Slime used as balance agent

soggybottom · Post by **soggybottom** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 9:26 am

When I receive my new perelli rear and free front I'm thinking if useing slime only to balance. I read this somewhere, some have used just BB's.

I once changed the factory installed tires on my Bandit which had head shake while letting go of bars, I didnot balance the new tires and it went streight as an arrow when letting go of bars.

I'm thinkin slime will be a double safty factor in puncture sealing and perfect balance. I have used it in my off road bicycles, quads and KLR's with great success.

collyers · Post by **collyers** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 10:39 am

I screwed up my post of the reply - here's my reply:

http://r1150r.org/board/viewtopic.php?t=5832

Post by **DJ Downunder** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 5:43 pm

I would give the slime a miss....I would have them fitted and balanced the normal and correct way..IMO.

A road going motorcycle is very different to a bicycle,car or quad.

I know it works ok..I've used it in cars and bicycles before...I would use it in off road motorcycle tires.

I've used it in cars tires for an emergency fix..and in Mt Bike tires were they're prone to getting flats.

You don't need this crap

in your BMW tires..flats on our bikes really is are a very rare thing..tires these days are brilliant.

It adds to unsprung weight..could cause havoc with the valves..and future tire installers might curse you..

collyers seems keen on it (the other brand)...he would know better than me...but I'm still not convinced.

I'm no expert on this...It's just my opinion...don't do it..

DJ

peterbulgar · Post by **peterbulgar** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 6:43 pm

I once changed the factory installed tires on my Bandit which had head shake while letting go of bars, I did not balance the new tires and it went streight as an arrow when letting go of bars.

The headshake stopped because you had new tires - nothing to do with the balancing or lack of same.

I'd advise calling or e-mailing Pirelli customer service and asking their recommendation about Slime or any other balancing liquid. Then call your BMW dealer and ask for BMW's recommendation. (I'll save you the trouble - they will say not to use the stuff.)

Someone (or even several someones) will post that they've been using Slime for 20 years and hundreds of thousands of miles without a problem. Maybe they've just been lucky, or maybe Slime is really great stuff and news about its wonderfulness is being suppressed by a conspiracy between the tire and motorcycle manufacturers. Decide for yourself. But think of it this way: You got a good deal on two tires that will be on your bike for 8000 miles. For my money it is worth it to spend $25 to get them properly balanced.
peter '73 R75/5, '04 R1150RA

soggybottom · Post by **soggybottom** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 7:10 pm

I have been mounting and balancing my tires myself for the last 30 something years,. The bandit had headshake from new, again only when hands off, many jap bikes react like this including the 3 goldwings I've owned. I didn't balance them as an experiment as is going to be with the slime, liquid balance is common in the heavy trucking industry and I beleive it will work fine in M/C tires and will become common. Slime will only add lubrcation to the rubber and will not damage the rims. Slime and the other products mentioned are made to be compatable with rubber.

I'm not doing this just for fixaflat, that is an added safty factor. I beleive any of these products will improve balance and stability. If it doesnot, I guess I'll remove it and balance them as usual. BMW will tell you that anything you put on your bike that is not made by them or a vendor of theirs is not suitable, including seats, handelbar risers, mirrors, tankbags etc.

Also if anybody thinks their going to get a bargain on that pirelli deal you will be surprised when it costs $80-$100 to have your dealer to install them. If you can't install tires yourself don't go through the trouble.

Post by **DJ Downunder** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 7:45 pm

soggybottom...I thought headshake was a speed wobble thing and nothing to do with tire balance...I may be wrong.

I'm just trying to get my head around how it (the goo) could balance a tire or wheel that's out of balance.

Surely the goo will be just thrown out by centrifugal force and just put an even coat on the outer/inside of the tire.

If you have a thicker or heavier piece of the tread how will the goo know to put more of itself on the opposite side to help balance it?

Where's the Myth Busters when you need them..

DJ

soggybottom · Post by **soggybottom** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 8:17 pm

I am a mythbusters junky

Liquid balance is common in various applications, I don't know the physics of it other than as is spins the right amount of stuff goes to the right place. I once owned a new Fatboy HD in 92, I was determined to make that ridged mounted engine run as smooth as the rubber mounted FRX I traded on it. I bought a dish device that you attach to the output shaft inside the primary before the sprocket, it had a hollow groove around the outside with a small amount of mercury in it, it didn't run as smooth as the FXR but did smooth out some. I was a freelance trucker for 27 years, although I knew of its availability to the industry I never used the liquid balance nor did I ever balance a tire with anything or know of anybody else who did there own tire repairs use the stuff.

Within a month I'll be doing this project and will report back. Unless of course, if someonelse chimes in who will verify he became a parapalegic while doing the same experiment

Post by **Pat** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 9:57 pm

I'm on a Bonneville now.... spoke wheels = tires & tubes (danm!).

Sooooo, after fixing MANY a puncture, many a flat on the Roadster, easily.... with my handy dandy tire Puncture Repair Kit,

I feared flats will be inevitable on the Bonnie.

With research I found a couple products, one of which (the better) was "Slime". So I buy some specifically for street motorcycles with tubes, take the stuff home, and prepare to put it in my tires.

To my surprise..... upon reading the instructions (good thing to do once in a while), it warns not to take the bike above 75 mph (I think it was '75'), with the Slime in yer tires.

I carry Slime with me, but not via the inner workings of my tires. I, uhh, tend to exceed 75 mph..... mmmm, once in a while. I don't plan to use it as a balancing agent, I've got in in the event of a puncture only.......

jimcameron · Post by **jimcameron** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 4:32 pm

Pat wrote:I'm on a Bonneville now.... spoke wheels = tires & tubes (danm!).

I don't plan to use it as a balancing agent, I've got in in the event of a puncture only.......

Pat

I loved my 02 Bonnie, they are great bikes. I think you might be better off with AAA (Plus RV) in the event of a puncture rather than the Slime. I would not expect great results if you get a puncture in your tubed tire. Nail goes in, tire flattens, tube tends to get torn up to the point where slime is not going to be the cure. AAA+RV is only a cell phone call away. Ride On!

soggybottom · Post by **soggybottom** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 6:08 pm

I forgot to mention I have slime in my KLR650, I just got back from a grocery run and had it up to 80mph, streight as an arrow. I'm wondering if there may be a heat buildup limiting it to 75mph, I'll look in to other brands also and find websites and inquire. Wally World sells the Victor line of tire repair products and they have slime type stuff at wallys now.

I had a leak in my 10k lb gooseneck trailer tire I couldn't find for months so I poured in a bottle of Wally slime $5.99 and hasen't leaked in over a month

Post by **Pat** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 8:56 pm

jimcameron,
I am loving my BonnieBlack, but the tube tires have me riding scared (of a puncture/flat)! Forged wheels are becoming available for the Bonnie's, but they're cost prohibitive.... or are they? The tube wheels is about my only complaint with the bike. I can't understand it, only 61 horses to the rear wheel, good suspension components doesn't change the fact that the design is obsolete, kinda heavy, not very quick..... BUT I LOVE IT! Is it worth another $1500.00 just to have tubeless tires..... yeah, might be.

I'm disturbed by what you say about the Slime not being up to the task of addressing a ripped up tube in a poked tire...... makes sense, and gives me all the MORE reason to get the forged wheels. I like to be self sufficient, and not be stranded by a flat.

I may keep the Bonnie as a bar hopper, and get the new F800 or R1200R when one or the other is released. I was bummed when the salesman suggested that the US won't see the F800 for another two years.......

My Bonnie with Hepco Becker bags, Z Technik tail pack, and D&D cans:

soggybottom · Post by **soggybottom** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 10:20 pm

My research points to the product collyers mentions, Ride On, they say it improves balance, run cooler, hi speed ok, I didn't notice if it works in tubes. http://www.fortune3.com/ride-on