| Author | Message | ||
     Ransomedsoul |
Hi there fellow riders! I just got a 2007 Ulysses. I really like the bike. It's very different than the 82 Virago I had before!! It has a newer Scorpion Trail on the front, and I'd like to get a Trail II on the rear. I'm just wondering where the best deals are to be found for these tires. I can find them for $171 shipped. Let me know where I should look if they can be found for any less. Thank you!! I'm sure I'll have loads of questions as I get more acquainted with the bike. Joe | ||
| Hughlysses |
Congrats on the "new" Uly. A lot of us just use Amazon.com for finding deals on tires. That lets you compare prices for several dealers in one search, and AFAIK you generally won't find a lower price at a dealer not included in their listings. | ||
| Teeps |
Also know this... failure to follow rear wheel removal and, especially, installation procedures can end in tears by way of wheel bearing failure. | ||
| Froggy |
Personally I buy from Revzilla, price is not always the cheapest, but they will price match, but I usually don't as they have great customer service. If you are having the tire installed at a shop, check with them. They usually can't beat internet prices due to their lower volume, but they should be able to get you a good deal. Also some shops charge more if you supply your own tires, so do the math before buying. | ||
| Ratbuell |
I always buy local. My local metric shop is very competitive, happy to do a carry-in wheel, and if I need something in a hurry the goodwill goes a long way towards those "I need this in an emergency" situations. For the couple bucks it might cost extra compared to web buying...I'd much rather support the local guy. And in my experience it is literally "a couple" of bucks difference. | ||
| Ransomedsoul |
I totally agree about buying local and supporting small businesses. But the difference for me is too great. The more competitive local shop wants $278+tax. I can't justify that. If I get a tire and mount it myself, how crucial is balancing with motorcycle tires? Or are they generally balanced enough already because of their much smaller mass compared to car tires? | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
I find it's worthwhile to balance them. It's not hard either. Hardest part is removing the $%^&$ sticky tape from the last set of weights. | ||
| Tribe29 |
I've had a decent experience with balancing beads (similar to air soft bb's) | ||
| Froggy |
A balancing machine is well worth it http://www.nomartirechanger.com/Standard_Motorcycl e_Wheel_Balancer_Static_White_p/bl-standardwhite.h tm http://www.harborfreight.com/motorcycle-wheel-bala ncing-stand-98488.html | ||
| Hughlysses |
I built a balancing stand out of ~$20 worth of PVC pipe and a couple of metal strips per an article in Motorcycle Consumer News some years ago. Here's a photo of one I found on the 'net:  Basically the stand has two horizontal strips of steel that the axle rolls on. That negates the friction of the wheel bearings to help you find the heavy spot on the wheel. It works well enough for me. You have to be patient with it; it typically takes about 5-10 minutes per wheel. You need a couple of extra pieces of PVC pipe so you can adjust the width for the front wheel or back wheel. Nothing is glued up; friction holds it together. | ||
| Tempest766 |
I've mail-ordered my tires consistently from motorcycle-superstore.com. So far no complaints. | ||
| Blakeaspencer |
I too buy from motorcyclesuperstore. I would take it to a dealer to get it mounted and balanced until you feel up for it. They have the experience doing so, usually, and if they are personal, they can teach you how to do it. | ||
| Yo_barry |
I used to buy from local dealer in San Jose, CA. Unfortunately his pricing has gone out of control. fwiw, I've always taken the wheels in to get tires mounted. I'm currently using a local (Hollister) mostly dirt bike dealer to mount/balance and buying from Rocky Mountain ATV. www.rockymountainatvmc.com Barry Hollister, CA | ||
| Ransomedsoul |
Thanks for all the replies. Rockymountainatv is the place that had the lowest prices I could find. I went ahead and ordered one from them. Now to find the best place to get it mounted/balanced...or try to do it myself... | ||
| Ourdee |
I support a couple of local guys. They both do good work and neither has nicked a rim yet. Me on the other hand...... | ||
| Big_island_rider |
Ah yes, my biggest problem is not the price but the shipping. Almost no one ships privately to Hawai'i. Amazon Prime will but that is about it. So it is usually buy local for me. | ||
| Arry |
"...or try to do it myself..." It doesn't sound like you have much experience with tire mounting. I used to do my own dirt bike and tube type street tires, using tire irons, but these tubeless tires go on pretty tight. I don't think I'd try it without tire mounting equipment. | ||
| Rapuckett55 |
My local Honda shop sells their tires at 4% over cost. They do this because they charge like $50 to mount and balance  . I've mounted my own tires on several makes & models (including a car tire on a Goldwing) and my buell was the most difficult. I think it's due to the rim being "low profile". Or however you want to say it. There's not much relief for the tire edge to dip into while you are working to get the opposite side over the rim. My dad bought a tire changer from Harbor Freight a number of years ago. Not too bad, I think around $100. Plus he bought some extra bar tools with Teflon edges to make it easier. Well worth the money if you plan on doing it yourself. Doesn't take too many tires to pay for itself. As far as balancing, depends on how you ride. I usually balance my rim without a tire the first tire change on the bike. Then don't worry about the tire itself. The tires are pretty good these days. I rarely go over 80mph though. If you like to hit triple digits, I would balance it right. my 2 cents (probly not worth that  ) Ralph | ||
| Teeps |
Arry Posted on Tuesday, March 29, 2016 - I used to do my own dirt bike and tube type street tires, using tire irons, but these tubeless tires go on pretty tight. I don't think I'd try it without tire mounting equipment. Same here. I agree about tire changes without motorcycle tire mounting equipment. Lucky for me, so far, I have access to the Coats tire machine at my old workplace. | ||
| Jim2 |
I've been doing my own ever since I found out about the "zip tie method". The first set was difficult. I find it easy now. The first set I balanced using the wheels axle, a step-stool and some bricks and wood and I got a good balance and smooth ride out of it. I've since bought a Harbor Freight wheel balance stand and it's much easy to setup. I used to break the beads with two 2X4's and the bumper of my Jeep. I now have a HF bead breaker. The key to breaking beads and putting tires back on is LUBE. Windex works just fine. I made a fixture out of a small piece of plywood with two 2X4's screwed in parallel to each other such that I can rest my wheels between them and they are high enough to protect the brake disc and/or belt sprocket. The wood doesn't scratch the wheels. Look up the zip tie method. drawkawrd made a good video. | ||
| Ransomedsoul |
Nearby shop will mount and balance for $40. I'll probably let them do it this time. Gotta find a 7/8 hex for the axle bolt now. I can't find a socket or even a coupler nut... And my bike didn't come with the tool kit. | ||
| Blakeaspencer |
The first time I took my wheel off I used a bolt with some nuts on it as my big ass Allan key. Since I have bought a big allen key | ||
| Timbobuell |
Nothing beats doing stuff yourself or use a competent shop if you can find one, I know they exist, however I've failed in this area. Wish I could score a situation like Ratbuell has and I have accomplished this situation with one car shop but not for any bike ever, sad. Always replace rear bearings with tire change if they are suspect. Ask me how I know. Imo (ride on) is an excellent way to balance. It will compensate for wear till end of tire life. Since I'm unable local I just google search the last minute. ALWAYS find a sale and always see a ridiculous range of tire prices. The pilot roads have been totally satisfying for me. I think I'm using 3 series now. If someone other than yourself puts the wheels back on your bike, always check the work. My buddy was recently almost killed because the BMW dealer left things loose. They admitted that they screwed up, however with argument stated he as the rider was ultimately responsible for making sure the work was done right. He had purchased new from this dealer a r1200gs, k1300r, and ktm 500exc. As Mulder said, (trust no one.) Or you could and die in the process. | ||
| Etennuly |
I just had a rear mounted up while on a trip. MC shop had one tire in stock that fit. It was a Continental. Seems to be a pretty good tire so far. The shop was in Tellico Tn. He let me take the tire/wheel off and put it back on. He did the mount and balance. I usually do my own tires. I have the Harbor Freight POS tire machine that if mounted to something solid does a respectable job of breaking the bead(with a lot of shop blankets under the wheel) and holding the wheel so that the tire can be changed. I also have the No Mar Bar and their tire lube. I usually still end up using a tire flat bar with the end wrapped in tape for that last little bit. I simply use jack stands with a rod to balance the tires. Through several front tires I have some stick on weights that have never had to be moved. The rim and rotor must have been out a little, but the tires have all been the same. The rear is harder to balance because the bearings turn harder. It can be done with a smaller diameter hardened rod with some good lube on it so that it will let the tire/wheel rotate easily. My rear tires have also been really close to perfect with no weights. It is always a good idea to balance them regardless just to know for sure. |
