Guys,
I have been thinking about this and can't see a flaw in my logic.  Here goes....

I don't have a balancer for my wheels. I've seen "bubble balancers" which are basically a cone with a spirit level in the centre.  You sit the wheel on the cone so it's centered, and add weights to the light side as indicated by the bubble.

So, as a "crude" balancer for the back wheel, what's wrong with resting it on a small ball, like a golfball resting in the centre and eyeing it to level by adding weights on the light side?

Nothing's changed. Necessity is still the mother of invention.


Try this.


And this.

Neat TWB.  

Paul.

I don't understand how that can work?

I guess a heavy spot will roll to the bottom, but how do you know if it is weight on the left or right? Does it matter? And how much weight? trial and error?

That's a static balancer and they're surprisingly effective. The point is that the heavy 'spot' will drop to the bottom after repeated tries, in the same place. You then place a light weight (7 grams\1/4 ounce, for example) directly opposite and spin her again until she doesn't consistently come to rest in the same place - marking the spot or spots as you go. With the right amount of weight it won't ever come to rest at the same place. It takes trial and error but you get good at it after a while.

Is it as good as a properly set up dynamic or 'spin' balancer where the wheel and tyre combo are spun by motor at relatively high speed? Not quite, but good enough for racetrack and workshop work, good enough for me. Just be certain the stands are equal length and level.

Here's a renowned US company selling the kits:

http://www.marcparnes.com/BMW_Motorcycle_Wheel_Balancer.htm