It is essential to balance a motorcycle wheel following the replacement of a tire. If the wheel is out of balance it can cause a vibration – felt through the handlebars – at medium to high speeds. Having wheels accurately balanced is essential for safe riding and also prolongs the life of your motorcycle tires.

The following equipment will be needed:

• A slim piece of hard plastic (or a wheel weight scraper)
• Motorcycle Wheel Balancing Stand (or axel stands)
• Some masking or insulation tape
• Some adhesive wheel weights

Carefully remove any existing weights from the wheel; this can be done by prizing them off with a slim piece of hard plastic such as a plastic applicator which is often supplied with car body filler. If no suitable piece of plastic is available, a wheel weight scraper which can be bought from your local automotive store. Do not try to use a screwdriver to pry off the weights as it may well damage the chrome or paint on the wheel.

For the wheel to be balanced it must be suspended on its axel; this can be achieved by using a specialized balancing stand or a pair of axel stands. Alternatively, any suitable make-shift stand which is capable of safely holding the wheel up by the axel alone can be used. When using axel stands, raise them up to a high enough height so the wheel is completely free to rotate and not in contact with any part of the stand.

If the wheel is free to rotate, it is very likely that the ‘heavy spot’ will be at the lowest point of the wheel. To check this, rotate the wheel by a quarter turn and let go; the wheel should now return and settle to the same position as before. This confirms that the ‘heavy spot’ is located at the bottom of the wheel and the ‘light spot’ (where the weights will be added) is at the top.

Mark the exact position of the ‘light-spot’ with a small piece of tape.

Temporarily tape a wheel weight onto the inside rim of the wheel with the centre of the weight positioned exactly inline with the centre of the light-spot. Rotate the wheel by a quarter of a turn – with the weights and the heavy spot horizontally inline with each other – and release the wheel. If the wheel rotates back more weights will need to be added; or if it rotates and settles with the weights at the bottom, some of the weight should be removed.

Repeat the process – making sure the centre the weights are directly inline with the ‘light-spot’ – until the wheel does not rotate in either direction when released. When this has been achieved the wheel can be gently rotated and it will stop randomly, indicating that the wheel has been correctly balanced. The wheel weights can now be more permanently attached to the rim with the double sided adhesive on their reverse side.

Motorcycle insurance agents usually don’t suggest potential motorcycle insurance discounts you’re eligible for… Often they don’t mention they have discounts at all. That’s why it’s important for you to do your research and be well prepared when talking to your agent. The negotiation script below will help you negotiate a lower rate, and could save you hundreds of dollars this year on your motorcycle insurance!

Step 1 (before you call):

• If you’re a current policy holder, print out a copy of your policy. Read it. This shows you what exactly is covered and how much it’s costing you.
• Call around and check online so you have a definite dollar amount to cite, as well as a company name.

Step 2 (during the call):

• Say, as early in the conversation as possible, “Company X offered me a premium of $X per month.” Then, stay silent. It’s important to stay silent and let the agent make the next move. It will be uncomfortable. Do it anyway!
• If your agent suggests the same rate, politely decline. Say, “I simply can’t afford that.” Often at this point the agent will say, “let me see what I can do for you.”
• After they come back on the phone and quote you a rate, it’s time to ask more specific questions that will really ratchet down your cost. Start with questions about loyalty to the company:

1. Do you offer a loyalty discount?
2. How much can I save if I have more than one insurance policies with you?
3. Do you offer a renewal discount?
4. Can I save money by paying for the year upfront, instead of monthly or quarterly?

Next, ask questions about more general discounts that are available:

• Does your company offer a discount if I install an anti-theft device on my motorcycle?
• I haven’t had any violations or accidents in over a year. Do you offer any safe motorcycle driver discounts?
• I recently took part in a motorcycle safety course. Do you offer discounts for completion of this?
• I work for “X company.” Do you offer any corporate rates for motorcycle insurance?
• Do you give discounts to members of professional organizations? (Example: American Motorcycle Association, Harley Owners Group, the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, the Honda Riders Club of America, etc.)
• I own more than one bike. Can I get a discount if I cover them both under the same policy?
• My bike is stored in a safe garage every night. Do you offer a safe and secure discount?
• I’m currently living in XX state, but my bike is stored in XX state for the summer. Is there a discount available for this?

Step 3: After you get a rate quote, ask them to modify it one more time.

Often times there are one or two more discounts you can get, but again, you have to ASK.  After you receive your rate quote, pause and say, “This works for me, and I’m really interested in giving you my business. Can you think of any other discounts before I decide?”

Be sure to keep this phone script handy for the next time you’re talking with your motorcycle insurance agent. It serves as a great guideline and could end up saving you quite a chunk of money on your policy.

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About the Author: Pam King writes on frugality, safety and insurance literacy for Direct General, a cheap motorcycle insurance provider. When not saving money on her insurance, Pam enjoys knitting, NASCAR, family and watching rollerderby!

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Many teenagers are dying to have a motorcycle, and they will beg and plead with their parents for one. And who can blame them? Speed is exciting! However, unsafe speed is the leading factor for motorcycle crashes involving teenagers. Is it naive to think that your teenager will never drive a motorcycle in an unsafe manner? The temptation to speed and dart through traffic is hard for some teenagers to resist. And if your teenager wants a race bike, you should be VERY concerned.

First of all, there are some benefits to allowing your teenager to have a motorcycle instead of a car:

• They cost less
• Motorcycles get better gas mileage
• There are fewer distractions to deal with
• There’s only one other traveler, at most, to worry about
• They typically do less damage to the environment

A lot of teenagers are skilled at wearing down their parents until parents finally give in. They’ve been honing these skills since early childhood! For many parents, their gut reaction to the motorcycle request is a resounding “no!” However, as the conversation carries on for a few months, parents may become desensitized to the dangers involved and give in to their teenager’s desire. However, before they do so, parents should consider the following questions and issues:

• Why does he want a motorcycle? Is it because of economical and/or environmental reasons or is it because his friend has a motorcycle or because he wants to look cool? Is he inspired by watching stuntmen zooming around on motorcycles in action packed movies? The real reason he wants a motorcycle is a major factor for parents to consider.
• How skilled is he at driving an automobile? Riding a motorcycle requires more coordination, agility, and alertness. Does he obey traffic rules while driving a car? Does he drive a car too fast, or weave through traffic? If he does, can you imagine what your teenager might do on a bike?
• How responsible is your teenager? If he enjoys the adrenaline rush from playing thrilling video games, will he seek that same rush on a motorcycle?
• Who is going to pay for the motorcycle, the insurance, and the upkeep?
• It’s a bad sign if your teenager won’t happily agree to enroll in a motorcycle driver training course. The Motorcycle Safety Foundation can direct you to motorcycle training courses in your area. More than 90% of motorcycle riders involved in a crash had no formal training.
• Do you trust him to wear a helmet at all times? Motorcycle riders who crash without wearing a helmet are forty percent more likely to get a fatal head injury. In states without helmet laws, just thirty-four to fifty-four percent of motorcycle riders wear a helmet.
• Do you trust him to always wear a brightly colored, strong, durable jacket? Never wear shorts while riding his motorcycle? Wear leather boots, or at least athletic shoes that cover his ankles? Wear his non-slip gloves during the summertime? If you think he’s more concerned about how he looks than safety, saying “no” is a wise choice.
• Obviously, alcohol consumption can be a problem. Approximately half of all single-vehicle, fatal motorcycle crashes involve alcohol.

According to the New York Department of Health, every week in the state of New York, approximately 11 motorcycle drivers and their passengers of 15 to 19 years of age are hospitalized or treated in hospital emergency rooms due to injuries from motorcycle crashes. Two-thirds of the crashes are caused by the driver.

Finally, teenagers can easily have a great time during their youthful years without experiencing the surge of speed and maneuverability of a motorcycle out on the streets. On a daily basis, can you be comfortable knowing your teenager is out in traffic on a motorcycle? Your sanity also matters!

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Brady Daniels writes feature articles for Motorcycle Insurance Quote about a variety of topics related to motorcycles.

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Related post :  Motorcycles and Children – A Safe Mix?