Some of the harley custom wheels are not necessarily heaviest at the valve stem my anarchy was about 90 deg off. I desperately tried to balance with beads but just couldn't get it right finally went to stick on weights doesn't look that bad and rides smoother than snot. Next tire change I might remove weights and try ride on and see if that works it sounds good,but for now ill stick with good ole stick on weights.

 

The irony in that post is unbelievable....

 

Yes moron the irony, it sure is unbelievable....

 

Agreed.

 

Useless bitching and name calling, in 2 posts you already covered everything we need here. Glad we have contributors like you to this forum! Wouldn't want things becoming to helpful and productive if you useless trolls were gone...

 

I have done a LOT of tires. Yes you put the yellow dot some brands have other colors at the valve stem but does not meany you will not have to add weight.

 

Wow! This is a first for me. Hearing someone complain that the tech did what he should and balanced your tire. I'd wager to say that 90% of all vehicles on the road either have weights on the wheels or they're out of balance. If you're in the remaining 10% and your wheels/tires didn't need any weight to balance them, consider yourself fortunate - it's not the norm.

While I agree with you that aligning the dot does not eliminate the need for balancing, I'll disagree that doing so gets you to the best starting point. Further explanation below.

This is not only true with Harley custom wheels, it's true for every wheel out there. The assumption that everyone makes is that all wheels are in perfect balance, and then when you install the valve stem, that becomes the heavy spot. This assumption is very far from reality in many cases.

I have two bikes and not one of the four wheels between them is heaviest at the valve stem. Take a look at the attached pics and notice where the valve stem is in the balancing stand. Nearly 180 degrees off from being the heavy spot. This is a factory stock HD wheel. In the other pic you'll see where I marked the heavy spot and that is where the tire dot will be aligned when mounted.

Again, aligning the dot to the valve stem assumes that the wheel is in perfect balance. In the real world that is seldom the case.

 

If you have ever expierenced the wobble, you will never forget. I get mine balanced with weights and use Ride On.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_wobble