Balancing beads

[Guest]

Has anyone here ever used the ceramic balancing beads?

http://www.eztirebeads.com/DIY-Balancing-Kits.html

[salty_monk]

There are several threads on here about them...

[jdion81]

Probably a product of the awesome search function on the forum. Couldn't find anything.

[allojohn]

Many here use beads - set 'em and forget 'em. There are a few skeptics.... I'm not one.

[chuck hahn]

I was a skeptic till allowing the guy changing tires to use them and now im a believer. 2 OZ. in back tire and 1 OZ. in the front.

[Downs]

I've used them before. Infact my Strom currently has them in there. It's not my prefered way of doing it cause I always have a hell of a time getting the beads out of there to reuse them. A box of 1/4 oz wheel weights that will probably last you a lifetime is 35 dollars from Napa and static wheel balancers are pretty cheap as well.

[hillsy]

The good thing about the balance beads is that you don't have to stick weights to your rims and risk having an unbalanced tyre if they come off.

[Sandy]

The good thing about the balance beads is that you don't have to stick weights to your rims and risk having an unbalanced tyre if they come off.

I was always skeptical of them but decided to give them a try in my shiny new wheels. I've got them on order so we'll see what happens. A buddy here has used them for years and says they work.


by soates50, on Flickr

[sharpy]

The good thing about the balance beads is that you don't have to stick weights to your rims and risk having an unbalanced tyre if they come off.

Seems you dont use genuine weights then. Of have non expert people stick them on. Try heading to wreckers and ask them if you can grab some wheel weights. few mins and few bucks with last you a life time. Same thing goes for you Sandy, try and get some genuine wheel weights. even from dirt bikes as the nipples are same size.

[Sandy]

Seems you dont use genuine weights then. Of have non expert people stick them on. Try heading to wreckers and ask them if you can grab some wheel weights. few mins and few bucks with last you a life time. Same thing goes for you Sandy, try and get some genuine wheel weights. even from dirt bikes as the nipples are same size.

Good idea but unfortunately the nearest bike wrecker is a 4 1/2 hour drive away. I've got a few of each type as well as some stickons kicking around but the new sealed wheel bearings have a little too much stiction to do a good job of static balancing right now anyway so I'll give the beads a try. I've read they don't necessarily work that great at super high speeds but that shouldn't be a problem on a stodgy old 1000. LOL.

[aclaytonb]

I've got a set coming in the mail. I'll let ya know.

[chuck hahn]

Use a engraver and set it at its most vibration setting to shake the beads into tubes. Put a long clear piece of vinyl tubing over the valve stem and fill it with the packets of beads. Vibrate the stem and work the beads into the tubes. Then mount tubes and tires as normal.

[jdion81]

Chuck, I was kind of wondering about that. The local shop guy swears the mags on 80's GS's leak air so he always puts a tube in the tire when I have had tires put on. Looking at the ways you can do tire removal/installs at home I am convinced I can save money on mounting and balancing. If the aluminum mags do really loose air I was wondering if the beads can be used in tubed tires. Apparently so. Has your experience been good?

[chuck hahn]

Well ive been running tubeless on all my GS mag rims and they don't leak that know of. Had a few get soft in the storage unit, but then again after a few ears setting there they werent flat either. And the urban myth that tires will roll off a rim unless it specifically says TUBELESS is just that. If they rolled off the Texas hill country twisties would already killed me long ago.

Yes the shops are gonna tell you that. How else they gonna sell you tubes???? Use good quality valves stems with the rubber sealing washers for bot sides of the rims. I also put a little smear of RTV on both sides of the rims when installing stems just as a backup.

[Downs]

Well ive been running tubeless on all my GS mag rims and they don't leak that know of. Had a few get soft in the storage uni, but then again after a few ears setting there they werent flat either. And the urban myth that tires will roll off a rim unless it specifically says TUBELESS is just that. If they rolled off the Texas hill country twisties would already killed me long ago.

Yes the shops are gonna tell you that. How else they gonna sell you tubes???? Use good quality valves stems with the rubber sealing washers for bot sides of the rims. I also put a little smear of RTV on both sides of the rims when installing stems just as a backup.

I've ran mine tubeless since 2001ish. Been fine so far.