Retyred

[The Stranger:Me]

Would it be considered normal to balance a bike tyre when it is installed as you would expect say when replacing a car tyre?

Bit of a different experience.

Needed a couple of new tyres on the cage so go into Andy Harper they offer me a selection, remove the old, install the new, balance them, fit the wheels, pull out the torque wrench and torque the wheel nuts correctly then ask me what pressure I wanted to run and set all tyres accordingly.

Got a puncture on the Bike yesterday and took it to the local bike repairer. He advises that there is a cut cord and that I should replace the tyre. Ok so he offers a selection removes the old, fits the wheel, does the axle nut up with the rattle gun (axle spinning all the while) and says there you go.

No torque wrench, no balance and no setting the pressure.

[Juan]

I would insist on balance, things can get a bit out of control with a badly out of balance front wheel..... be carefull

[MSTRS:Me]

Would it be considered normal to balance a bike tyre when it is installed as you would expect say when replacing a car tyre?

Bit of a different experience.

Needed a couple of new tyres on the cage so go into Andy Harper they offer me a selection, remove the old, install the new, balance them, fit the wheels, pull out the torque wrench and torque the wheel nuts correctly then ask me what pressure I wanted to run and set all tyres accordingly.

Got a puncture on the Bike yesterday and took it to the local bike repairer. He advises that there is a cut cord and that I should replace the tyre. Ok so he offers a selection removes the old, fits the wheel, does the axle nut up with the rattle gun (axle spinning all the while) and says there you go.

No torque wrench, no balance and no setting the pressure.

Probably more common than you'd think. Tell'em you're not happy with their standard of care in this instance. If no-one tells'em, why would they change the way they do things?

[bugjuice]

not ballance a tyre? they fukin mad?
I'd hate to be doing 150 round a corner to have it bouncing away.. Take it back and get it done. Then kick him up the arse rather harshly
As for the pressure, hopefully they were paying attention when they were filling it with air.

Where was this? We want names..

[Sniper]

What they said and get them to bloody pay you danger money

[bugjuice]

What they said and get them to bloody pay you danger money

think I could go to Kawa on that line..??

[Sniper]

think I could go to Kawa on that line..??

They will just put riding a Kawa down to brain damage, sorry mate

[bugjuice]

They will just put riding a Kawa down to brain damage, sorry mate

ooooo..... that's a red-rep offence from every kawa rider here..
altho brain damage does help

[Sniper]

I have a clip somewhere of a guy riding the new 636 and when he climbs off, he pukes. So I suppose they can't be that bad........ (I do want a ZX10R though)

[bugjuice]

I have a clip somewhere of a guy riding the new 636 and when he climbs off, he pukes. So I suppose they can't be that bad........ (I do want a ZX10R though)

ask WL's first impressions of the 636. He was shaking before he even got on it..

anyway, back on track..

[The Stranger:Me]

As for the pressure, hopefully they were paying attention when they were filling it with air.

Where was this? We want names..

Yeah he was paying attention. Pump it up hard to expand the tyre onto the rim then put the valve in as the air is pissing out, thump the tyre and that was it.

I was certainly feeling more vibration than usual, but could not say if it was simply the different tread pattern or a balance issue. Thank you all for your responses I shall take it back and insist on a balance.

[Damon]

Thats not cool, take it back and tell him you've got a shake at 100k's and what him to fit it properly

[bugjuice]

Yeah he was paying attention. Pump it up hard to expand the tyre onto the rim then put the valve in as the air is pissing out, thump the tyre and that was it.

I was certainly feeling more vibration than usual, but could not say if it was simply the different tread pattern or a balance issue. Thank you all for your responses I shall take it back and insist on a balance.

yeah, I'd take it back and just fob some story about how it doesn't feel right, so you want it ballanced (if you're a winging pom like me), or if you're 'ard, then just say it needs ballancing.
They shouldn't charge you for anything and hopefully they won't do it to any other bikes!! That's quite bad practice for a bike shop

[vifferman]

The decent tyre places will not only balance it, but if it's a wide tyre (such as a 180 or wider rear), they'll dynamically balance it so that it's balanced across the width of the tyre as well as in the other planes. Instead of just fitting one weight in the middle of the rim, they may end up fitting smaller stick-on weights either side of the rim in different places.

Even the rear tyre can be important, as an out-of-balance rear tyre can cause headshake.

So yeah - definitely get it properly balanced.

[Lou Girardin]

Would it be considered normal to balance a bike tyre when it is installed as you would expect say when replacing a car tyre?

Bit of a different experience.

Needed a couple of new tyres on the cage so go into Andy Harper they offer me a selection, remove the old, install the new, balance them, fit the wheels, pull out the torque wrench and torque the wheel nuts correctly then ask me what pressure I wanted to run and set all tyres accordingly.

Got a puncture on the Bike yesterday and took it to the local bike repairer. He advises that there is a cut cord and that I should replace the tyre. Ok so he offers a selection removes the old, fits the wheel, does the axle nut up with the rattle gun (axle spinning all the while) and says there you go.

No torque wrench, no balance and no setting the pressure.

You won't be going there again then?
They should balance the tyre and check chain tension too. It may cost extra to adjust it, but it's easy enough to check it.