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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> First time tire change
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Message started by Onetogo on 06/28/08 at 07:20:25

Title: First time tire change
Post by Onetogo on 06/28/08 at 07:20:25

Put a new front tire on a couple days ago. My knees still hurt from working my way around the rim! I should have bought longer tire tools and I did mark up the rim a little. Had wee pieces of leather to put between tool and rim but the whole mess, including my hands, was so slobbery slick with soapy water I just couldn't seem to accomplish that simple additional feat. Finally had to get my wife to sit on the opposite side of the rim so I could pull the final four inches of bead over the lip.

Got it working though. Yellow circle stayed in place and the valve stem stick out almost perfectly. It even holds air pressure.

Used a Maxxis 100/90-19 H tubless tire I got from JC Whitney with free shipping. The change is very satisfying. Less vibration, straighter tracking, less turning effort and holds a line through turns with confidence. I am not anything near a knee dragger and as a relative newbie any element that requires less concentration and improves instinctive handling is a plus.

However, I did a stupid thing that anybody is welcome to weigh in on. The previous owner had a tubless tire mounted with a tube inside it. Of course when I removed the tire and found the tube, I promptly bought one myself and followed suit. I'm betting that this increased the difficulty of the tire change, added unnecessary rolling weight, and is a pretty common indicator of first time jitters. :-[

Anyway, I slowly making my way through the list of things I want to change or improve and will post as I make it through them.

My next idea is to do something about this Jarred (sp?) pipe. It makes my ears ring ... and I'm wearing a full face helmet. :o I got the OE muffler but prefer to disassemble the aftermarket to see if it is hollow. When in traffic, cars beside me either roll up their windows or change lanes. That's not why I ride.

Anyhow ,,, really enjoying the forums here. Oh yeah, I got the CD and have found it a remarkable resourse for information and inspiration. It is money well spent.

Title: Re: First time tire change
Post by verslagen1 on 06/28/08 at 07:36:14

Way to go, ontogo!
Hey I used to do that on my 10 speed! Sure did solve the problem of thorn punctures. Now I run tubeless. Go figure.
I got a supertrapp and the noise is just right as far as I'm concerned. Most of those sealed up, cell phone talking, radio blasting cagers still hear me coming. The oem muf is too quiet.

Title: Re: First time tire change
Post by Gort on 06/28/08 at 07:51:25

3E2D3A3B24292F2D2679480 wrote:

How do you run tubeless with the spoked Savage rim? The rubber strip covering the spokes isn't enough to assure no air leakage through the spoke mountings, which is why you are supposed to use a tube even with a tubeless tire. Am I missing something here?

Title: Re: First time tire change
Post by verslagen1 on 06/28/08 at 08:24:28

You don't

http://hometown.aol.com/camchainclub/images/dscn0237-small.jpg

see the thread 'whale'

Title: Re: First time tire change
Post by sluggo on 06/28/08 at 12:22:12

i just did my front, took me about 50 minutes start to finish on and off bike. went like clockwork. dunlop 404 tubeless with tube. works nice.

Title: Re: First time tire change
Post by 1st2know on 06/28/08 at 15:33:36

It took me about 1 1/2 hours for my front. Metzler me880 tubless with tube. The tricky part was squeezing the tube in so it doesnt get folded and lining up the valve stem at the same time.

So, tell me if this is normal: After I pried the final 4 inches of bead over the rim and watch it snap in to place, I began howling like a dog that had just killed a racoon. Am I sick?

Tricks that helped: I used windex as my lube; I used a clamp to squeeze the tire at 6 O'clock to keep it in the rim well; I used a clamp to hold the bead in to place while pried the other side. I wrappped the spoons in electrical tape - no scratching.

Why did I do it myself? It costs $70 for someone to mount both tires for me - that's the cost of a motorcycle jack. Now I got new shiny new jack :-)

Title: Re: First time tire change
Post by Jay on 06/28/08 at 20:06:12

verslagen1,
Where did you get those wheels? There're gorgeous! I would like to get a pair for mine.
Thanks,
Jay

Title: Re: First time tire change
Post by verslagen1 on 06/28/08 at 20:18:03

look for gs450 wheels, the front is a near match.
I wanted a disk rear so i went with a gs650 but that has shaft drive. Need to make an adapter for the belt drive.
the gs450 has chain drive so should be compatible and drum brake.

Title: Re: First time tire change
Post by mick on 06/29/08 at 02:49:10

After removing the front wheel and loading it in my cage ,I took it to my local mechanic along with the new tire,took about 10 minutes he charged me $20,no scratches ,no sore knees,oh I also had a new tube put in ,a good idea every time you change tires.