| Author | Message | ||
     Gtobill |
Well its back tire time. Threads are showing at 2500 miles. Does anybody change their own tires and if you do, do you have a machine or do you use the old style tools. I have changed dirt bike tires, but the last time I tried to change street tires I bent my tools. Just curious. | ||
| Hughlysses |
I change my own. The wide 17" rear is VERY hard to do with tire irons but I did it once on my Uly. After that I broke down and bought the Harbor Freight tire changer with the motorcycle attachment. That's better but it's almost impossible to avoid scratching your rims with their wheel clamping setup and the tool they provide. People wrap electrical tape or duct tape around things but you'll still end up marring your wheels. A motorcycling friend that lives near me found out about some "aftermarket" parts that you can get to go with the Harbor Freight unit that greatly improve it: The Mojo Lever: http://home.comcast.net/~prestondrake/mojoweb.htm Mojo Blocks: http://home.comcast.net/~prestondrake/mojoblocks.h tm He bought them and I installed the Mojo Blocks on my changer; they work great. Now he can use my changer whenever he wants and it works a whole lot better now. Highly recommended. | ||
| Daggar |
Cool links. They make me seriously consider the HF changer. Has anyone used this? http://www.bestrestproducts.com/c-98-beadbrakr.asp x | ||
| D_adams |
I've got the No-Mar tire changer, classic model with the trailer hitch option. It was about $500 and then I fabricated my own balancer. Works just like it's advertised to do, especially if you've ever used a coats 220 changer. There's a cheaper version called Cycle Hill, it's made by the same guys but marketed under a different name. Same quality stuff, just a little cheaper and shorter warranty period I think. Call them, Seth is the guy I went through, he's pretty good to talk to. http://www.nomartirechanger.com/ http://www.cyclehilltirechanger.com/ | ||
| Daggar |
I really like the Nomar/Cyclehill stuff. The only thing that has held me back from them, is the price. | ||
| Jdugger |
I have a nomar. Great for hypersport and slicks -- they almost slip on and off. Not great for sport touring tires on cold days. Or, anything with "Bridgestone" written down the side of it. Geez. Those things are so stiff they don't even need air. | ||
| Chadhargis |
Another NoMar here. Makes changing tires as easy as cutting warm butter. | ||
| Ccryder |
Another NoMar here. Makes changing tires as easy as cutting warm butter. I've done my ST1300 tires with no issues and PR2's on both the ST and 1125. It took a LOT of patience to break loose the beads on my ATV tires. Besides the ATV tires all other tires have been EASY. Actually I need to change a front tire on the ST tomorrow. That is the great thing about having the No-Mar around is I can do it at my leisure. Neil S. | ||
| Stargazer |
I buy the tires and have the shipped to the house, and pay my mechanic on the side to change them at a local Chevy dealer. The commercial set up there doesn't scratch the rims, balance them myself, I don't have the room for a changer in my garage. Works out pretty well. I usually give him $20.00 to do both tires. | ||
| Puzzled |
I do my own. I was in the right place at the right time and picked up a motorcycle tire machine and motorcycle tire digital balancer.   A week or so ago I changed my rear tire and discoverd that I was not able to balance the wheel on my machine as the center shaft did not protrude through the wheel. I have since machined an extension for the balancer just to do my Buell rear wheel. | ||
| Crazyhawk99 |
Puzzled, I wish you would stop showing off with that nice set-up you have! Just kidding. I am just jealous. I ordered a no-mar a couple weeks ago. Still waiting for it to arrive. Takes 4-6 weeks to get to an APO address. Considering shipping and the cost of the accessories I ordered, it will be some time before it pays for itself, but I like working on my own stuff when I can and I am sure after I get it set up, I will have plenty of friends that stop by, if you know what I mean. | ||
| Thefleshrocket |
Puzzled, that tire changing equipment looks like the same stuff the local Yamaha shop has. If you don't mind me asking, what kind of price do you get being in the right place at the right time? Local shops charge so much to change tires that I could recoup costs by offering cheaper tire changes for people. | ||
| Puzzled |
I gave $1500 for both pieces to a local Honda shop that was closing up. I don't know if I made my money back or not to date. I have made quite a few repeat customers though. Sport bike style bikes are great as they eat tires every 3K miles!  | ||
| D_adams |
New changers like that go for $3k or more depending on the options you get. They're very nice for a shop, but a little overkill for a guy that only does 2 or 3 sets of tires a year. |
