Unleash the Beast

[Twigg]

Ever since I bought my Galaxy Blue 2005, the fastest and prettiest of the FJRs, mine has been anything but fast.

The PO had new tires fitted (PR3s), and he let me know that there was a vibration on the front above about 95mph So I tested it, and he was right. Since then I have been bereft. Indeed, my wife's Taurus, given sufficient time, was capable of over-hauling my gorgeous motorcycle. I was never really embarrassed, because even restricted to 90 or so, few cars can get there quite so quickly

My latest purchases have been aimed at long-term savings, convenience, and the fact that I am one of those odd guys who really does enjoy getting his hands dirty. So I have a tire-changer now, and Mojolever, and the tire-changer, despite being form the devil company that sells "Pittsburgh Tools", is bolted to the garage floor and feels pretty damned rigid. I can no longer get the bike out of the garage, but who cares if it can't get over 95mph!

While I await the Mojoblocks I decided to try out another new toy, a wheel balancer thoughtfully mailed to me by Russ, of these parts.

This awesome device informed me, in words I cannot repeat least they set back Warchild's recover another three months, that my front wheel required 2 1/4 oz of weight to achieve the kind of balance best exhibited by the Dali Lama. TWO AND A QUARTER FREAKIN" OUNCES !!

I haven't ridden it yet, but I'm fairly safe in presuming that the extra weight will have banished the Vibration Blues.

Who does that? What enterprise sticks a wheel on a motorcycle capable of starship velocities, with all that weight missing?

Hopefully the tire isn't cupped badly enough to need replacing.

 

[Walter]

I once worked in a tire shop many moons ago and I had a car brought back once that the stick on weight had fallen off because I didnt properly clean and dry the area it was applied. It was my mistake working in haste but anyone can do it honestly. The real test is when a customer comes back do they explode or do they allow the shop to fix the mistake and make it right. also does the shop take responsibility and make the customer happy. In the end were human and mistake get made its how we deal with the person that makes it and how the person that made it behave. Kudos too you for being proactive! tho and deciding to check it yourself, I don't understand people that ride and have no interest in even learning basic maintenance of it.

 

[Justin]

I need to get me one of those balancers. I am very picky about wheel balance and have returned to the shop on occasion to have wheels redone.

 

[MCRIDER007]

Two and a quarter oz is not that bad considering how heavy the front wheel is with the twin rotors. You should mount a Avon on the front to balance the rim. Avon's don't have balance marks so you will have to figure out where the light mark is (balance the rim with temporary weights before you mount the Avon, find the tire's light spot, break bead and rotate tire) but you will save a lot of weights.

 

[Auburn]

I would take the tire, and break the and rotate the tire 180 degrees. Probably cut the balance weight in half. If you are using stick on weights and stay with the tire where it is at, I would split them in half and put on both sides of the rim.

 

[Twigg]

I would take the tire, and break the and rotate the tire 180 degrees. Probably cut the balance weight in half. If you are using stick on weights and stay with the tire where it is at, I would split them in half and put on both sides of the rim.

I left the tire in place. The weight is split, 4 one side, 5 the other.

 

[Auburn]

I would take the tire, and break the and rotate the tire 180 degrees. Probably cut the balance weight in half. If you are using stick on weights and stay with the tire where it is at, I would split them in half and put on both sides of the rim.

I left the tire in place. The weight is split, 4 one side, 5 the other.

If you still have a vibration issue, then I would try moving the tire. I have seen a few that have had that many weights no matter what the tire orientation is. I always put duct tape over the weights to help secure them. Old racing habit.

 

[MCRIDER007]

I thought the 2 and a quarter oz was rim only....if that is with the tire on then you should try rotating the tire.

 

[bluesdog]

I don't yet have one of them fancy-shmancy tire changers, and so get new skins mounted by a local fellow enthusiast who does. He checks the balance of the rim to find the heavy spot, and mounts the new tire with the dot aligned as appropriate. Afterwards he balances the whole thing as a unit.

I just got one of those excellent balancers from master machinist Russ, and used it to re-balance my freshly-mounted tires. I found they were both weighted correctly, but very slightly off in terms of position of the weights.

(I showed my tire-changing friend Russ's excellent craftsmanship, and he now intends to upgrade his balancer.)

It doesn't take much to significantly unbalance a wheel.

Riding home from a day ride with some cruiser buddies, once we parted ways, I opened up a little, and felt a nasty vibration at over 100 k

By the time I got home it was too dark, and I was too tired to troubleshoot, so I parked under the workshed outer roof, and retired.

The next morning when I went to check the bike, I noticed a number of yellow-jackets buzz-y at the front wheel. They seemed particularly interested in one spoke in particular, and I could see something fluffy...

I hosed down the wheel to chase off the wasps, and a closer look revealed the remains of a small mouse lodged in the hollow of the spoke.

No clue how or why he'd got in there, but he sure must have had one short hell of a ride

 

[escapefjrtist]

Best part of changing tire(s) with your buddies is getting that last 1/4 oz to balance out.

...sometimes it takes a 6-pack or more to get it "just right"!

--G

 

[Niehart]

Best part of changing tire(s) with your buddies is getting that last 1/4 oz to balance out.
...sometimes it takes a 6-pack or more to get it "just right"!

--G

+1 Burp ...

Always nice to balance that rim without a tire on so you know where the heavy spot on the rim is.

 

[Twigg]

Best part of changing tire(s) with your buddies is getting that last 1/4 oz to balance out.
...sometimes it takes a 6-pack or more to get it "just right"!

--G

+1 Burp ...

Always nice to balance that rim without a tire on so you know where the heavy spot on the rim is.

This is my plan when that tire needs changing.

 

[MCRIDER007]

Best part of changing tire(s) with your buddies is getting that last 1/4 oz to balance out.
...sometimes it takes a 6-pack or more to get it "just right"!

--G

A 6-Pack? You must be able to balance tires a lot faster than I can.

 

[escapefjrtist]

Best part of changing tire(s) with your buddies is getting that last 1/4 oz to balance out.
...sometimes it takes a 6-pack or more to get it "just right"!

--G

A 6-Pack? You must be able to balance tires a lot faster than I can.

It all depends on how many "helping hands" are in attendance!

--G

 

[900gc]

Twigg, I know you are a handy guy by reading your posts so I assume you checked the rim for runout as well to make sure it's true. Chances are it is purely a balance issue but the reason I bring it up is that I had a '79 BMW R100 RS with cast rims and the front was not so straight and round any more after some pretty good pot hole hits and had to replace it. Speaking of runout, I wonder what the spec is?

 

[Twigg]

Front Wheel Run-out (Spec):

1.0mm Lateral

0.5mm Vertical

I didn't check it, but I will if the weights don't fix the problem. It can be checked on the bike.

 

[art miller]

Interesting reading!! I rarely ride at velocities exceeding 100MPH but during those few times I have never noticed any wobble or wheel vibration. On a prior BMW R1200C Montauk and two GenII FJR's and my current 2014ES I have been using Dina beads in the front tires and Ride-On in the rears. With Dina beads it is important to ensure the inside of the tire is completely dry and free of any foreign materials. I realize some of you Forum members do not care for either of these balancing methods but it works just fine for me and no ugly weights cluttering up my wheels!!

 

[Fred W]

Dyna-beads you say?

And away we go to NEPRT in 3, 2, 1...

 

[08FJR4ME]

Last I knew air holds moisture. So everytime you add a little air in your tire guess what. I have taken tires apart and see the beeds stuck to the rubber.

Good luck, not for me,

Dave