Topic: Do you balance wheels with rotor on?

[samfig]

Hey!
I just got some new tubes and tires and will be taking them to a local place to be mounted and balanced ... but I'm also going to taking the front rotor off to be resurfaced (by someone else).  Should the front wheel be balanced with the rotor on?
Oh yeah, it's a stock 73 cb750.

[Scott S]

 I prefer to have mine balanced WITH the rotor. It's all unsprung weight and rotating mass.

[BenelliSEI]

+1 to Scott S.

[seanbarney41]

It kinda depends on your tire tech...ask them what works best.  Some tire mounting equipment will not accomodate a brake rotor or two

[Nicklopic]

The guys who mounted my tires told me explicitly the rotors needed to be there to balance properly. Since it all spins as one assembly it makes sense. Ask the shop before you go if anything

[rotortiller]

Normally done with the rotor on as no benefit to doing it with it off. Most guys use a static balance as it is quick and dirty offering excellent results. I use an inexpensive combination truing  and balance stand.

[samfig]

All great advice.

Down the street from me is a shop that sells Ducati, Triumph, KTM and MV Agusta bikes and they quoted me $50 per tire + weights.  I'll give them a call tomorrow to inquire on there preference. 

I also called a Honda shop and they wanted $75 a wheel + weights. 

Would there be a benefit in going to the Honda shop in terms of quality??  I'd imagine not since our bike's are 1/2 the age of most mechanics now but I figured I'd ask.
-Sam

[rotortiller]

One motorcycle balance job will buy the tool and weights.

[samfig]

As much as I'd like to dabble in the work my wife would balk at me messing around with tires on a bike she already suspect of.   

[seanbarney41]

I would avoid any new motorcycle dealership where young, inexperienced techs are paid low wages to not really give a #$%* about quality.  These kids are not gonna care that it's pretty tricky to get the bead set on tube type rims.  I guess I am fortunate to live in an area that has long time open independant motorcycle shops that have tons of experience mounting every kind of tire on every kind of rim.

[BenelliSEI]

Curious, who charges “plus weights”? And is there a local “disposal fee” for your old tires too?

10+ years ago, I had a local dealer tell me they would no longer install tires and tubes not purchased through their parts dept. Fair enough. I like to support my local shop. Checked on line, chose the tires I wanted, and paid the bill.......

A few months later, working with a friend’s K8, got the same tires, tubes, and rim tapes, added the truing/ balancing stand, rim protectors and tire spoons. Watched a few videos and did them ourselves. He bought me a case of beer and still spent less than I did! That equipment has fitted 5-6 more sets of tires for us since AND having the stand pushed me into learning to lace my own wheels.

Lesson learned.

[BenelliSEI]

P.S. Rotortiller ......... JUST LOVE THE TRUING STAND IN THE KITCHEN, ON THE COUNTER!

[rotortiller]

THE TRUING STAND IN THE KITCHEN, ON THE COUNTER!

Have a great understanding wife plus wheel lacing is clean. It takes time so it's best to be close to the fridge and coffee machine LOL