If you DIY, how do you balance your tires?

I have used Dyna Beads for the past 3-4 years, but think that the old method of using weights is much better. So I was looking at wheel balancers on Ebay, and didn't see any that I thought would work for my rear wheel. The wheel had weights on it when I bought it, so I know it can be done, but HOW?

Anyone got any ideas - or links to wheel balancers - that will work for me?

Or possibly - what method do the Honda shops use to balance the rear tires?

 

I'm sure I'll catch heck for this but.......... I don't balance them. I used to run speed trials at Maxton NC in the ECTA events. Did over 140 MPH on unbalanced tires with no ill effect. I put a set of skins on my Electra Glide every year. Never balance them either. Put new rubber on my VFR this winter. Same deal. Maybe I'm not real sensitive to vibration. Maybe I've never had a badly out of balance tire. But so far, so good.

 

I bit the bullet last year and bought the Marc Parnes balancer and I must say it works wonderfully well. A pure pleasure to use.

FWIW I rebalanced a rear tire that wasn't balanced with the balancer and was amazed at how much smoother the bike feels. The weights were almost !80 degrees out of position.

 

The Marc Parnes are pretty pricey for me - But I think that's what I'll get. They have the needed adapter, so it should work just fine for me.

The Dyna Beads seem to work most times, but causes a 'bounce' at higher speeds (not that I speed). I notice it more when I use my camcorder and reach ~ 70 mph, the camera seems to bounce a lot. I want to do more highway riding in the next few years, so I want the ride to be smoother.

Thanks guys for your help. I had no clue how to do this. The responses helped a ton.

 

We use ceramic beads and have never had an issue with them at any speed. I must admit though; I was a little dubious at first but I'm sold on them.

 

This is how I balance and check rim run out (spokes) CB550. Make sure axle is level then spin away. I always use weights of some type.

 

Dyna Beads

 

Harbor freight balance stand and the harbor freight vfr adapter for the rear wheel. The adapter was $12 extra bucks. It's just a larg piece of machined aluminum.

Works like a charm I have mounted more than four sets of tires with my setup.


I know they sell the stand but not sure about adapter anymore. Pu may find me still n stock t a store or if you call them.
There is also a company alled precision metal fab tht make stand tht looks just like the HF stand and they sell an adapter.

I knew of a company that made and sold one of PVC pipe but I can't find them any more either. If I can find it, I will post it.

Good luck.

 

Here ya go. This guy makes a stand and and adapter even a bead breaker if ya need one.

Balancer