Total Motorcycle Community Forums

my bike just passed inspection, but the guy didnt even bother to say anything about my front tire. anyhow, i know it has some dry rot around the sidewall and needs to be replaced. i have the regualar manual and the service manual and it doesnt seem too hard to pull off the front tire. shops by me want 85 bucks just to pull the tire off the bike, put it back on, and 30-35 bucks to mount the new one. even more, i can get the michelin tire i want online, shipped for 97 bucks as opposed to the 140 a few local dealers want. i was just curious how many of you do the legwork yourself.

I'll pull rims myself, no problem. Haven't done a back one yet (but will in a few days). Front one was pretty easy on my bike: unscrew speedo cable, unbolt calipers, unbolt the main bolt that holds the wheel on, roll wheel away. Of course you have to have a way of keeping the bike's front off the ground, but I just used an automotive floor jack and a piece of wood to do that.

Nyrblue35, are you talking about just pulling the wheel from the bike and taking it to a shop for tire mounting and balancing, or do you want to do the whole job yourself?
Anyway, getting the wheels off is pretty easy. A lot of riders take their wheels in to a shop for mounting. Some of us save a few more $s and do the whole thing.
Most bike shops don't like to mount tires you bought somewhere else and will put your job ticket under the stack. I guess it's a lost profit thing. It may be different in other areas, though.

I just mounted some new tires, front and rear, by myself, no special equipment required. I used some flat head screw drivers, rags, a lot of soapy water, and some frequent grunting noises!

I pull the wheels off the bike myself, and then take it in to my local dealer to get the new tire mounted and balanced. I also buy the tire at my local dealer.

I could order my tires online, but with shipping and duty, it's cheaper for me to buy my tire locally.

Nyrblue35, are you talking about just pulling the wheel from the bike and taking it to a shop for tire mounting and balancing, or do you want to do the whole job yourself?

no way, im not into doing the whole job myself. if i was back in auto mech at boces, it would be a different story. local dealers wanted 120-140 for the michelin tire i wanted but i found it online, shipped for 97 bucks. i have a friend who knows a guy (doesnt everybody?) who works at a suzuki dealer so hopefully he'll just do the mount and that will be it.

nyrblue35 wrote:

Nyrblue35, are you talking about just pulling the wheel from the bike and taking it to a shop for tire mounting and balancing, or do you want to do the whole job yourself?

no way, im not into doing the whole job myself. if i was back in auto mech at boces, it would be a different story. local dealers wanted 120-140 for the michelin tire i wanted but i found it online, shipped for 97 bucks. i have a friend who knows a guy (doesnt everybody?) who works at a suzuki dealer so hopefully he'll just do the mount and that will be it.

some people got it and some dont!

In the past, I have used rope and a stick to reset the bead on my tires. It works best if the tires are not steel belted.

You need the following items, air pump or compressor, rope, a big flat head screwdriver, and medium sized sturdy stick. I use a broom handle that I cut to about 2 feet long.

1. Use the screwdriver to get the tire on the rim.
2. Have your compressor or air pump ready and close by.
3. Put the rope around the outside of the tire. (like you would put snow chains on your car).
4. Tie a knot in the rope, I don't know the names of knots, but do it the same as if you are wrapping presents.
5. Put the stick on top of the knot you just tied.
6. Tie another knot on top of the stick, make it tight. At this point you should have two knots.
7. Turn the stick, the rope will function like a Tourniquet, constricting the outside of the tire. Make sure the rope is centered on the tire. The more you turn it, the more the bead is brought closer to the rim.
8. When the tire is all the way up against the rim, use the compressor to pump up your tire. Make sure you release the tourniquet slowly to compensate for the air filling up the tire.
9. Viola, your bead is set. Pump your tire to the correct pressure and get it balanced.

I have done this on several vehicles, from my daughters tricycle, to my grandfathers full size tractor. The big wheel on the tricycle, and the small front tire on the tractor. In a pinch, you can use a plain old bicycle pump to keep the bead set. You only need a couple of pounds of pressure, you can get it properly inflated later.

I guess you could say that my ability to do this, makes me a bit of a red neck.

I guess you could say that my ability to do this, makes me a bit of a red neck.

that all depends. do you have cinderblocks for tv stands and is there a matching washer and dryer on your front lawn?

nyrblue35 wrote:

I guess you could say that my ability to do this, makes me a bit of a red neck.

that all depends. do you have cinderblocks for tv stands and is there a matching washer and dryer on your front lawn?

Matching washer-n-dryer? Looks like Clem and Laura Sue Bob is gittin' uppitty.....