OK, I've been reading stuff on here about tires, not knowing I'd have to use it so soon  But, I got to looking hard yesterday and I found my OEM IRC's are weather cracked....which I'm not fond of at all. So, using the info I got here, I kind of narrowed the choices to a Dunlop K555 rear and a D404 front, or the Metzeler ME880's on both ends. I had to work, so I had the girlfriend stop at the big Suzuki shop to grab a jet (which they had!) and an Iridium plug (which they didn't) and price out the tires, installed.  HOLY $%^@! The guy said the K555 is discontinued, so he priced both D404's for her- $90 front, $130 rear, with installation at $63 per. ME 880's were $129 front, $182 rear, same installation. Sounds like a lot to me....so I'm thinking get on the net, I know I can still get a K555 cause I was looking today, and for less than $130. Buy my tires, pull my wheels and carry em in to a bike shop and have them mounted (yeah, I know, there are guys that do it in their sleep, but me and tire irons, tubes, etc have a long sad history and I'll pay to avoid that aggravation).  What seems to be the going rate for mounting tires on rims that are already off the bike? How much of a hassle am I getting into by yanking the wheels myself? I'm pretty up on cars and 4x4's, I can rebuild a Kohler or a Briggs or a Chevy 350, but I have no bike experience at all. Also, any links to places with cheap tires would be welcome!

130/90H15    $55.54  
100/90H19    $49.06  
140/90H15    $64.30  

TiresUnlimited.com

Dunlop 404's

Or you can buy your own balancer....put the money out up front and pays for itself in just a few uses. I've used mine twice so far on my last set of motorcycles..it's not hard to do and saves you having to either have someone else mount and balance your tire when you can do it yourself.

http://www.cycletires.com/balancer.htm

http://www.webbikeworld.com/Reviewed-motorcycle-products/balancer/

http://www.wikco.com/MCWKBAL.html

I bought a K555 rear (140/80/15) just the other day for $83.90 including shipping from http://www.ronayers.com

I just got a bike shop to order, and install two Metzler ME 880 tires, with tubes, and balancing.  The shop removed the tires there, as I took the bike in to get the jetting done as well.  The total labour for the jetting and tire job was $255.00 Canadian.

Front ME 880 tire = $170 Cdn.
Rear ME 880 tire = $245 Cdn.
new tubes = $20 Cdn.

Hope this helps.  

DianeS

Just bit the bullet and ordered a K555 rear and D404 front, with new tubes, from Tires Unlimited. $160 and change shipped for all of it, which is only about thirty bucks more than the dealership wanted for a D404 rear!  And, I found a local shop (not a 'stealership') that'll install em for $45 front, $55 rear- I ride the bike in with old tires, ride it out with new, so that's the way I'm gonna go, unless I get antsy and decide to yank the wheels myself. With the 'to do list' I've got though, that's not too likely.....  

olscout99 wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:06:

Do what you do well.  Let others do what they do well.  Those mounting prices are about average from what I've seen around here.  I have a D404 on the back with 7500 miles on it, about 80% worn -- not bad for how I abuse tires.  Next rear will likely be a ME880 as I hear they have longer treadlife.

Wow, I must have a really good bike store here in Hurst,Tx.  I replaced my rear tire with the original IRC 140/80 for $71.00 and the mounting and balancing was free as long as I brought the wheel in.  My IRC tire lasted 13,000 miles so I am sticking with this tire.