Wheel Balancing

640Pilot · 11-03-2012, 11:19 PM

Guys just a quick question,
I've just finished setting up my spare set of drop on wheels for the 950 with my off road tyres, 908RR front, Mitas E09 Enduro rear....just wondered before fitting what you guys do for balancing.

The standard Scorpion 50/50's that were on the bike when I got it aren't balanced and even at speed it doesn't seems an issue, so I'm guessing just get em on and go hard...is that the norm...?

Ride Safe, orange side toward the sun

Lc8grrr · 11-04-2012, 03:10 AM

Without rimlocks you really don't need to balance them particularly over 20psi.

groovyspuds · 11-04-2012, 07:32 AM

I've never balanced mine and have no issues.

cjracer · 11-04-2012, 08:11 AM

I don't run rim locks on my 950s, Never balanced the tires. Many miles with out any issues.

Just swap them on and ride. You'll have them burned off soon enough.

folknride · 11-04-2012, 08:37 AM

I recently put RideOn in all my tires, both 50/50 and dirt - works great. Really smoothed out the road vibe on my 690, the 990 is smooth as silk, and I get some puncture/blowout protection to boot.
(But if you never ride at speed on slab, why bother)

Central Cali Rider · 11-09-2012, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by folknride

I recently put RideOn in all my tires, both 50/50 and dirt - works great. Really smoothed out the road vibe on my 690, the 990 is smooth as silk, and I get some puncture/blowout protection to boot.
(But if you never ride at speed on slab, why bother)

Interesting Stuff. Anyone else have experience.. Not that I don't trust you FOLKNRIDE

max2 · 11-04-2012, 09:00 AM

I balance all of my wheels, nothing is perfect out of the factory. Harbor Freight sells an inexpensive wheel balancer. An old desert racer gave me a tip for the weights. Use thick gage lead solder and wrap it around the spoke and nipple. Coil it around the nipple/spoke and cinch it down with pliers. It works great and never flys off. On our big heavy rims and tires, you might have to wrap two or three spokes. I only wrap it about 3" up the spoke. The closer you get to the center of the hub the less effective the weight.

bloc · 11-04-2012, 11:08 AM

I did go to the trouble of balancing my front and rear 908RRs... and the front is still trying to murder me. (headshake on hard throttle or above ~75mph)

Maybe I should pull the weight off?

pfdskipper · 11-04-2012, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bloc

I did go to the trouble of balancing my front and rear 908RRs... and the front is still trying to murder me. (headshake on hard throttle or above ~75mph)

Maybe I should pull the weight off?

Look elsewhere....like in preload setting

Lc8grrr · 11-05-2012, 03:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bloc

I did go to the trouble of balancing my front and rear 908RRs... and the front is still trying to murder me. (headshake on hard throttle or above ~75mph)

Maybe I should pull the weight off?

Its a 908 front, thats what they do...

Bronco3738 · 11-06-2012, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bloc

I did go to the trouble of balancing my front and rear 908RRs... and the front is still trying to murder me. (headshake on hard throttle or above ~75mph)

Maybe I should pull the weight off?

Give them a little time to break in. They will calm down after a few hundred miles. It's a known issue, well documented on this sight.

Idle · 11-06-2012, 03:37 PM

I have the litelock? Motion Pro rimlocks.

I wrapped 1/4" rod lead weight (fishing) as mentioned above. Cept I wrapped it just once around the nipple at the rim. Then wove it around one more nipple then once around the last nipple. Then I melted the ends together with a red hot implement (while holding it all snug with pliers)

Tip, roll the lead stick weight out on a flat surface first. Then roll something over it to make it a little flat. It will hang onto the square nipple easier.

I have a HF balancer. The rod was bent but it didn't affect it's accuracy enough to matter.

Sporting Wood · 11-06-2012, 04:15 PM

I'm one to let stuff run her till she blows on my bike but when it comes to wheels, I tend to go all bmw on them. When I swap rubber I always clean the crap out of them, oil the nipples, throw them in the truing stand and measure them with a dial caliper... adjust and torque up if necessary, apply a coat of wax followed by a thick coat of spray teflon mold release. I mean, even if I'm throwing on knobs that I know I'm going to burn through I just can't help but balance them too. Helps too that I have a dynamic balancer... I OCD it to the gram!

640Pilot · 11-08-2012, 01:19 AM

More great input....I'm thinking the second rim lock might be a good idea...at least until a side of the road tyre change anyways....but still makes sense..Cheers

veltex · 11-13-2012, 04:35 PM

Just a couple thoughts on balancing your own self, can anyone accurately measure the inside diameter of a front and rear wheel bearing for the 990 and post here please? With that said, would a steel round bar in above diameters work for balancing at home? the bearings on the wheel would act as, um, bearings, I think. Also makes me wonder if pushing off some of the brake fluid pressure from the caliper or removing the brake pads (also chain for rear), to let the wheel spin freely, cant they be balanced right on the bike providing the wheel bearings are in good shape?

11-03-2012, 11:19 PM	#1
640Pilot ^OP Adventurer Joined: Nov 2010 Location: Bayside, Brisbane. Australia Oddometer: 64	Wheel Balancing Guys just a quick question, I've just finished setting up my spare set of drop on wheels for the 950 with my off road tyres, 908RR front, Mitas E09 Enduro rear....just wondered before fitting what you guys do for balancing. The standard Scorpion 50/50's that were on the bike when I got it aren't balanced and even at speed it doesn't seems an issue, so I'm guessing just get em on and go hard...is that the norm...? Ride Safe, orange side toward the sun __________________ 950 Adventure FE 550 Husaberg 82' FXR Harley Davidson So much dirt...so little time...

11-04-2012, 08:11 AM	#4
cjracer AWD please!! Joined: Sep 2005 Location: Mukwonago, WI Oddometer: 3,864	I don't run rim locks on my 950s, Never balanced the tires. Many miles with out any issues. Just swap them on and ride. You'll have them burned off soon enough. __________________ My 2006 950S thread. 2006 950s update New product updates here! Wordpress BLOG click www.cjdesignsllc.com for the full line of products. www.outriderjournal.com FREE STUFF!!

11-04-2012, 08:37 AM	#5
folknride Old Adventurer Joined: Sep 2008 Location: Alberta, Canada Oddometer: 457	RideOn I recently put RideOn in all my tires, both 50/50 and dirt - works great. Really smoothed out the road vibe on my 690, the 990 is smooth as silk, and I get some puncture/blowout protection to boot. (But if you never ride at speed on slab, why bother) __________________ Warped by the rain, driven by the snow I'm drunk and dirty, but don't ya' know I'm still Willin'

11-04-2012, 09:00 AM	#7
max2 Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jun 2008 Location: SF East Bay, CA Oddometer: 166	I balance all of my wheels, nothing is perfect out of the factory. Harbor Freight sells an inexpensive wheel balancer. An old desert racer gave me a tip for the weights. Use thick gage lead solder and wrap it around the spoke and nipple. Coil it around the nipple/spoke and cinch it down with pliers. It works great and never flys off. On our big heavy rims and tires, you might have to wrap two or three spokes. I only wrap it about 3" up the spoke. The closer you get to the center of the hub the less effective the weight. __________________ 2007 Super Enduro...Finally got another one & 2008 Kawi KLX 450 - Plated 2010 KTM 690R - Sold 2006 BMW R1200GSA - SOLD...Thank Goodness...I hated that thing. 2007 KTM Super Enduro - Sold - HUGE Mistake letting it go 2006 KTM Adventure S - Sold / 2007 KTM 950 Supermoto - Sold

11-06-2012, 04:15 PM	#13
Sporting Wood I <3 Energizer Bunny Joined: Oct 2011 Location: Horneytown, NC Oddometer: 556	I'm one to let stuff run her till she blows on my bike but when it comes to wheels, I tend to go all bmw on them. When I swap rubber I always clean the crap out of them, oil the nipples, throw them in the truing stand and measure them with a dial caliper... adjust and torque up if necessary, apply a coat of wax followed by a thick coat of spray teflon mold release. I mean, even if I'm throwing on knobs that I know I'm going to burn through I just can't help but balance them too. Helps too that I have a dynamic balancer... I OCD it to the gram! __________________ Yet Another New Air Filter for the KTM 950 - $150

11-04-2012, 03:10 AM	#2
Lc8grrr Vtwin madness Joined: Sep 2008 Location: Not quite Tamworth, Aus Oddometer: 279	Without rimlocks you really don't need to balance them particularly over 20psi.

11-04-2012, 07:32 AM	#3
groovyspuds Adventurer Joined: Sep 2012 Location: The PNW Oddometer: 22	I've never balanced mine and have no issues.

11-04-2012, 11:08 AM	#8
bloc Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Apr 2012 Location: Austin, TX Oddometer: 158	I did go to the trouble of balancing my front and rear 908RRs... and the front is still trying to murder me. (headshake on hard throttle or above ~75mph) Maybe I should pull the weight off?

11-06-2012, 03:37 PM	#12
Idle Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jun 2011 Location: Northern California Oddometer: 410	I have the litelock? Motion Pro rimlocks. I wrapped 1/4" rod lead weight (fishing) as mentioned above. Cept I wrapped it just once around the nipple at the rim. Then wove it around one more nipple then once around the last nipple. Then I melted the ends together with a red hot implement (while holding it all snug with pliers) Tip, roll the lead stick weight out on a flat surface first. Then roll something over it to make it a little flat. It will hang onto the square nipple easier. I have a HF balancer. The rod was bent but it didn't affect it's accuracy enough to matter.

11-08-2012, 01:19 AM	#14
640Pilot ^OP Adventurer Joined: Nov 2010 Location: Bayside, Brisbane. Australia Oddometer: 64	More great input....I'm thinking the second rim lock might be a good idea...at least until a side of the road tyre change anyways....but still makes sense..Cheers __________________ 950 Adventure FE 550 Husaberg 82' FXR Harley Davidson So much dirt...so little time...

11-13-2012, 04:35 PM	#15
veltex powerball win needed Joined: Jun 2012 Location: Idaho Oddometer: 27	balancing at home? Just a couple thoughts on balancing your own self, can anyone accurately measure the inside diameter of a front and rear wheel bearing for the 990 and post here please? With that said, would a steel round bar in above diameters work for balancing at home? the bearings on the wheel would act as, um, bearings, I think. Also makes me wonder if pushing off some of the brake fluid pressure from the caliper or removing the brake pads (also chain for rear), to let the wheel spin freely, cant they be balanced right on the bike providing the wheel bearings are in good shape?

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