnes balancer, no spinning needed.

I use Ride On now.

I used balance beads once, they seemed to work, I didn't like dealing with them though...

The QC on my 1800's front wheel must have been deficient, Ride On won't balance it, so
I guess that means that Ride On has its limits. I balanced the wheel (no tire) with my
marc parnes (using about a million stick on weights) and slapped on an Avon, no
further balancing needed...

-Mike

[da prez]

  Most tires have a dot that should be aligned with the valve stem. Basic tools like a rim protector and a floor pad. Proper bead bars (harbor freight) and a lube for dis-mount and mounting the tire. I also make sure the rim seat is clean. A bead breaker is very helpful but you can get by without one. If you do not plan on repeating the job , try to find an independent shop to install the tire. We install any tire at the bike shop where I work on occasion.

                                 da prez

[Hook#3287]

I change and balance my own tires.

I use two 5 gal buckets (w/tops) of the same size and two wood blocks with a "v" cut in them.

I use the tire axle with nut and spacer to make the tire level and spin it.

If the tire stops in three different places, it's good.  If it stops and backs up, wait till it stops and mark it.

Repeat and repeat and you'll get an average.  Start with small weights at the top of the rim when the tire stops.

It only takes 5 mins to do it.

Learned that at the Honda shop I worked at in the 70's.

[Firefighter]

Been using Ride-on formula for years with never any balance trouble or a flat. Piece of mind away from home!

[mrgeoff]

Put "Ride-On" in the tire and forget about it...Has worked extremely well for me and I have no problems or worries about it being balanced or if I happen to pick up a nail or screw in my tires it instantly seals the leak...!!!

[cheeseman1969]

Ok, I just looked up Ride-On but sold out. Any other place that sells this stuff? The weather is getting warmer, birds are signing and fat girl is in pieces.. And I am wanting to get back on the road. Even sat on her the other day and made engine racing sounds. LOL

[Jess from VA]

https://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=ride+on+sealant&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=153749346164&hvpos=1t1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=15954871113358517246&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=e&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9008139&hvtargid=kwd-10872374325&ref=pd_sl_9k0u1sk36h_e

https://www.amazon.com/Ride-Motorcycle-Balancer-Sealant-41208/dp/B00DX8BTUG

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Ride-On-Motorcycle-Tire-Sealant-3-Bottles-Harley-Suzuki-Kawasaki-Honda-Yamaha-/281298772084

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Ride-On-Tire-Balancer-and-Sealant-8-oz-M-C/187405847

https://slavensracing.com/shop/tire-balancer-sealant-by-ride-on/

http://www.ride-on.com/motorcycle-formula-mot.html

[Houdini]

What does everyone else do for balancing?

Ride-On, just installed a new CT yesterday and made the trip to the Honda store to get the Ride-On.  I've tried beads in the past and they do balance the tire but they don't do squat when you run over a nail or screw.  I'd rather have a good balance and peace of mind that I'm not getting a flat while out on the road. 

[Locomotive]

How much of a mess is the Ride-on when you go to change the tire the next time? I've never dealt with it but I have seen the mess when a tire comes off after someone used aerosol fix-a-flat...

[Houdini]

How much of a mess is the Ride-on when you go to change the tire the next time? I've never dealt with it but I have seen the mess when a tire comes off after someone used aerosol fix-a-flat...

No mess at all, for me.  I take the rim and tire to a used tire shop in town and pay them $15 to install my tires.

[The emperor has no clothes]

How much of a mess is the Ride-on when you go to change the tire the next time? I've never dealt with it but I have seen the mess when a tire comes off after someone used aerosol fix-a-flat...

No mess at all, for me.  I take the rim and tire to a used tire shop in town and pay them $15 to install my tires.

actually, it's not a mess for them either. It all sticks up on the center of the tire, as long as you followed the procedure correctly.

[Jess from VA]

If you read all the reviews, you find that tire shops HATE Slime and most all other aerosol sealers (and many add an extra charge to change tires anytime it's in there), but Ride-On is not a problem like the others (maybe a drip or two, that's it).  

[da prez]

  It's been a few (many) years since I ran a tire shop. If I remember , fix a flat had something in it that would corrode aluminum. I always charged more because of the clean up. I run balance beads. I like them BUT. When checking tire pressure , sometimes the core will leak. You have to give it a shot of air or pull the core on occasion. I think on the next go round I will use slime or tyre tite. 

                                    da prez

[mrgeoff]

Ride-On is washed off with water...not like fix a flat...easy peasy to clean up...!!!

[sawdustar]

I've been using Dynabeads for almost 10 years now. Never a problem. I always check tire pressure with the valve stem at the bottom of the tire. Never had a leak of any kind at the valave stem.

[gordonv]

I think on the next go round I will use slime or tyre tite. 

                                    da prez

Slime is for fixing flats, not balancing the tire. I used this stuff for a flat, never got it fixed. 6-8 months later, same tire started leaking again. It was a mess inside. It is NOT a permanent fix.

[MarkT]

Using Ride-On for years.  I use the ATV formula - $20 for 32oz instead off $16 for 8oz.  Works fine.  Never had a flat and they balance far better than I can do it with the balancer I made from high-quality bearings, the axles and jack stands.  No mess.  Water washes it out if you want to remove it from a tire and it generally never gets on the wheel - but it doesn't corrode anyway.  I generally have 3-4 qts on hand and use a bit more than they suggest.  Like 20oz in a back tire and 16 in a front.  Always works.