2WHEELSFORME Posted July 21, 2014 #1 Posted July 21, 2014 I removed the chrome covers on the front wheel that covers the two disk. Just prefer the looks of a traditional looking disk and continuing to remove gaudy chrome that I don't like. I noticed one side looks to be weighted on the inside of the cover. On a 200 mile ride I notice no difference in the way the front wheel feels. I do wonder about that weighted cover and which side it is suppose to be on. Could not find it showing as being different in my shop manual. Thoughts?
samklr650 Posted July 22, 2014 #2 Posted July 22, 2014 I'm interested in the answer to this question. Like you I like the traditional look and was planning on removing the covers when I put a new front tire on.
Pegasus1300 Posted July 22, 2014 #3 Posted July 22, 2014 I assume you have a 2nd gen. I too removed the disc covers as I liked the look of the machined rotors. It did not make any difference in the way the tires wore or the way it handled. This was on a 2008 RSTD. As I remember the weighted cover goes on the throttle side of the bike what I would call the right side. I do not know why it was weighted and I have never heard if anybody came up with a reason.
2WHEELSFORME Posted July 22, 2014 Author #4 Posted July 22, 2014 Sam, make sure you have a tool for removing the bolts holding the covers and disk in place. They are not common hex head and they are tight. I put back on using blue lock tight.
Karfreek Posted August 28, 2014 #5 Posted August 28, 2014 I too am interested in removing the covers at the next tire change. Anyone have a picture of what it looks like removed? Jay
2WHEELSFORME Posted August 29, 2014 Author #6 Posted August 29, 2014 The disc look great without the chrome covers.
gez Posted August 29, 2014 #7 Posted August 29, 2014 The disc look great without the chrome covers. show me
Bert2006 Posted March 16, 2016 #8 Posted March 16, 2016 I removed the chrome covers on the front wheel that covers the two disk. Just prefer the looks of a traditional looking disk and continuing to remove gaudy chrome that I don't like. I noticed one side looks to be weighted on the inside of the cover. On a 200 mile ride I notice no difference in the way the front wheel feels. I do wonder about that weighted cover and which side it is suppose to be on. Could not find it showing as being different in my shop manual. Thoughts? I know this is an old post, but has anyone figured out why one side has weights and not the other side. I am thinking of removing mine.
BratmanXj Posted March 16, 2016 #9 Posted March 16, 2016 As it's on the throttle side it might have something to do with compensating for the rotational forces of the drive shaft on the clutch side of the bike. I removed the covers when I was still running the stock front wheel and did not notice anything odd with the way the bike handled or tracked. I have since switched to the 18" wheel of a Stratoliner that came with floating rotors and a smaller "insert" weight rather than the disk/cover. I did install the weight on the 18" but yet again did not notice anything significantly different.
eagleeye Posted March 16, 2016 #10 Posted March 16, 2016 One of these good old threads: Yeah, that could be, but I don't know and Haven't heard from anyone who actually does. I took mine off years ago, and like everyone else who did, noticed no difference. Here is a pic for those of you who want to know what those gorgeous machined discs look like:
Rick Haywood Posted March 17, 2016 #11 Posted March 17, 2016 I removed mine 4 years ago and the only thing i noticed different is when stopping I sometimes get a brake squeal that was never there before.
gggGary Posted July 20, 2016 #12 Posted July 20, 2016 My weight was mounted on the left. but the tire had been changed before my recent purchase of the bike (2005 date code, yeah I know, but no cracks, may just run it off.) I see no difference side to side on the wheel? IE is there a left or right side to the wheel? I did mark it, but who knows if the last guy did..... I'm pretty sure the chrome is staying off on mine. Just stripped the flaking clear coat from rim and fork legs.
Freebird Posted July 20, 2016 #13 Posted July 20, 2016 I may be working but I think there is an arrow on the wheel that shows the direction of rotation. What difference it makes, I don't know.
DarrinGT Posted July 20, 2016 #14 Posted July 20, 2016 I like the looks of the covers removed, Had no idea that is what it would look like. One thought, if the cover was weighted for balance, and the tire was balanced on the rim with the covers, removing them may throw off the weight. One way to eliminate this is use of Balance Beads in the tire instead of traditional balancing. It is all that I use in mine, I got 22,500K miles out of my last front tire. The Balance Beads wont care if the covers are there or not,..
Pegasus1300 Posted July 20, 2016 #15 Posted July 20, 2016 It doesn't. As far as I can tell nobody including Yamaha can tell us why the one side is weighted.
gggGary Posted July 21, 2016 #16 Posted July 21, 2016 It's back together naked now. It appears the PO had the wheel on backward but now I need to check and see if the tire is on backward. I had the rotors off, is it just my bike or is one rotor on "backwards" on all of them?
2WHEELSFORME Posted July 21, 2016 Author #17 Posted July 21, 2016 Mine is just like yours so I think that is correct.
gggGary Posted July 22, 2016 #18 Posted July 22, 2016 Note' my rotor bolts were a rusty mess. I ordered some stainless button head replacements (bout a buck a throw at Fastenal) but didn't want to put those old ones back on, used allenheads and washers til the right bolts come in. There isn't room for those taller heads to clear the fork tubes with the washers under them. No washers and they just cleared the tubes on mine.
OrlinEngh Posted July 28, 2016 #19 Posted July 28, 2016 I have been wondering for sometime what the weight is for, it is a dampener and it goes on the right side I happened on it looking threw my service manual Orlin
DblTrbl Posted July 28, 2016 #20 Posted July 28, 2016 I like the look without the covers. I may do that next time if I can find some Chrome Rotors. Anyone have an idea where I can locate a set? I had my front wheel chromed and think it would look better with the matching rotors.
BratmanXj Posted July 28, 2016 #21 Posted July 28, 2016 I like the look without the covers. I may do that next time if I can find some Chrome Rotors. Anyone have an idea where I can locate a set? I had my front wheel chromed and think it would look better with the matching rotors. Stratoliner S models came with chrome floating rotors, I did a full 18" wheel & rotor swap a few years back on my Venture.
Freebird Posted July 28, 2016 #22 Posted July 28, 2016 I really like the looks of that wheel on our bike and I've found a few on the market but none that I've found come with the rotors or those covers. Add the price of the rotors and covers and they get expensive real fast. Still keeping my eyes open for a fair deal.
BratmanXj Posted July 28, 2016 #23 Posted July 28, 2016 I really like the looks of that wheel on our bike and I've found a few on the market but none that I've found come with the rotors or those covers. Add the price of the rotors and covers and they get expensive real fast. Still keeping my eyes open for a fair deal. I stumbled on a hell-of-a-deal when I found the wheel, rotors & cover with blown out bearings on eBay in late fall of '14. I was due for a new front tire anyways. Lets just say (doing my own labor) it cost me less than most people pay a shop for a tire & mount.
gggGary Posted July 28, 2016 #24 Posted July 28, 2016 `18" stratoliner wheel What tire do you have on there? Was it plug a play or was there dome "fiddling" Any comments on handling before and after? Will the existing rotors bolt on that wheel?
WildBill1 Posted July 28, 2016 #25 Posted July 28, 2016 I have been wondering for sometime what the weight is for, it is a dampener and it goes on the right side I happened on it looking threw my service manual Orlin Thanks for solving this age old mystery on here.
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