Bead balancing. Does it work or is it snake oil.

[Rocket3Pilot]

If you haven't used them you can't know more than those of us who have. We have housed your method and know the difference. We chose to use the "Snake Oil" and will until something better com e s along. After all but it was said that the automobile was just a fad to. When a mind is closed it ma yu be stuck there.

This is very true about the mind when it's closed! It's what magicians count on. (and snake oil salesmen too for that matter)

 

[sonny]

Oh well.

 

[mexican]

Oh well.

Handsome tire!

 

[scot in exile]

Your tags are due next month bike looks good well done.

 

[dragonjocky]

I have to admit that the video demonstration with the strobe light is impressive and makes you want to believe in it but: 1) Your only seeing the balls at a fixed speed? 2) That product in the video is completely different, in that their balls are contained in a dedicated ring with dampening fluid? 3) What happens to the loose balls inside your tire when you hit the brakes or accelerate? How often do you stay at one speed on a motorcycle? My guess is that you are actually "out of balance" more often than "in balance" while this pile of beads is seeking a good low spot in which to stay.

4) The "goo" products make sense for flat protection, but not balancing. Centrifugal force simply makes an even band of goo all the way around the inside of the tire. It's the same as just making the rubber thicker. I'm also curious if the product couldn't cause you to drive extended periods with an object in your tire that you couldn't detect? Is it really "blow out" protection or just "leak" protection?

I think the belief in this stuff is more a matter of people being sold the idea and trying it with a brand new tire installation. They feel the incredible difference in the new tire ( which happens every time I get new tires without additives ) and then they attribute the great difference to the miracle product instead of the new tire.

I believed in STP "motor honey" for a long time in my teens!

I'm about to change my Michelin Pilot Road III's on my Mean Streak, it'll be my third set. First set got a bit over 10k with machine balanced weight, second set, on now, I'm over 11k miles and could prolly push them over 12k if I wanted to make a point. Oh, I'm known for riding my bikes like scalded Cheetahs as well.

 

[Rocket3Pilot]

I'm about to change my Michelin Pilot Road III's on my Mean Streak, it'll be my third set. First set got a bit over 10k with machine balanced weight, second set, on now, I'm over 11k miles and could prolly push them over 12k if I wanted to make a point. Oh, I'm known for riding my bikes like scalded Cheetahs as well.

you stated earlier that you were using dyna beads but now you say "machine balanced"weight? It's really good mileage either way but which do you prefer, or are you doing both?

 

[dragonjocky]

you stated earlier that you were using dyna beads but now you say "machine balanced"weight? It's really good mileage either way but which do you prefer, or are you doing both?

Yeah, follow the thread, I'm running dyna beads in the second set of Pilot road 3's. What we had here was a failure to communicate!

 

[ZoneIII]

+1 to Ride-On.

I've used beads in the past and did not have an issue with ride, handling or wear.

Check out this video. They use a magnet to cause a severe out of balance condition, then add a bearing assembly to show how beads work. It's very convincing be sure to watch at least until they use the strobe light.
Of course, it could be all faked.

Very interesting! Thanks for posting that.

 

[ZoneIII]

Thanks for the replies, folks. From what I'm reading, it sounds like beads or RideOn may be good options. (I had never heard of RideOn before or, rather, I didn't know it was for balancing.) I have wondered, however, and as someone pointed out here, why race drivers and riders apparently don't use these balancing methods if they work so well. Perhaps it because of the extreme conditions of racing(?) I have read somewhere (I don't know if it's true) that most competition motorcycle racers use old-fashioned static balancing. Does anyone know if that's true?

 

[1olbull]

@ZoneIII
It does say yes or no, only two choices are offered and then you are directed to to cast your vote.
@TriumPhil is absolutely correct!