So, how bad did I overpay for new rubber?

[thought]

there is a whole thread on this that I think was locked due to the flamewar that resulted...

end result of the thread:

they seem like they work from people trying them, but the second you start to think about the physics of it, people's heads explode and someone kills a kitten.

[rideserotta]

end result of the thread:

they seem like they work from people trying them, but the second you start to think about the physics of it, people's heads explode and someone kills a kitten.

Ha ha! It's amazing how some of these threads degenerate so quickly.

[ducatiz]

any time you make a recipe that calls for a cup of bullshit, that's what happens.  :-)

[Veloce-Fino]

any time you make a recipe that calls for a cup of bullshit, that's what happens.  :-)

rofl


If I split the cost between me and 2 friends the no-mar would be really affordable.

I've got 2 bikes in the garage and both get at least 1 set a season.

I'm all for supporting my local shop. I have no problem paying 10-20 more for the rubber, but his service fees are just too damn high (unless you live in Australia)

[jsd2]

Do you go to Williamsville Competition?

Yes I did.  I love that place

Jim

[DesmoDiva]

That doesn't sound like Al...you must have spoke with Jeff.

Al always gives us shit for buying tires on the net and having him install them.

Oh well.  How's Monza doing?

Haven't made it down there in a few months.

[MadDuck]

Bought Michelin pilot power 2ct
120/60x17 and a 160/60x17  $110 for the front, $150 for the rear. Came to $261.90 after tax for tires.

Bought in store, figured I'd support a local business.

I ended up paying about $60 for the front and $70 for the rear to be installed and balanced. Tire weight was $10.

The whole deal ended up costing: $400.65

Seems a bit high to me.

Next time I'm bringing in just the wheels instead of the entire bike. Or am I just being cheap?

If you bring in the wheels and not the bike it'd be a bit less and you'd be fine on the cost. It only makes sense in getting a tire changer if you are doing lots of wheels/tires. For one person with one bike it's not really cost effective.

[bevel]

Most of the shops around me charge a flat $35 for mount/balance with the rims off the bike, and then $70+ if they have to pull the rims for you. One shop even has a sign saying "full dressers, expect a lot more" on the pricing sheet.

I've always seen it as being easier to pull the rims myself and haul everything in the car, but that's me.

[Greg]

rofl


If I split the cost between me and 2 friends the no-mar would be really affordable.

I've got 2 bikes in the garage and both get at least 1 set a season.

I'm all for supporting my local shop. I have no problem paying 10-20 more for the rubber, but his service fees are just too damn high (unless you live in Australia)

Get a Cycle Hill changer, it's made by no-mar but is a slighly cheaper version, it is still very solid and made in USA. I've used the Dynabeads on several sets of tires now, and I have zero complaints about them and continue to use them.

[Triple J]

Get a Cycle Hill changer, it's made by no-mar but is a slighly cheaper version, it is still very solid and made in USA. I've used the Dynabeads on several sets of tires now, and I have zero complaints about them and continue to use them.

+1 on all counts. I have a Cycle Hill changer and it is very nice...and Dynabeads work fine. Balancing with weights isn't hard either though.

[ducatiz]

MCN reviewed DynaBeads in 2006:

MCN evaluated the Dyna Beads on a reader's suggestion back in October of 2006. Although the tiny white ceramic beads have apparently found favor with long-haul truckers, we tested them in a Honda 599. Using a shop's spin balancer, we checked the bike's rear wheel, which had 1.6 oz. of balance weights in place. The balancer agreed with the amount and location of the weights. After installing the specified two ounces of beads in the rear tire and then removing the rim weights, the balancer found an out of balance condition. This test was repeated five times and the balancer continued to call for the replacement of the 1.6 oz. of rim weights in the same location. Over-the-road testing was next. Without the rim weights, the rear wheel produced noticeable vibration and the installation of the beads gave a barely perceptible improvement. Also, the weight of the beads added so close to the tire tread gave a noticeable increase in gyro stability, making the steering heavier. We also tried them on a car and were disappointed. Bottom line: Save your money for a proper spin balance.

[Triple J]

MCN reviewed DynaBeads in 2006:

 

We've been over this...their in-house test was flawed due to the axle being fixed. I don't know about their road test, but I call BS on it too. I have them in my SMT and everything is great. They either work (if my tires/rims are out of balance without weights) or they don't make a difference at all (if my tires/rims are in balance without weights). Either way, my bike rides fine so I like them, and that is the test I'll use.

Their claim of heavier steering is flat out laughable...you use less bead weight than normal lead weight to account for the positioning. Plus, I doubt such a small amount of weight could be felt by anyone short of a professional racer at full race pace.

Their only downside I've seen is they're a bit of a pain in the ass to use if you put them in after the tire has been installed. They also cost more that lead weights, so if you have a balancer it doesn't make sense to use them.

Here's the thread...it isn't locked. The discussion progression is very similar to the plane on the conveyor belt. 
http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=39383.0

[ducatiz]

That's the problem:  balancers' axles are not fixed.  They move slightly to allow the out-of-balance tire to shift so that the weights can be determined.

No such thing as a fixed axle balance machine, not the computerized ones at least.  The old fashioned type is fixed, but no one uses those anymore.

And the only place I can find someone saying the MCN test was flawed was the seller of Dynabeads claiming so, because the balance machine's axle doesn't flex (which it does).

I was in the other thread...

[Triple J]

I was in the other thread...

I know. 

I am using them now and they seem to work. If they acted as MCN claims I would feel it, and I don't.

[ducatiz]

I know. 

I am using them now and they seem to work. If they acted as MCN claims I would feel it, and I don't.

i wonder how different it owuld be for you if you just took them out and ran unbalanced.  you might just have a "close" tire/wheel combo