How-to Balance Dirt Bike Tires

[@philstewart2473]

Thanks Jeff for this balancing video, and all the other vids you post. Simple and precise, what could be better. Keep up the great service you provide to us wrenchers!

[@slaverace1]

You're welcome.

[@zw810]

Thanks Jeff! I’ve got fresh tires and Tubliss set up landing sometime this week from y’all. I had a old Pitbull stand that doesn’t fit any of my current bikes, I was going to order a tire balancer but I’ll just stop by the hardware store and spend 7 bucks on a steel tube to put in between the arms! Thanks for all you do.

[@slaverace1]

You are welcome.

[@markbuckholz3184]

Hahah, Mr Slavens, I have the same truing stand from probably 40 years ago, gawd we are getting old. Thank you for your reviews on IRC rears and the Bridgestone X31. I live in Flagstaff, and have used up my stash of Kenda pro deal tires. Picked up a new 300TBI, am working thru all the dumb things KTM did for this new bike, and started looking at the new generation of tires, going to try a VE33s/x31 combo, should be good for the variety of stuff I am training and racing on here in the southwest. Hope to cross paths with you again up in the Taylor Park/Salida area again sometime this coming summer. Thank you for the AXP skidplate for my 300TBI, it is holding up great so far in the nasty boulder fields we like to ride on in Arizona. Cheers!

[@oneeyedrone4293]

working on balancing a sprocket on an older mini bike now, its a real pain but not as dangerous as a dirt bike. Great video for the balancing steps, once sprocket gets sorted out on mine / replaced

[@dannuthals7045]

Thanks Jeff! After watching this video I went into the garage and built a simple inverted T-frame out of scrap 2x4, found an old rod for the "axle" and built a rig. Nothing fancy, but it will work. Will order the weights from you and look forward to balancing my Tubliss wheels for my 500 EXC-F. Knew I should do this - thanks for the solution.

[@Johnr37us]

I actually purchased a machine like this last week ( before I seen this video) because after doing my research this was a very good way to balance a dirt bike tire.

[@sashapave9400]

@Jeff thanks for this, I hope it helps more people change & balance their own tires. Couple questions: - I've seen some people stack their spoke weights on top of each other. I tend to spread out across multiple spokes. Is one way correct? - Any opinion on MotionPro LiteLock rim locks vs. the regular variety?

[@Matt-rn6ve]

Great video! Where do you get those weights?

[@mattkeno2405]

I just use two rimlocks, drill another rimlock hole directly opposite the existing one and run two of the same rimlocks, pretty balanced and you have two points locking the bead instead of one.

[@KrinklingPlasticBits]

Rear yes, front no way

[@adventuresoftheindian5203]

Best balance video, hands down.

[@slaverace1]

Thank you.

[@patrickmatthews1272]

Thanks Jeff for the vid funny how we forget the old school ways , something I need to do now 👍👍

[@jbtek1]

Great video! I'm not sure I would trust the allen head set screw to stay tight. I've had good luck with the crimp on lead weights.

[@slaverace1]

It takes very little force to keep them intact. The screws work very well.

[@craighoffman8160]

Jeff, Glad to hear you are out riding and apparently feeling better after your car accident. Those spoke weights are cool! Much better than screwing around with stick on deals that always fall off or the crimp on lead fishing weights and other Mickey Mouse stuff I have used with varying levels of success and failure. Been static balancing like this forever as well. Will order some of those weights from ya.

[@slaverace1]

It was a motorcycle vs Sprinter van head-on.

[@sashapave9400]

@@slaverace1 Damn! Glad you're still with us!

[@craighoffman8160]

@@slaverace1 Knew it was bad, but did not know the details. Holy crap. Glad to still have ya with us.

[@Fulmer_Flickz]

Do you have to balance both tires, front and back?

[@WorldCommander]

I like simple! But, how come the offset doesn't make any difference in accuracy?

[@fje8687]

Thanks Jeff! Worked perfect

[@slaverace1]

You're welcome!

[@jmotoid3661]

Jeff what’s your opinions on stick on rim weights? Good as spoke weights? I was considering those over spoke types.

[@slaverace1]

You have to use a lot of the stick-on type and they get knocked off.

[@jimcline8694]

Thanks Jeff

[@MRKTM690smc]

I’m surprised it isn’t off more with not having the wheel centered on the shaft. I used some machined cones with some high precision bearings on shaft and it works great.

[@slaverace1]

The offset has no effect.

[@johncorbishley1548]

Jeffs way has less friction

[@mototrailz]

Thanks jeff. The only negative about those weight is you have to take them off when tightening the spokes

[@slaverace1]

Takes 2 seconds. Less time than to pop the top off a beer.

[@eriknash8783]

Bought your weights for my FE501 after installing mousse and the large end does not fit over the nipples on my OEM wheels

[@slaverace1]

Hello Erik: The spoke weights do not just slide on, you must loosen the screw then tap the weight with a hammer.

[@uloveit666]

I often ride to work on my 2002 ktm 300 and when my shadow is next to me I laugh at how much my rear wheel bounces up and down at 70mph. I should really try this out!

[@sashapave9400]

You're very lucky to live in a state that allows 2-strokes on the road, then again maybe your commute is all dirt :)

[@uloveit666]

@@sashapave9400 I live in the UK dude so it's not problem for us 👌

[@BudderCraft526]

@@sashapave9400 www.dirtlegal.com/services/dirt-bike-conversion maybe give this a shot😉

[@johnroethel5527]

Funny how the old school ways are at least as accurate, often more. LOL

[@LGR_LGR_LGR]

Couldn't you do this with the rim left on the bike by disconnecting the caliper and the bike jacked up?

[@slaverace1]

Yes, but the bearing and seal drag makes it more difficult to get an accurate setting.

[@thejurisdoctor2798]

Where did you get the weights?

[@slaverace1]

slavensracing.com/shop/reusable-spoke-weights-by-no-mar/

[@jameswilson2423]

That is awesome 😎

[@slaverace1]

Thank you.

[@waspmeat]

anyone know the this brand specifically of weights he’s using or where to source them?

[@slaverace1]

slavensracing.com/shop/reusable-spoke-weights-by-no-mar/

[@qb7384]

Can you run two rim locks or is that a bad idea?

[@jasonl495]

Thanks Jeff!

[@crfisaiah3963]

So the rim lock is at balanced is at the bottom?

[@slaverace1]

Sorry, I don't understand your question.

[@crfisaiah3963]

@@slaverace1 so when the wheel is balanced is the rim lock at the bottom

[@slaverace1]

@@crfisaiah3963 No. When it is balanced, the rim lock should not stop in the same place every time.

[@crfisaiah3963]

@@slaverace1 right thank you

[@timmoore6656]

Thanks

[@bryanha79]

2.5 ounces on the opposite side of the rim lock works almost every time.

[@slaverace1]

Should get you close but some rim locks are heavier than others and may need more or less weight.

[@ToyotaKTM]

Some knoby TIRES are out of balance, by up to 1/4 the weight of the rimlock. Tublis throws in a second valve stem to consider.

[@GaryRolls2]

i bet this will make a huge difference for the first 30 seconds of riding, after that mud will will get it out of whack.. pointless🥵

[@slaverace1]

Wrong.

[@moto5914]

@ Joe Rohloff. If you are going to apply that logic... you don’t tune your suspension for your ride weight either since it pointless once mud starts sticking? Don’t tune your carb since you ride in hills and different temps anyway?

[@GaryRolls2]

@@moto5914TPI is tuned to perfection 🥴