When it comes to motorcycle riding, whether you’re a professional racer or a casual rider, few things are more important than proper wheel balancing. An unbalanced wheel can turn your ride into a shaky nightmare, where even a slight imbalance can cause annoying vibrations, unpredictable cornering, uneven tire wear and create a major safety concern. 

While traditional wheel weights have been the go-to solution for decades with track day riders and MotoGP mechanics swearing by the accuracy of a simple static balancer like the Rabaconda Motorcycle Wheel Balancer, a faster and easier option is now available with Rabaconda Motorcycle Tire Balancing Beads. 

What are Balancing Beads and how do they work?

First, you pour the tiny, high-density tempered glass beads into your tire during the mounting. As you ride, these beads move around, automatically redistributing themselves to keep your wheel balanced. It’s like having a tiny pit crew inside your tire, constantly working to smooth out your ride. Unlike those old-school stick-on weights that seem to fall off at the worst possible moment, these beads keep adjusting as you ride, ensuring your wheels stay steady for the entire life of your tire. 

Balancing Beads vs. Wheel Balancer–Which One’s Better? 

As for which is better, balancing beads or a wheel balancer, it all depends on personal preference. A manual or static wheel balancer is the old-school, tried-and-true way to dial in precision balance. The wheel spins freely on an axle, so gravity naturally identifies the heaviest point. Once located, small stick-on or adhesive wheel weights are added to the wheel to counteract the imbalance. This takes a little more time and effort compared to the fast and easy balancing beads and might require periodic rebalancing as the tire wears, but it’s often preferred by high-performance road racers who demand highly accurate weight distribution. 

Balancing beads bring the set-it-and-forget-it simplicity to wheel balancing. Instead of manually placing weights, the beads automatically self-adjust inside the tire as it spins. This works for the lifespan of the tire, which means no need to rebalance over time. 

Which Option Should You Choose? 

For everyday adventurers, we commend the Rabaconda Motorcycle Tire Balancing Beads for a smooth, balanced ride without the need for adjustments. 

For track racers or those who want a balancing setup that’s slightly more accurate, the Rabaconda Motorcycle Wheel Balancer will deliver the most precision, making it the preferred choice for fine-tuning bike performance. 

Both balancing methods get the job done–it just comes down to your riding style and how hands-on you want to be. Either way, keeping your wheels balanced means a smoother ride, better handling and longer tire life. 

Installing Rabaconda Motorcycle Tire Balancing Beads:

Option 1: When using the Rabaconda Street Bike Tire Changer, just pour the beads directly into tire during mounting. The unique angle of the Street Bike Tire Changer will not allow the beads to escape.

Option 2: if the tire is already mounted, then pour directly into the valve stem.

Remember: Safety first – always wear goggles!