How to Balance a Motorcycle Wheel

It is essential to balance a motorcycle wheel following the replacement of a tire. If the wheel is out of balance it can cause a vibration – felt through the handlebars – at medium to high speeds. Having wheels accurately balanced is essential for safe riding and also prolongs the life of your motorcycle tires.
The following equipment will be needed:

A slim piece of hard plastic (or a wheel weight scraper)

Motorcycle Wheel Balancing Stand (or axel stands)

Some masking or insulation tape

Some adhesive wheel weights

Carefully remove any existing weights from the wheel; this can be done by prizing them off with a slim piece of hard plastic such as a plastic applicator which is often supplied with car body filler. If no suitable piece of plastic is available, a wheel weight scraper which can be bought from your local automotive store. Do not try to use a screwdriver to pry off the weights as it may well damage the chrome or paint on the wheel.

Motorcycle wheel balance

For the wheel to be balanced it must be suspended on its axel; this can be achieved by using a specialized balancing stand or a pair of axel stands. Alternatively, any suitable make-shift stand which is capable of safely holding the wheel up by the axel alone can be used. When using axel stands, raise them up to a high enough height so the wheel is completely free to rotate and not in contact with any part of the stand.

If the wheel is free to rotate, it is very likely that the ‘heavy spot’ will be at the lowest point of the wheel. To check this, rotate the wheel by a quarter turn and let go; the wheel should now return and settle to the same position as before. This confirms that the ‘heavy spot’ is located at the bottom of the wheel and the ‘light spot’ (where the weights will be added) is at the top.

Mark the exact position of the ‘light-spot’ with a small piece of tape.

Motorcycle wheel weights

Temporarily tape a wheel weight onto the inside rim of the wheel with the centre of the weight positioned exactly inline with the centre of the light-spot. Rotate the wheel by a quarter of a turn – with the weights and the heavy spot horizontally inline with each other – and release the wheel. If the wheel rotates back more weights will need to be added; or if it rotates and settles with the weights at the bottom, some of the weight should be removed.

Repeat the process – making sure the centre the weights are directly inline with the ‘light-spot’ - until the wheel does not rotate in either direction when released. When this has been achieved the wheel can be gently rotated and it will stop randomly, indicating that the wheel has been correctly balanced. The wheel weights can now be more permanently attached to the rim with the double sided adhesive on their reverse side.

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