Rim locks and wheel balancing

[xrocket21]

On my KTM I swapped out the dual sport tires for some Metzger dot legal dirt tires and added rim locks. Lots of vibration over 50 now. Can you balance dirt tires?

[e30addict]

Yes. Balance like normal or throw dynabeads in the tubes. They even have weights you can crimp onto spokes.

[whynot]

... or go old skool

[xrocket21]

Im thinkin harbor freight balancer and spoke weights... thanks guys.

[xrocket21]

Got myself a tire balancer and a stand for $75. Weights come Friday or Monday

[nhbubba]

Been using the HF balancer for years. It is fine
Stick on weights for street bikes. Crimp on spoke weights for the dual-sports.

Although in truth I skip the balance all the time without issue.

[xrocket21]

Been using the HF balancer for years. It is fine
Stick on weights for street bikes. Crimp on spoke weights for the dual-sports.

Although in truth I skip the balance all the time without issue.

I dont street ride it a lot, but the little test ride I did, it was not great past 40, and pretty bad over 60. Soke weights from ebay should be here saturday or monday.

[R7]

Not sure how the KTM wheels come on newer bikes, but my 2011 had the option for two rim locks. One lock was installed, the other on the opposite rotation was just a rubber plug. I added the second rim lock on my bike and it solved most of the vibrations. You’ll never get rid of all of it with knobbies, simply because of the spacing between the knobs

[xrocket21]

Not sure how the KTM wheels come on newer bikes, but my 2011 had the option for two rim locks. One lock was installed, the other on the opposite rotation was just a rubber plug. I added the second rim lock on my bike and it solved most of the vibrations. You’ll never get rid of all of it with knobbies, simply because of the spacing between the knobs

These just had one hole for the rim lock. Right near the valve stem too, I was surprised it wasn't opposite,

[csmutty]

Got myself a tire balancer and a stand for $75. Weights come Friday or Monday

I would go over the balancer a bit when you get it. The bearings they use are less than optimal. I've taken them apart and greased them as they stopped spinning freely at one point. Also the concentricity between the bearings isn't great which causes the axle to want to walk and increases friction in the assembly.

I'm sitting here wondering if dyna beads would work with dual sport/off road tires if they are setup tubeless...

Edit...prolly not with the rim locks.

[SRTie4k]

I don't think concentricity of the bearings really matters if all you're doing is static balancing and the bearings move freely. The stand my buddy and I have you can't even adjust the bearings to be concentric, that is just implied in the assembly of the frame.

[xrocket21]

I would go over the balancer a bit when you get it. The bearings they use are less than optimal. I've taken them apart and greased them as they stopped spinning freely at one point. Also the concentricity between the bearings isn't great which causes the axle to want to walk and increases friction in the assembly.

I'm sitting here wondering if dyna beads would work with dual sport/off road tires if they are setup tubeless...

Edit...prolly not with the rim locks.

I was tempted by dyna beads as I could put them in without taking the wheels back off the bike, but research found mixed reviews.

- - - Updated - - -

I don't think concentricity of the bearings really matters if all you're doing is static balancing and the bearings move freely. The stand my buddy and I have you can't even adjust the bearings to be concentric, that is just implied in the assembly of the frame.

Yeah, I think close enough/better than it is will be good enough for me for what this will be used for.

I even got the Rim Locks in first try with no issues

[e30addict]

Been using dynabeads for 50k or so at this point. I'm happy with them.

[csmutty]

I don't think concentricity of the bearings really matters if all you're doing is static balancing and the bearings move freely. The stand my buddy and I have you can't even adjust the bearings to be concentric, that is just implied in the assembly of the frame.

Either way the bearings not moving is an issue.

I've installed dyna beads for people with no issues.

[xrocket21]

Either way the bearings not moving is an issue.

I've installed dyna beads for people with no issues.

Probably should have asked here first.. oh well

I have some killer light bearing oil from my RC cars that I'll put on em.

Thanks guys.

I'm trying to get everything in line for this j day race in July!

Put real acerbis wrap around hand guards on last night. Ordered knee pads today.

[typeone]

Thanks guys.

I'm trying to get everything in line for this j day race in July!

Put real acerbis wrap around hand guards on last night. Ordered knee pads today.

awesome !!

[PurplePackage]

Toss me $200 for the dynamic balancer tool and I'll give you 20 free dynamic balances

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B073DKJ7RV

[xrocket21]

Toss me $200 for the dynamic balancer tool and I'll give you 20 free dynamic balances

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B073DKJ7RV

I live up in a rural part of Maine

[PurplePackage]

I live up in a rural part of Maine

ah can't get dere from nyeah, I'm from away
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ecg_WizWicQ

[xrocket21]

Went pretty fast. Rear took a ton of weight though

[typeone]

wow, that is a lot of weight ... alternatively, could always drill the opposite side and install a matching rim lock ... but the work is done now

EDIT: i assume OEM rim lock, another option to potentially lighten things up is to switch out for a MP LiteLoc superlite

[csmutty]

Dang that's a lot. Did you get brass weights?

[xrocket21]

wow, that is a lot of weight ... alternatively, could always drill the opposite side and install a matching rim lock ... but the work is done now

EDIT: i assume OEM rim lock, another option to potentially lighten things up is to switch out for a MP LiteLoc superlite

It is the oem lock that came with the bike.

Dang that's a lot. Did you get brass weights?

Yeah, they are brass weights. I also thought it was a LOT more weight than I expected for it to balance. The rear seems like a lot more than the little plastic rim lock itself would weigh.

I took it for a spin and it rides smooth as hell now though!

[whynot]

Them's some deluxe weights.

[csmutty]

Naturally corrosion resistant though.

I wonder if you got unlucky and the heaviest part of the tire is at the rim lock.