Wheel balancing & exhaust mount question

[86FJNJ]

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?

[red]

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?

86FJNJ,

Do not remove anything from the wheels except the axles. 
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.

[86FJNJ]

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

[Waiex191]

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.

[red]

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/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.