I've just has a new set of tyres fitted & balanced - the good news, the Beast now turns without having to haul on the handlebars like a weightlifter and vibration is dramatically reduced. The bad news was the bill - I'm too embarrassed to put it in print, but it well wiped out any savings on the tyres themselves.
So, all, is there anyone around Banbury who can be relied on to balance a set of bike tyres/wheels for a reasonable fee? Is balancing essential?
Also, what's the score on Ultraseal? Bigblackfalco clearly hates it, as did my tyre man this week (hence the size of the bill), although the last crew to change the tyres didn't seem to mind it.
Cheers,
James
Tyre balancing c*ck up
Moderators: slparry, Gromit, Paul
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winger
James - I think it's really only important to balance the front wheel, and even without that it's not all going to go pete tong like in a car. Car wheels have toe and camber to contend with where bikes don't.
I get part worn tyres fitted to the back of my S and GS all the time and they never get balanced cos the bloke hasn't got the adapter for the BMW wheels - I've not had a problem with vibrations.
As for that scumy ultraseal stuff - it's fecking expensive for a start and if you get a pucture with it in, then tyre shops refuse to fix it cos of all the shitty slime in the tyre. I've seen peoples bikes that look like they've been urinated on by a giant green alien dog when they've had a puncture too big to seal and it's spun itself out all over everything. Fact is people are a) too scared and b) to lazy to learn how to fix a puncture with a road side kit like the BMs. If you've done it before, then litterally 10 minutes max and you can fix it by the side of the road. Maybe not much fun in the winter in the dark but ask yourself does the number of punctures you get a justify a 20 quid fill of goo every time you get new tyres?
Jason
I get part worn tyres fitted to the back of my S and GS all the time and they never get balanced cos the bloke hasn't got the adapter for the BMW wheels - I've not had a problem with vibrations.
As for that scumy ultraseal stuff - it's fecking expensive for a start and if you get a pucture with it in, then tyre shops refuse to fix it cos of all the shitty slime in the tyre. I've seen peoples bikes that look like they've been urinated on by a giant green alien dog when they've had a puncture too big to seal and it's spun itself out all over everything. Fact is people are a) too scared and b) to lazy to learn how to fix a puncture with a road side kit like the BMs. If you've done it before, then litterally 10 minutes max and you can fix it by the side of the road. Maybe not much fun in the winter in the dark but ask yourself does the number of punctures you get a justify a 20 quid fill of goo every time you get new tyres?
Jason
2002 Black GSA (for random fault analysis and for stealing all my weekends fixing the b'stard)
2000 Black R1100S (for remembering the good old times)
2000 Black R1100S (for remembering the good old times)
Do not use ultraseal in conjunction with the excellent tyre facilities at Central Wheel unless you want a kick up the jacksy, it's a real pain in the *rse for tyre fittersJamesL wrote:Chaps, many thanks for the feedback. I'll follow up the leads, and it looks like Ultraseal needs a tad more research before I bung it back in...
James
Lloyd
It's not how fast you ride, it's how you ride fast.
Light travels faster than sound. That's why some people appear
bright until you hear them speak.
It's not how fast you ride, it's how you ride fast.
Light travels faster than sound. That's why some people appear
bright until you hear them speak.