If you've ever had a true Bialy, you know it's not just a bagel without the hole in the middle. Bialys are lighter than a bagel with an open crumb. Bialys are not boiled, so the crust is crisper than the crust of a bagel. Best of all, a Bialy gets a boost of flavor from the onion filling in the middle.
If measuring the flour by volume use the “dip & sweep” method. That is, dip the measuring cup into the flour bin, overfill it, then sweep away the excess.