KZR's Bikes of the Month for 2024

How difficult is it to change a front tire?

  • IowaKZ
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  • '80 G1 Classic
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14 Feb 2006 18:28 #23903 by IowaKZ
Hey all, how hard is it to change out the front tire? Anyone do it at home or is this one of those jobs one should always leave to the pros?

Like you all, I'm trying to wrench myself and save a little money.

Any pitfalls I need to worry about?

This is on a '80 kz 1000. Dual disks.

Thanks.

Dale

1980 G1 Classic
Bettendorf, Iowa

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  • wireman
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14 Feb 2006 18:35 #23905 by wireman
Replied by wireman on topic How difficult is it to change a front tire?
if youre fairly mechanically inclined its no big deal.get yourself a manual to help put things back together,and some good tire irons.goodluck happy wrenching!:whistle:

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14 Feb 2006 19:24 #23942 by indykaw77
Replied by indykaw77 on topic How difficult is it to change a front tire?
Tuffest part (in my experience) is breaking the bead on the old tire. Used a sabre saw to cut one off one time!! And if spoked wheels, remember that rim strip....couple tire irons and some time and yer off and running.

Kawasaki Motorcycles...because cars lean th wrong way!

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  • IowaKZ
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14 Feb 2006 19:47 #23949 by IowaKZ
Replied by IowaKZ on topic How difficult is it to change a front tire?
I forgot to mention, I have Mags. do they pose a problem? Also, I know that they balance car tires, do shops balance cycle tires?

1980 G1 Classic
Bettendorf, Iowa

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  • wireman
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14 Feb 2006 19:56 #23954 by wireman
Replied by wireman on topic How difficult is it to change a front tire?
mags are about the same procedure just be carefull not to bang up the aluminum,some shops have tire machines if youre worried about dinging up your rims and they also balance tires .what kind of tire are you going with?:whistle:

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  • IowaKZ
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15 Feb 2006 05:23 #24018 by IowaKZ
Replied by IowaKZ on topic How difficult is it to change a front tire?
I think I am going to match the rear. it is a dunlop 402 (I think)

1980 G1 Classic
Bettendorf, Iowa

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15 Feb 2006 05:34 #24021 by ejshotgun
Replied by ejshotgun on topic How difficult is it to change a front tire?
I found this on the web and it looks like a pretty comprehensive look at what you’re doing. Change Tire

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15 Feb 2006 05:52 #24025 by TLH101
Replied by TLH101 on topic How difficult is it to change a front tire?
Here's another link that helped me when I did mine: www.clarity.net/~adam/tire-changing.html

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  • Duck
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  • e vica na i sau na ga
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15 Feb 2006 09:03 #24045 by Duck
If this is your first time putting a tire on this bike and it has mags, it's a good idea to clean up the inside of the rim if it needs it. Don't know about where you are but every bike I've purchased around here has had slow leaking around the bead-rim seal. Every time I've found corrosion and had to wire brush and sand to make the bead area on the rim nice again. Don't use soap when you mount your tire as it corrodes the aluminum. You can get tire mount lubricant from NAPA. I forget the name.

-Duck

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15 Feb 2006 14:20 #24086 by BSKZ650
Replied by BSKZ650 on topic How difficult is it to change a front tire?
I used to change mine myself , used a 55 gal drum and a old bed spread to keep from marring the rim, now I take the rim to the place I get the tires, they charge a small fee and they balance them too, the new machines dont mess up the rims either, I am in and out in less than 30 min, worth the money and no fights

77 kz650, owned for over 25 years
77 ltd1000, current rider
76 kz900, just waiting
73 z1,, gonna restore this one
piglet, leggero harley davidson
SR, Ride captian, S.E.Texas Patriot Guard Riders.. AKA KawaBob

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15 Feb 2006 14:33 #24089 by Old-Skul
Replied by Old-Skul on topic How difficult is it to change a front tire?
I guess I'm a wimp. I take the tire off and take it to the shop. They charge $10 to mount and balance if you bring in the wheel. That $10.00 is cheap compared to the 1 hour or more doing the job takes without a mounting machine. Maybe it can be done faster but I've always struggled getting the old tire off. The money saved by pulling the wheel and taking it to the shop is worth it, the money saved trying to mount the tire? I'm not so sure!

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  • Duck
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15 Feb 2006 14:49 #24092 by Duck
The shops around here charge $20 for mount and balance...

-Duck

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