Hey There! 👋 Have you ever noticed vibrations or light wobbling on the handlebar on your motorcycle?
The first thing that is worth checking before diving into replacing more expensive and labor-intensive parts like wheel bearings, brake discs, or tires – is the wheel balance.
That is where having your own wheel balancing stand in your garage comes in handy. Secondly, if your bike has spoked wheels – you’ll be able to check if wheels are true and adjust spoke tension if necessary.
Contents
how to choose the best wheel balancing stand for your motorcycle?
- Check compatible wheel sizes and if the stand will fit your bike’s wheels. I recommend going for a stand that fits a 21-inch wheel – this way you won’t have to buy another stand for the rest of your life.
- Check if there is a wheel truing gauge. That comes in handy for truing spoked wheels as well as checking if rims are bent.
- The stand leveling gauge and adjustable stand feet that allow leveling the stand are handy. If the wheel is placed on the stand at an angle – the rotation friction will be higher reducing balancing accuracy.
- A solid base that stands firmly on the ground and does not wobble as the wheel is rotating makes the balancing and truing job more convenient.
- Adjustable Cones that slide into wheel bearings to fixate the wheel on a stand. All modern balancing stands have these but still make sure the stand has them.
A balanced wheel reduces vibrations, improves handling, and extends tire life as well as reduces suspension and wheel bearing wear.
Wheel Balancing Stands for Motorcycle
Best Overall
#1 Tusk
Max Wheel Diameter: 21-inch
Pointer for truing: ✅ Yes
Leveling Gauge: ✅ Yes
Adjustable feet: ✅ Yes
Solid Base: ✅ Yes
Adjustable cones: ✅ Yes
Benefits & Features
✅ Solid build with high-precision quality parts that do align correctly in terms of geometry. All parallel and perpendicular parts are as they should allowing precise wheel balancing and truing.
✅ Fits 21-inch wheel which is the biggest wheel size used on motorcycles. Therefore this stand will serve you on all your bikes for a long time.
✅ The stand is heavy and bulky which is actually good since it won’t wobble as the wheel rotates.
✅ Adjustable feet and stand leveling gauge allow to perfectly align the stand on the ground or table so the wheel is mounted upright. This way there is minimal friction allowing for a most precise wheel balancing.
The Verdict
Tusk is the best wheel balancing and truing stand for motorcycle wheels in this list. It fits all motorcycle wheel sizes. Is made of quality materials with high precision leading to well aligned and balanced wheel stand. All parts, slide cones, bearings, and gauges are firm providing high-precision balancing. Working on this stand is bliss.
Runner Up
#2 BikeMaster
Max Wheel Diameter: 21-inch
Pointer for truing: ✅ Yes
Leveling Gauge: ✅ Yes
Adjustable feet: ⚠️ Little
Solid Base: ✅ Yes
Adjustable cones: ✅ Yes
Benefits & Features
✅ The truing gauge has a higher adjustment range. This doesn’t create any additional benefits but is worth mentioning.
✅ Will fit any stock motorcycle wheel. Fits a 21-inch wheel in diameter and up to 10 inches wide in the center.
✅ Precise and sturdy build. This stand is well aligned and won’t wobble with heavy wheels like Harley Davidson wheels, which tend to be slightly heavier.
⚠️ There is a base leveling gauge, however, feet have little adjustment range so make sure the surface this stand is put on is more or less horizontal.
The Verdict
BikeMaster wheel balancing stand is basically the same as Tusk. However, it costs more with no additional benefits in terms of precision or functionality. The stand parts have more details visually and are probably more expensive to manufacture, however, they don’t add any value in terms of balancing or truing wheels – just go for the Tusk.
Worth Mentioning
#3 Goplus
Max Wheel Diameter: 21-inch
Pointer for truing: ⚠️ No
Leveling Gauge: ✅ Yes
Adjustable feet: ⚠️ Little
Solid Base: ✅ Yes
Adjustable cones: ✅ Yes
Benefits & Features
⚠️ Narrow base that is not as stable with heavy and high-diameter wheels.
⚠️ Inaccurate description. The stand will fit the 21-inch wheel despite the description. However, if they failed with the description – I am questioning everything else including the part quality and alignment.
⚠️ No pointer for truing.
⚠️ Has to be assembled and there are no assembly instructions. However, the assembly is intuitive without instructions. Make sure you have basic wrench tools to tighten the bolts.
⚠️ Won’t work with wheels that have 1/2-inch axles.
The Verdict
Good for the money. Will work if you make it work. Parts need to be leveled during assembly. This will take more time and effort from your side. But if you align bearings and base – it will work fine. If your bike has spoked wheels – choose Tusk as it has an integrated truing pointer, unlike this one.
Worth Mentioning
#4 Motion Pro
Max Wheel Diameter: 21-inch
Pointer for truing: ✅ Yes
Leveling Gauge: ❌ No
Adjustable feet: ❌ No
Solid Base: ❌ No
Adjustable cones: ✅ Yes
Benefits & Features
❌ Lots of Complaints regarding the assembly quality, which is not acceptible at this price point. Complaints include issues with bearings which make this stand completely useless.
⚠️ The stand is not stable on uneven ground and cant be leveled due to design. Make sure your garage has an even floor.
⚠️ One-sided bearing will have slightly higher friction compared to the dual-side bearing design leading to less balancing accuracy, especially with heavier wheels. However, it should still do the job.
✅ If you are lucky to get a well-manufactured piece with clean bearings that are pressed in correctly and all parts included 🍀. It actually works fine and having one side free of obstacles allows for easier access to spokes for truing.
✅ One leg can fold in to take less space in storage. My garage has lots of stuff in it and being able to compactly store something that is used maybe 5 times a year is a huge plus.
The Verdict
The idea behind this stand is good. However, the execution is not ideal with many complaints about the quality. In my opinion, asking $150 for 2 bent tubes with a bearing is a bit too much. And I would expect nothing but excellence at this price point. If you are short on garage storage – consider this option. Otherwise – go for a Tusk balancing stand.
Not Recommended
#5 A-PRO SRL
Max Wheel Diameter: Not Specified
Pointer for truing: ❌ No
Leveling Gauge: ❌ No
Adjustable feet: ✅ Yes
Solid Base: ✅ Yes
Adjustable cones: ⚠️ Yes, low-quality parts
Benefits & Features
✅ Affordable price.
⚠️ Needs manual alignment and adjustment to work properly. Low-quality parts.
⚠️ There is a play in the shaft and cones that significantly offset the wheel center and reduces the balancing precision. Also, due to this offset – this stand can not be used for truing the wheel.
The Verdict
Will work but it is highly likely that you will have to invest some time into aligning everything properly and maybe use additional washers in the process. The manufacturer did not mention sizes so it is unclear if a 21-inch wheel will fit but I think it will.
The Bottom Line
When it comes to balancing your motorcycle wheels, I found the Tusk wheel balancing and truing stand to be the best option available at the moment, ticking all the boxes in terms of functionality, precision, and quality. It’s suitable for all wheel sizes and is designed with a solid base that ensures stability during use.
The BikeMaster stand is a worthy contender, although its higher cost is not justified by any additional functionality or precision.
The Motion Pro and A-PRO SRL stand, however, leave room for improvement in terms of quality and design.
In conclusion, invest in a good wheel balancing stand like the Tusk for a smoother, safer ride, and remember, regular wheel maintenance can save you significant costs down the line. Now, take the leap and choose your preferred stand from our selection. You won’t regret it!
FAQ
Wheel Balancing: Its Importance and Benefits
Wheel balancing is a crucial process in maintaining the weight distribution of a wheel and tire assembly. This is achieved by adding small weights (weight for the spoked wheel and weight for cast wheels) to the rim to offset heavy spots. A balanced wheel promotes smooth rotation and eliminates vibrations that can lead to handlebar wobble, tire cupping, and accelerated wear.
The Benefits of a Home Wheel Balancing Stand
Possessing a wheel balancing stand at home provides both convenience and cost savings. It allows for regular maintenance tasks such as tire changes and balancing to be carried out independently, without the need for a mechanic or expensive equipment rentals. Moreover, it empowers you to ensure your wheels are correctly balanced, promoting safer riding and better handling.
