tire balancing

I'm going to put a new front tire on my XJ this winter. Would it be best to let a bike shop balance it or can I do it myself? What about those beads people put them? Does it work? Where do you get them?
I was a tire mechanic for 5 years so I have the tools and knowledge to change it myself. Just never balanced a bike wheel before. Thanks in advance.

 

I use one of these to balance mine; I usually find the true heavy of the wheel with no tire installed (vice assuming it's the valve stem), match the dot on the tire to it, and call it a day with no weights... Don't know about the beads; I'm sure you'll receive plenty of other advice though :wink:

 

I like to ride fast; so I have them professionally mounted and high-speed spin balanced. It's one of the few things I don't trust myself to do correctly.

 

Motorcycle tires are statically balanced, so a rig like the one Rick posted is perfectly adequate. It's quite easy to get under 5 grams, which is the lightest weight you can get.

On the other hand, even that simple balancer is a lot of $$ if you're only going to use it a time or 2.

 

I've installed and balanced the tires on our Hondas with absolutely no issues. However, I've only had the Hondas up to 90 mph. The tires on my XJ700N were good when I got the bike and still have a lot left on them. However, when I get new ones I plan to mount and balance them. I have had very good success with a couple of jack stands and the regular axle and stick on weights.

 

I'm with Fitz.
Way too big of a pain in the butt to remove, then mount and balance a tire.

I pull the wheel.
Put it in the trunk.
Drive it to the Pro's.
Watch them do it right.
Then, high-speed, digital, right on-the-nose balancing.
Pay.
Take it home and put it on.
Badda-bing; badda-boom.

 

+1 for Badda-bing and high speed balance.