Triumphrat

yakoo11 · 07-17-2007, 11:05 PM

What is the easiest way to balance a tire.... Do you need any special tools or just those 7 gram (1/4oz) weights... i think my mechanic f***ed up and I get some wicked vibration (but its speed variable and doesnt occur all of the time) out of the front end and i looked closely and there is like 55 grams of weight where there used to only be like 14 ...(I switched tire brands Old Dunlop 208GPA to New Michelin 2CT) and I cant see there being that great of a difference in manufacturing when it comes to roundness... I even went so far as to change my suspension back to full stock settings... wow does she feel soft... any tips would be appreciated...

Will · 07-18-2007, 01:26 AM

You need an axle of some kind with very little friction and a way to suspend it so the tire can rotate freely until it settles with its heaviest point down. Then you start adding weights opposite the heavy side. It usually doesn't take much. New Michelins usually don't need much balancing and Pirellis are amazing that way. New tires usually have a dot somewhere on them. The dot is the heaviest point on the tire, so you install it opposite the valve stem.

pete2 · 07-18-2007, 11:51 AM

Actually you're supposed to install the dot next to the valve stem. Michelin say their tires are so well balanced they don't even put the dot on their tires (and yes, the weights and their positions seem to be pretty much standard on my wheels), and pirelli have either 2 dots (better balance) or one dot (not as good balance). I don't remember the gram amounts so I'm not gonna guess either, but they definitely weren't a lot. Tires like Diablo Corsa and Supercorsa only come with 2 dots

airrider03 · 07-18-2007, 12:13 PM

...the experience I have with my Sprint 06 is that Triumph wheels (sans tire) are not balanced, and the light side will not necessarily be opposite of the stem. Right off the showroom floor, my Sprint had 58 grams on the front wheel. Before I even rode the bike, I jokingly asked the dealer if he could swap my front wheel with another Sprint that he had on the floor (with only 15 grams attached). Of course he said no.
I ride the new bike and above 85 mph the shudder is unbearable, I'm thinking the whole front end is going to detach, let alone the mirrors.
Back to the dealer, who adds another 20 grams to the mix (this doesn't feel right because my Tiger, when new, had NO weights on it!).
Needless to say, the vibration is the same, if not, worse.
I ended up buying a Marc Parnes Balancer for about $110 and now do my own balancing. The results out on the road are excellent...smooth as glass, and I re-check my wheels every 4000 miles or so.
With the cost of balancing at the dealer, the Marc Parnes Balancer pays for itself over and over again, and you can be sure the job is done right.
Besides, balancing your own wheels can be alot of fun, the dealer tries to do it in under a minute, but I spend about 30 minutes and do it perfectly.
I eventually learned how to mount my own tires and now my riding buddies are starting to do the same. Skip the dealer, mine couldn't balance the wheel with his Snap-On computer balancer.

yakoo11 · 07-18-2007, 02:43 PM

when i asked my mechanic why all the new weights he said that the rim was the obvious reason because the pilot power 2cts are so well balanced... So I guess its just another triumph mystery... And you say this fancy balancer does the trick.. maybe i will look into it, and how do you mount your own tires??? In an emergency I used dirtbike spoons and it took me about 2 1/2 hours wont do that again... but the tire mounting rig that I've seen looks pricey

thanks for the help

pete2 · 07-18-2007, 03:01 PM

Doesn't need to be fancy, what I use is similar to this

Works like a charm, and they cost like 50 bucks

airrider03 · 07-18-2007, 03:27 PM

Popping the bead is the toughest part. I use two short pieces of 2x4's and run a threaded rod through them, making a clamp-like device, never fails and is easy on your rims.
Spoon the tires is the way I do it. Lots of soap and water...keep it wet!!
It would make sense to balance the bare wheel at the factory before they sell it to us, but Peter C at Triumph Customer service says that they do not do that, and they balance the wheel after the tire is mounted, which explains the massive weights that are used sometimes.

Will · 07-18-2007, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pete2

Actually you're supposed to install the dot next to the valve stem.

Thanks. I stand corrected.

yakoo11 · 07-18-2007, 08:37 PM

What are the negative ramifications to riding around with a tire/wheel that is slightly unbalanced and/or how long can you ride with one before your forced to change your fork oil (I assume that is the first to fail)

any heads up would be appreciated.

airrider03 · 07-19-2007, 04:48 PM

If it's the front wheel, you'll experience shudder in your mirrors and handlebars, mostly felt anywhere above 60mph. You steering head may be slightly damaged, and your tire will wear unevenly....
The other thing is that it will add fatigue in your long rides.
Here are some gizmos for changing tires...

http://www.angelridevideos.com/reviews/Mojo.html