I'm going to try balancing my wheels myself when I mount my new tires. Do I balance my front wheel with the brake rotors on it and balance the rear wheel with the rotor and sprocket on it? Or should I balance without any of those attached?
My exhaust headers and collector are stock and I have F1r Cobra slip-ons. I took the exhaust off during a tear down and was able to get it back on but it gave me a heck of a time and it wasn't quite perfect. I've since taken it off again. Is there any trick to mount it? Last time I installed it with the headers and collector assembled (slip on mufflers detached). then got the headers into the exhaust ports and had a tough time to get the exhaust collector mounted via that bolt on the under side. That's the only way I could see doing it but maybe somebody has a trick?
Quote from: 86FJNJ on April 24, 2025, 05:48:08 PMI'm going to try balancing my wheels myself when I mount my new tires. Do I balance my front wheel with the brake rotors on it and balance the rear wheel with the rotor and sprocket on it? Or should I balance without any of those attached?
86FJNJ,
Do not remove anything from the wheels except the axles. :yes:
Do not trust or believe any "heavy spot" marks that you may find on rims or tires.
I prefer to balance wheels with the minimum possible weights added. This method was found in an old post here.
Step-by-step:
* First, check the balance the bare rim (no tire).
* find the "heavy side" on the bare rim and mark it.
* balance the bare rim with weights.
* mount the tire, inflate to riding PSI pressure, and check the balance (this will show you the "light side" of the tire.)
* Mark the "light side" of the tire.
* Deflate the tire, and unseat the bead.
* Move the tire "light side" around the rim to match up with the rim "heavy side."
* Inflate the tire to riding PSI pressure.
*
Remove all wheel balancing weights.* Balance the rim/tire in the normal way.
At this point, you should require the least number of weights to balance the rim/tire.
thank you, I've watched a few youtube vids and it was generally the instructions you listed. I am planning to buy this balancer and these weights. Although these are stick on square weights and my wheels are 3CV with the lip in the middle do I need a special spacer that clips onto the center of the rim?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BQMDMSHV/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=A1R5RH6SRZN4Q4&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XDG1JJH/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_8?smid=AHQBFG50V6W62&th=1
My balancer is similar but it uses the axle. I use similar stick-on weights and they are fine. I use masking tape to hold them on until I think I'm set, and I'll saw a weight down to get the balance as good as possible.
Quote from: 86FJNJ on Yesterday at 06:59:59 AMthank you, I've watched a few youtube vids and it was generally the instructions you listed. I am planning to buy this balancer and these weights. Although these are stick on square weights and my wheels are 3CV with the lip in the middle do I need a special spacer that clips onto the center of the rim?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XDG1JJH/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_8?smid=AHQBFG50V6W62&th=1
86FJNJ
Wheel weights can be had in many sizes. Center-clip weights will be fine, but two smaller weights (one on each side of the ridge) may do the job as well. I've seen wheel weights applied with a washer or two added to get good results.
Record the grams of weights that you install, in case you lose one; then you can replace any lost weight easily. It's a good idea to record every maintenance job you do on the bike in a logbook, by mileage and date. Routine maintenance is called for by the manual at various mileage or time intervals.