Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Mounted my first motorcycle tire.

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

    Mounted my first motorcycle tire.

    20170713_164217.jpg
    I have done bicycles and ATV tires before but this is a proud moment for me.
    I thought I could get away with large screwdrivers, which I did to get it off, but dinged the rims a bit. Went to TSC and bought some spoons to put the new one on and it was a piece of cake.
    Only took three arms and a belly but I only had two arms and a belly which made it more of a challenge.
    Looking forward to the front one when the new valve stems get here. Someone had put tubes in and I'm taking it back to tubeless.
    I figure since I only get around 4000 miles from a tire I'd better tool up.
    Alan

    sigpic
    Weaned on a '74 450 Honda
    Graduated to an '82 GS850GL
    Now riding an '83 GS1100GL
    Added an '82 GS1100GL

    #2
    Good job! I got to do my rear tire again soon. Spoons help, rim protectors help,extra arms help would be nice too.
    1981 gs650L

    "We are all born ignorant, but you have to work hard to stay stupid" Ben Franklin

    Comment


      #3
      learning to do tires is empowering stuff. Fwiw, the tire levers from harbor fright are good and cheap, and cut up milk jugs make great rim protectors.
      1983 GS 1100 ESD

      Comment


        #4
        I went to my motorcycle dealers and none had valve stems or spoons. How do they stay in business?
        Spoons are the only way and I appreciate the milk jug suggestion.
        I'm now going to figure a way to secure the rim to the table to omit the necessity of the belly.
        I do have a question about the date stamp.
        Reading the posts on the forum most feel the tire should be changed after a certain time regardless of the tread. I agree, but I just recieved these tires from American Motorcycle Tire and the date stamp on the rear is 1416 and the front is 4915. These tires are already 1 and 2 years old. Is it reasonable to judge by the date alone or by the mounting date?
        Alan

        sigpic
        Weaned on a '74 450 Honda
        Graduated to an '82 GS850GL
        Now riding an '83 GS1100GL
        Added an '82 GS1100GL

        Comment


          #5
          With your workshop setup, you ought to be able to fab something up to hold the tire securely, then get yourself one of these;




          There are some videos out there of it in use, and wow, they make it look slick as snot
          '83 GS650G
          '83 GS550es (didn't like the colours in the 80's, but they've grown on me)

          Comment


            #6
            Go by the date of manufacture. Even it a tire's never been mounted, you shouldn't use it after xx years.

            I tried to mount my rear tire. After ruining 2 tubes, I gave up and paid a shop $80 to do the front and rear.
            Jordan

            1977 Suzuki GS750 (My first bike)
            2000 Kawasaki ZRX1100
            1973 BMW R75/5

            Comment


              #7
              Originally posted by BigD_83 View Post
              With your workshop setup, you ought to be able to fab something up to hold the tire securely, then get yourself one of these;




              There are some videos out there of it in use, and wow, they make it look slick as snot
              Thanks for that link. I'll be able to fab all of that. Now to do some research on a foolproof bead breaker. I used my vise and a block of wood.
              Alan

              sigpic
              Weaned on a '74 450 Honda
              Graduated to an '82 GS850GL
              Now riding an '83 GS1100GL
              Added an '82 GS1100GL

              Comment


                #8
                Originally posted by hannibal View Post
                Go by the date of manufacture. Even it a tire's never been mounted, you shouldn't use it after xx years.

                I tried to mount my rear tire. After ruining 2 tubes, I gave up and paid a shop $80 to do the front and rear.
                The guy I had mount the last rear tire wanted $20.00 if I removed the wheel and $30.00 if he did it. No brainer there. No tubes though. Not too bad but I wanted the challenge and become a little more self sufficient.
                As far as the dates I was thinking that if you ride enough they'll wear out well before the dates.
                I have a riding buddy who is 74 and rides a BMW who changes his own twice and sometimes three times a year. A little off topic but he has had 29 motorcycles and gets a new one at about 90,000 miles. The dude rides.
                Alan

                sigpic
                Weaned on a '74 450 Honda
                Graduated to an '82 GS850GL
                Now riding an '83 GS1100GL
                Added an '82 GS1100GL

                Comment


                  #9
                  I changed a front last winter. Just because I never had. It went well, and was a good feeling.
                  sigpic
                  When consulting the magic 8 ball for advice, one must first ask it "will your answers be accurate?"

                  Glen
                  -85 1150 es - Plus size supermodel.
                  -Rusty old scooter.
                  Other things I like to photograph.....instagram.com/gs_junkie
                  https://www.instagram.com/glen_brenner/
                  https://www.flickr.com/photos/152267...7713345317771/

                  Comment


                    #10
                    I've changed a few tyres now using zip ties (google it). Not so easy to get the old tyre off this way but a piece of cake to get the new ones on. It depends on the width / depth of the drop out on the centre of the rim as to how easy / hard this method can be.
                    Current:
                    Z1300A5 Locomotive (swapped my Intruder for it), GS450 Cafe Project (might never finish it....), XT500 Commuter (I know - it's a Yamaha )

                    Past:
                    VL1500 Intruder (swapped for Z1300), ZX9R Streetfighter (lets face it - too fast....), 1984 GSX750EF, 1984 GSX1100EF (AKA GS1150)
                    And a bunch of other crap Yamahas....

                    Comment


                      #11
                      It is a good feeling, Glen. Everything I do to make them look good and reliable give me joy.

                      I saw the ziptie method and the hold down strap one too. That would help keep from buggering the wheel for certain.
                      Alan

                      sigpic
                      Weaned on a '74 450 Honda
                      Graduated to an '82 GS850GL
                      Now riding an '83 GS1100GL
                      Added an '82 GS1100GL

                      Comment


                        #12
                        It gets easier each time you do it. Tire lube or a good soapy solution is your best friend. You can get everything you need at Cycle Gear and Harbor Freight. Before I bought a changing machine and balancer I used these.

                        When I had to do tires by hand, I did them on the floor on some 2x4 to give clearance for the rotors. When spooning the tire on or off take small bites, 4-6 inches at a time and plenty of slickum. Also you should be able to push one side on completely with out using spoons. I do have to help one every now and then get all the way on.

                        Here is something you may want to get or make. We had a couple at MMI that were made from a steel drum and thread all rod with a bag of Sacrete in the bottom to help make it sturdy.
                        GSRick
                        No God, no peace. Know God, know peace.

                        Eric Bang RIP 9/5/2018
                        Have some bikes ready for us when we meet up.

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Originally posted by AMK View Post
                          I went to my motorcycle dealers and none had valve stems or spoons. How do they stay in business?
                          Spoons are the only way and I appreciate the milk jug suggestion.
                          I'm now going to figure a way to secure the rim to the table to omit the necessity of the belly.
                          I do have a question about the date stamp.
                          Reading the posts on the forum most feel the tire should be changed after a certain time regardless of the tread. I agree, but I just recieved these tires from American Motorcycle Tire and the date stamp on the rear is 1416 and the front is 4915. These tires are already 1 and 2 years old. Is it reasonable to judge by the date alone or by the mounting date?
                          If you just got the tires recently I'd send an email to the seller of tires that you received some older rubber and just see what they say. I received a 2 year old ( plus a month or two) tire but I forgot to look at the tire when it came in, did not discover for several months, too late to complain I think.

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Originally posted by nejeff View Post
                            If you just got the tires recently I'd send an email to the seller of tires that you received some older rubber and just see what they say. I received a 2 year old ( plus a month or two) tire but I forgot to look at the tire when it came in, did not discover for several months, too late to complain I think.
                            I emailed American Motorcycle Tires this morning and just got their response. He said they cant guarantee date codes on tires because the production runs are huge and far in between, especially on the not so popular tires.
                            He assured me the storage techniques are to preserve the tires as best they can. 7 to 10 years were his recommendations and he gave me Bridgestone's number to double check with them.
                            He also offered to let me return the tires for a full refund but I said I'd keep them as I am sure the date will far outlast the tread. I'm happy with that. I'll buy my next set from them.

                            Rick, what did you buy for a balancer?
                            Alan

                            sigpic
                            Weaned on a '74 450 Honda
                            Graduated to an '82 GS850GL
                            Now riding an '83 GS1100GL
                            Added an '82 GS1100GL

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Just got back from a test ride after the front tire mount and, wow, this bike just falls into the curves. I had to order valve stems to get rid of the tubes the po put in and they arrived a couple of days ago.
                              I did need to take the front wheel to a tire shop because I could not get the bead to seat. He had a couple of tricks to use without going the ether way. Look at YouTube for that one.
                              20170725_180659.jpg
                              I think I'll go with the Dunlop 491 Elite II on the '83 to try them against the Bridgestones because I think those raised white letters look good on these "L"'s.
                              Alan

                              sigpic
                              Weaned on a '74 450 Honda
                              Graduated to an '82 GS850GL
                              Now riding an '83 GS1100GL
                              Added an '82 GS1100GL

                              Comment

                              Working...
                              X