Rear Tire Balancing ?

[djcmx49]

So I just got my VFR rims back from my local Honda dealer after having new tires put on. I of course was charged for installing and balancing. A week or so later I spoke with a friend who owned a VFR750 for many years and mentioned they most likely did not balance the rear rim because they do not have the adapter required for single sided swing-arm VFR rims for their balance machine. He said they kept telling him they would get the adapter but never did. He now owns a Ducati and takes his bike to another dealer who obviously has the required equipment since they deal with tons of single sided swing-arm Duc's.

My question is should I take rim to Ducati dealer to check balance? The rim has no weights installed so I tend to agree with my friend they most likely did not actually balance it. The fact they charged me for it is another matter but my main concern is it safe to drive at speed without knowing whether it's balanced ? What do most of you guys do for the rear rim ? Looking at many photo's here I noticed many rear rims which don't look to have any weights installed though that is not a definitive means of telling whether it's been balanced or not... Just curious....

Don C.

[Morespeedvicar]

Hi, I've only ever balanced a wheel if it shakes, if its running smooth then don't worry about it, I would think a car place can balance a nc30 rear so just pop it to one an see what they say.

[johnnie5]

if it doesnt have any weights on it then how did they balance it ?

[bikemonkey]

When I had to get my two NC30 rears balanced I had to ring around bike shops as most of them didn't have single sider adapters and the nearest Honda dealers balancer had broke down.

The rear I have with a BT092 on it didn't need balancing and has no weights on it (true as I watched the guy do it), but the other one with the BT090 on it needed 25g.

So sometimes you don't need to add weights, but I'd get it double checked myself. Especially if you can feel a bit of vibro when riding it

[djcmx49]

Thanks for input guys...Since it's still winter here, , I have not been able to ride it to see if it vibrates or shakes. I put the BT092 on it btw...I am leaning to getting it checked by Ducati dealer before I re-assemble bike for spring. Cheers

Don C.

[speedy231278]

When I got my last pair of tyres done, the shop doing them had adaptors for single sided stuff, but done of them wanted to play ball with my wheel. The bloke told me that rears often didn't need balancing anyway (not quite sure why that would be) and it was more important that the front was balanced. I was advised to see what it felt like, and come back if I had any serious vibrations. Nothing of note after the best part of a year.

[djcmx49]

Hmmm, that is strange that he would say rears often didn't need balancing ? I do agree front is more likely to be far more dangerous to ride if it's not properly balanced...

[johnnie5]

When I got my last pair of tyres done, the shop doing them had adaptors for single sided stuff, but done of them wanted to play ball with my wheel. The bloke told me that rears often didn't need balancing anyway (not quite sure why that would be) and it was more important that the front was balanced. I was advised to see what it felt like, and come back if I had any serious vibrations. Nothing of note after the best part of a year.

prob because the rear wheel doesnt have brake disks attached which brings a whole new pile of issues

[skinnydog0_0]

I had this discussion with a local bike garage when i had some tyres changed, and they spouted the same lines, the fact that rears dont really need doing cos they are fixed to the hub, and they dont have the discs, etc etc etc. But personally i think thats all a load of bull. If i get my tyres changed at the track the guys there have never mentioned it and just do it, and 70% of the time th erear will need a weight. If you get the tyres changed on your car they balance all the wheels - and the rears are fixed to the hub the same as a bike so it's no different.

[djcmx49]

Yes I tend agree it sound's like a load of BS to me, just because they don't have equipment or don't want to waste the time properly doing it...I will take it to get balanced checked before riding it. Look at the fact they charged me balancing fee after that ... :)

Don C.