Changing tires: The cheap and not so easy way.

or for $90
2wheeldiscount.com/Motorcycle-tire-chang...615516900&OVNDID=ND1

Or for less than $400, a person could do a few for his buddies and pay this more deluxe outfit off pretty quickly.
www.webbikeworld.com/r4/cycle-hill-motorcycle-tire-changer/

$400 is really a deal on that tire changer. I guarantee you that I would charge more than that if I had to fabricate that thing. I'm just not into making money off of my riding buddies. I tend to do that kind of thing in trade. Have you used either TexasKZ?

No, but I've seen the blue one demo'd. Looked pretty straight forward. I have a riding buddy who owns a shop, so I don't mind paying a few bucks now and then to help keep him going. I've been a customer there for quite a few years, and the good relationship I have with them has paid off more than once.

I use my knee and a couple of tire irons with dishsoap for lube. Been doing it this way for years. My cussing days are behind me because of how often I have had to do this way..... Dishsoap, will make the job a little messy but is a total bitch to do without it.

Kawickrice wrote:

I use my knee and a couple of tire irons with dishsoap for lube. Been doing it this way for years. My cussing days are behind me because of how often I have had to do this way..... Dishsoap, will make the job a little messy but is a total bitch to do without it.

This is the way I did it for years too, then I read on tubeless wheels soap/water can corrode the aluminum and cause air leaks. I dismissed this as BS and changed my dad's tires on his 84 Goldwing. I shouldn't have read this warning because I had an airleak in the front a couple months later and yes it was soap corrosion on the wheel. Never fails if you don't know any better there is never a problem, but once you know you are using the wrong lube problems set in. Get tire lube from Nomar. What's $10 or $20 if it saves a flat tire down the road? Yes I use my knees too though! That's the best tire changer there is.

also when you put that tire on, most new tires have a dot that is the light point of the tire and should be place near the valve stem to make easier balancing.

I just ordered a rear tire from the local dealership. The girl said that it would be $60 to have the service department mount it to a rim that I bring in (off the bike).

I am going to call the service department today to make sure that she was correct. If they want $60 to mount and balance a $120 tire, I'll be attempting to do it myself.

Plus, I'll be getting a new front soon too. For $120 bucks, I can probably buy some tire spoons, a bead breaker, AND two bar stools.

You can do it. It's just physically hard at times. No rocket science. After you do the first one, then you may decide that it is worth $60, but at least you'll know for sure. I personally mount my own b/c I don't like tire flunkies scratching my rims.

Very informative video.

$60 for changing a tire off the bike is outrageous. My Kawasaki dealear just did my rear tire for $35. I dismounted the tire myself and took off the brake disk, and sprocket. Brought the old tire on rim, and new tire. They had it for me in about 20 min. They balanced it also dynamically, but after putting back the brake disk and sprocket, I checked the balance statically at home. They were very, very close.

Most MC tires are directional tread. You don't want to have to take it off and remount it b/c you got that wrong. That would involve cussing on an epic level.

:laugh: Did that once :silly: Set up to mount the tire, then had to reposition the rim strip, and put the rim back down opposite...

If you have a welder @ home, not much to make this up:



Also, "adult beverages" should be included, though the cussing level may be reduced but the injury rate would skyrocket :woohoo: .

First I've heard of the dish soap/aluminum problem. Are you talking pure dish soap? I use a spray bottle with maybe a cap full of soap, and fill the bottle with water.

As mentioned, it's not rocket science and the proper tools are worth the investment.