tire balancing

[PerfectBlueride]

Well, I just picked up a tire changer and am confident that I should be able to follow instructions found to remove and replace the tire, I am checking on balancing before I start this task.

Will the no mar large or small wheel balancer rod with cones work for the fjr?? thx

 

[SkooterG]

I would avoid the bubble balancer which I believe is what you are referring to. I have had problems with tires balanced using that method from several different shops. In my experience, they are not accurate and have been way off.

There are lots of options out there. Some more expensive thatn others.

I highly recommend the balancer by fellow FJR owner Marc Parnes. It is highly accurate. I have been extremely happy with it's results. See it HERE.

 

[PerfectBlueride]

Thank you, It did not look like it would be the perfered way to balance them.

Might just have to pay to have it done this time, I just went out and purchased the harbor freight changer, saw the no mar on there no mar site, but more than I would want to pay, MP balancer does look good,hoping to find something for less, if no luck may wind up having to go that route.

Will the no mar tire balancer rod and cones work with the FJR, small or Large thx

 

[Claymore]

What tire changer did you decide on?

Thanks for the link on the balancing tool senor scoot, I will fill up my garage yet!

 

[PerfectBlueride]

What tire changer did you decide on? Thanks for the link on the balancing tool senor scoot, I will fill up my garage yet!

Well I will say that the no mar looks good, however, I just went to a local Harbor Freight store and picked their's up. 106.00 out the door.

I need a balancer now, tires should arrive tomorrow, wish more of our members were close enough that I could benefit from their assistance, first time doing this, doesn't seem that it will be that difficult, however,

I am sure that is what others have stated first time and wound up wishing they had a helping hand/ mentor!

oh well, will still give it a go.

 

[smitty141]

I would avoid the bubble balancer which I believe is what you are referring to. I have had problems with tires balanced using that method from several different shops. In my experience, they are not accurate and have been way off.
There are lots of options out there. Some more expensive thatn others.

I highly recommend the balancer by fellow FJR owner Marc Parnes. It is highly accurate. I have been extremely happy with it's results. See it HERE.

+1 on the Marc Parnes balancer. I have a nomar changer, I bought a HF changer first and used it once. Be very careful or you will scratch the crap out of your wheels. Plus don't even think about using the mount/dismount bar...you won't have a wheel left. You will have to use tire irons, the only thing the HF changer will be doing is holding(maybe) your wheel. I bought the nomar, and it is a lot of $, you can pay for it in the money you save on internet pricing of tires. Plus I change/balance tires for buddys to help offset the cost. I live in Mo., if you are ever in this area I would be happy to show you how it works... Smitty

 

[exskibum]

+100 on the Marc Parnes balancer. Hassle free, well made, easy to use, accurate.

I built a tire change station out of a 14" car wheel and a 2 foot long 5/8" threaded rod with washers, nuts and a couple pieces of wood. After scratching a MC wheel with just 4 layers of duct tape padding the rim of the car wheel upon which the motorcycle wheel sits, I bought a piece of washing machine drain hose, and carefully cut it lengthwise with a hooked utility knife blade before fastening it over the car tire rim -- it works GREAT now.

I have one tire/wheel left to mount -- the rear 180/55 - 17 on the gorgeous but easy to scratch rear Carozzerria custom wheel for my '03 XX. No problem with yesterday's mount of the front 120/70 - 17 Carozzerria (not a scratch and it went pretty easy), mostly due to a few things: I'm getting MUCH better at the process some 5 tires later (5 removals and 4 mountings so far), the drain hose padded mounting station, care to duct tape and use a cardboard cutout in the well of the rim to avoid scratches from accidental drops, AND 4 great rim protectors I found at a local MC specialty shop (don't know who they're made by).

The blue Motion Pro rim protectors are just too soft, and they tear up easily, leaving no porotection. Rim protectors made from heavy plastic containers have their uses, but won't stay in place, aren't thick enough and are just not handy enough to the process. The ones I bought are a yellowish white plastic in the same shape as the Motion Pros, but of a harder plastic that is perfect for the task. I use 4 -- stringing two each on two loops of nylon cord, put the loop over the 5/8" rod at the center of the changing station and the two attached protectors on the rim. That holds them in place, and I place the two paired sets at about 1:00 and 3:00 on one side, 9:00 and 11:00 on the other for installation.

Gotta get out to the garage and mount that last tire now. . . . . . . . .

(EDIT to add: Amazingly, that 180 Pilot Power on custom wheel was the easiest and fastest tire mount I've ever done, even including the days of tubes in my bike tires!! Then, thinking about it for a minute, I realized that I have to pack my garage up for my move and that there was really no useful life left on the FJR's badly cupped front Stone, so I also replaced that with a new Pilot Road. Six tires off and six tires on, two installs of which are on custom forged aluminum wheels, and unlike my feeling after the first couple wheels, I now feel like the process is almost easy. Glad to be done with removing and mounting tires for a while now, though.)

 

[sparky3008]

I would avoid the bubble balancer which I believe is what you are referring to. I have had problems with tires balanced using that method from several different shops. In my experience, they are not accurate and have been way off.

There are lots of options out there. Some more expensive thatn others.

I highly recommend the balancer by fellow FJR owner Marc Parnes. It is highly accurate. I have been extremely happy with it's results. See it HERE.

+1 on the Marc Parnes balancer. I have a nomar changer, I bought a HF changer first and used it once. Be very careful or you will scratch the crap out of your wheels. Plus don't even think about using the mount/dismount bar...you won't have a wheel left. You will have to use tire irons, the only thing the HF changer will be doing is holding(maybe) your wheel. I bought the nomar, and it is a lot of $, you can pay for it in the money you save on internet pricing of tires. Plus I change/balance tires for buddys to help offset the cost. I live in Mo., if you are ever in this area I would be happy to show you how it works... Smitty

Ok Smitty, the picture is great but all it does is tease me if you have no link to the changer???

Wow, I found a link and she is pricey. It would take me 5 years to even break even if that.

 

[dcarver]

Rumor has it that for room and board Smitty will make tire changing house calls anywhere in the continental US...

 

[KSFJR]

Based upon advice from Smitty last year, I too bought the NO MAR changer and the Marc Parnes balancer. They are both really great. If you do get the Marc Parnes balancer, get the longer rod. The short one works but I wound up ordering the longer rod after my first balance as it makes it a littly easier. I have had my FJR up to about 130 mph and it was smooth all the way.

The tire changer is costly but it is worth it to me not to have to mess with other people. You probably save $100 plus per tire change by doing it yourself and as Smitty said, if you can get some friends to help it wont be too bad. Unfortunately I don't have Smitty's skills. He changes tires like the Woods brothers of NASCAR fame and me, I plan vacations around tire changes but it is still worth it.

One thing that I did on the tire changer, I took a 4' x 4' x 3/4" piece of plywood and bolted 2" x 4"'s along the edges on the underneath side along with some cross members then bolted the tire changer to the plywood as I really don't have space to leave it constantly set up. This setup works quite well, just not as convenient as Smitty's.

 

[FJR1300]

Rumor has it that for room and board Smitty will make tire changing house calls anywhere in the continental US...

Why would you want to have him come to you when you can go to him and then have him take you for a tour of the area. Smitty changed my tires last weekend and then we went for a short ride on some REALLY great roads.

I'm still waiting for my rear-end to catch up with the rest of me after the ride... but it was fun!

Unfortunately I don't have Smitty's skills. He changes tires like the Woods brothers of NASCAR fame and me, I plan vacations around tire changes but it is still worth it.

+1

 

[drjfjr]

My riding friend has the HF tire changer and I could not use it to even hold my rear wheel. I ended up using the old tire irons and the old style tube type tire tool. The one with a notch. I just beat it around making sure it is not touching the outside of the wheel. Looks like the nomar is the way to go. It takes two people to put the rear on the way I do it. I am about to put on my third rear tire and it is definately a pain. The Nomar would probrably pay for itself the first use in time and effort.

 

[PerfectBlueride]

Thanks for the information, any reason why taking and dunking the tire grippers from the harbor freight into the rubber goup that hard ware stores sell would not work? That should take care of the changer and marring wheels.

As far as the demount mount bar I guess you could just go ahead and by the no mar. As far as balancing why do you need the cones? Wouldn't a rod the correct dementions do the same thing since it is static balancing? Don't get me wrong the fab unit looks great, but all these bike related purchases are adding up!

Well, I purchased the Harbor Freight changer; it was easy to set up. I decided not to change them myself the first time so just took to a local shop, they changed them on and off the bike for 50.00 a wheel.

It cost me a hundred for that, they have a good changer and by time I returned from subway the guy had the rear off, demounted, remounted new and on the balancer, it was a nice balancer. Btw I had a real oil seal leak on the rear differ, so wound up having to take the bike to the dealer that I told about this issue during the 8,000 mile service. They must not have pulled the wheel! Needless to say they are busy now and will probably have my bike for 2 weeks before they even pull the wheel to look at it.

It really makes you want to give them a word or two, however I couldn't since you never know what they might do to your ride.

I did have an opportunity to go for a nice spirited ride with those new Pirellis and I have to say they were a lot better feeling than the stock Bridgestone’s. Felt smoother, no decel wobble at all, these felt well planted in the curves too! Took it easy for most of the ride being new, but I really felt more confident with these.

Well, after purchasing the tires 234.00 to door from SWMT, 100.00 to put on, I could see where the no mar would probably be the way to go. The shop mis quoted me on the job, since I did not buy them from them, but honored the price.

Now just have to wait to pick up my bike then let the dealer know how I feel about their lack luster effort during the 8000-mile service, or the oil seal should have been fixed under warranty last winter.

Glad I have the YES, but do not like that you have to go to a dealer to use it. Otherwise, I could have my ride back in a few days.