DynaBeads - Do they really work?

[Demar]

What do you all think of DynaBeads? How many use them instead of stick-on weights? It seems like a very easy way to balance wheels if they really work.

[bad Chad]

No.

[StuCorpe]

The theory is great, my experience has not equaled the theory. They may work OK at higher speeds but not at all at low speed.

[toaster404]

With wheel and tire suitably lined up, they have worked wonderfully for me for who knows.  50,000 miles?  Very effective.  But do require the wheel be turning.

[Rough Edge racing]

 I used beads in a CJ Jeep with hard to balance large knobby tires and they seemed to work...I also have them in my race Triumph but I made no before and after test so who knows .....

[Madtownguzzi]

In the true Guzzi fashion I use Airsoft ultra heavy ammo. Just use 28 per ounce of weight. I usually use 3 ounces.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Crosman-Airsoft-Super-Heavy-Ammo-2-000-Ct./9222911

[John Ulrich]

After discovering a 55 mph vibration on a new front tire on the Wing, the last thing I wanted to do is pull the tire back off it.  There was a lot of weight added already so I decided to try the beads.  Worked for me!

[Bisbonian]

My experience with a few different bikes and much experimentation has been that the beads add vibration for me.

I have spent too much time breaking tires down to remove beads than I care to think about.

The last time (last year) removing the beads erased all traces of vibration with no balancing weights needed.

I will never put them in another tire again as long as I live.

[Wayne Orwig]

I have mounted my own tires for over 40 years.
I seldom balance them, and have never had a problem. Yes, there are people that think beads work.

 

[cj750]

I've yet to see an independent test that finds any benefit. Certainly Motorcycle Consumer News couldn't, either on the road or on a balancing machine. You can read about their testing here: http://msta-se.com/MC/dynabeads.pdf

[Wayne Orwig]

I've yet to see an independent test that finds any benefit. Certainly Motorcycle Consumer News couldn't, either on the road or on a balancing machine. You can read about their testing here: http://msta-se.com/MC/dynabeads.pdf

Don't go bring up facts. 

[Rough Edge racing]

 It's my opinion the so called scientific reporting in the article quoted above may be no more valid than my scientific reporting on the beads in a Jeep and a bike...

[Texas Turnip]

You can say bad things about his momma and bad things about his wife, but don't ever say any bad things about dyna beads.
Some like 'em and some don't.

Tex

[redrider]

Snake Oil. MCN tested and not approved. The owner of DB complained and a second test completed. Failure to perform. Twice. They might keep the inside of the rim corrosion free with all that sloshing around, though.

[wrbix]

The only fun part of mounting new tires is balancing, which I do with stick-ons.
Always notice, though, that between tire changes, some weights are lost with no perceptible effect.

Makes me wonder:
- why bother?
- is this why beads "work" (balancing is not really needed anyway)?
- would I be just as well served by chanting an incantation and rubbing on snake oil? - maybe equally fun.

[Triple Jim]

I found that with relatively large motorcycles that have heavy wheels and tires, balancing is often not necessary, at least with the balance errors I've found on my Mille and Kawasaki H2 at speeds over 100 mph.  A couple years ago I set up my Yamaha DT100 as a road racer, making engine and sprocket ratio modifications, and found that when I got it going 65 mph, the unbalanced wheels felt like they were hopping clear off the ground.  I balanced them with a couple ounces of weights and now they're smooth and steady.  After that I've been balancing them all at tire change time.

In summary, I suspect that if I had used balancing beads in the larger bikes, I'd think they worked great.  I also suspect that if I had used them in the little 100cc bike, I may be saying they don't work.  If it weren't potentially so much trouble, I'd run the test.

[GreenIce]

I agree with Triple Jim about the heavier bikes.  I've used the beads on my 2012 Softail when I changed the stock tire to a Michelin Commander II.  Tire seemed very balanced and I rarely ride above 65mph.  For my sport bikes I still use stick-ons.as several riders here have claimed the beads did not balance their Ninjas, GSXRs, CBRs, etc.  Another HD rider here swears by them and uses them in both his Harleys.  Just my 2 cents worth of experience.

[Perazzimx14]

I have put CounterAct balance beads in well over 150 motorcycle tires with no compliants.

[Chuck in Indiana]

The only fun part of mounting new tires is balancing, which I do with stick-ons.
Always notice, though, that between tire changes, some weights are lost with no perceptible effect.

Makes me wonder:
- why bother?
- is this why beads "work" (balancing is not really needed anyway)?
- would I be just as well served by chanting an incantation and rubbing on snake oil? - maybe equally fun.

You forgot sacrificing a chicken.. no guts no glory. 

I've been riding over 50 years. I've never had an out of balance issue. <shrug> I used to balance them, but I've seen the balance weights go missing, too, with no noticeable effect.
Any more, I just balance the bare wheel once, then put on new tires with the dot at the valve stem and forget it.
YMMV, of course..

[old as dirt 2]

for you folks losing balance weights.

make sure the rim is uber clean. use test weights with duct tape to get the exact weight before you cut and install the NEW weights.
After installing the new weights put a piece of duct tape over them. this will keep dirt and moisture out from the foam strip which can break down and poof there goes your weight. Also I have some pop off on real rough roads like in New Orleans before I started using duct tape over the top of them. haven't lost one yet on mine or others I do their tires for. (about 20 sets a year for folks).

[Aaron D.]

Though re-balancing every tire change may not be needed, I've seen a bike after it threw  a wheel weight, it was almost unrideable.

But again, I have not rebalanced a wheel after putting on a tire, never had a problem

[malik]

Inspired by a rear tube on the V7C holing itself after 5000k (shop error - oversize tube) and the tyre scrubbing itself bald after another 3000k, I started using the balance balls. Now both the V7C & the V7 Special have balance balls front and rear. A long term test is now in progress. There have been NO performance issues. On the V7 Special, the Avon AM26 on the front has 14,000k to date, and the rear AM26 some 8,000k, with no real sign of wear on either. There is more data available on the V7C, but it's not as accurately recorded - I should go through the paperwork to see if I can fix that.

There seems to be lots of (uncontrolled) variables in tyre longevity, but overall, I'm happy with the balls so far. For peace of mind, my spare rear tube has the balls already inserted.

Mal

[toaster404]

Wonder whether use and type have any effect.

I first started using after I couldn't get some Dunlops to run smooth on a cruiser.  Pulled the weights and rebalanced myself, trued the wheels (spokes) and just could not get a faint annoying wiggle hum thing out.  No weights and beads - smooth for the life of those tires.  The Commander II replacements were also really smooth.  If I start out slowly and stay there (parking lot), I can feel faint wobbly, but as soon as I'm up to 20 or something it snaps in.

Cali 1400 seems as smooth as need be without - but I haven't worn the first set of tires quite out yet.  There's a lot of vibration and such going on anyway, so I might notice something if I popped beads in and weights off.  I'll do that with the next set of tires.