I wore the Kenda Challenger right down to where I could almost see the air inside.  I was disappointed when I checked my little black book to find that I only got about 4000 miles out of it.  The Metzler I had on the front was getting a little dry rotted too, so I ordered a set of Dunlop 404's from Motorcyclesuperstore.com.  I paid $142 for the set, and they shipped it free.  The tires arrived in three days, which isn't too shabby with free shipping to Montana.

Now, to the point...  When we shod Kay's bike last time, I paid sixty bucks to have the tires mounted and balanced.  Being the cheapskate I am, I decided to buy some tire irons and do it myself thenceforth.  This may have been poor judgement on my part.  The back tire was a real bear, and I scratched the crap out of my wheel before the job was done.  I Finally had to enlist the aid of a friend to wrestle the new one on.  Those of you who have seen my bike will realize that a scratched up wheel won't detract much from the aesthetic value of the machine as a whole.  Nonetheless, it is discouraging to scuff your bike.  I guess the protective coating of oil and bugs wasn't thick enough.

I'll do it again next time, with lessons learned this time guiding me, but a word of caution, if I may...

While I am usually a very vocal proponent of doing it yourself because this bike is so easy to work (and learn) on, I don't think I would recommend that someone learn to change tires on these wheels.  It takes lots of finesse and patience, plenty of strength, and the right tools to get that stiff old rubber on and off that shiny wheel.  One slip, let alone forty-eleven slips, can mess up a spendy wheel in a hurry.

If you go ahead and try it yourself, good on ya' for having the guts... At least make sure you have a new tube on hand, just in case you pinch the old one with a tire iron and have to dismount half the tire and replace it after disregarding your friend's advice and trying to reuse the rusty, cruddy old thing that came out of the tire you are replacing.    Foaming bead lube around the spokes after inflation is not a good sign, as it turns out.

verslagen1 wrote on 06/18/10 at 20:05:48:



Keep an old rear on hand, Uhhh, Im 55,, So, I always have an old rear on hand.



I did both tires, alone. It was a circus. I had one tire iron pushed down & stuffed under the vise while I rassled w/ the other 2. I realized I moved the entire operationa a bit & looked to see if the tire iron was about to pop free, when it did & it spun out & stabbed me atween the eyes. I didnt stop & whine, wiped the blood off & kept at it. Hurt my shoulders so bad I spent about 2 weeks recovering. I hope I am better at it next time, cuz it IS time & Im headin for the darkside.

There's been times when I felt bad about ruining a bead or scuffing a wheel, but I had new fronts put on my Motorhome at Loren Young not long ago, and after watching them stupid kids beat on.... and gouge my rims w/ a sledge hammer, (they called it a tire hammer) and had to replace one new tire because they tore up the bead so bad, and then ended up putting the weights on the heavy side of the wheel, I now think I'm a pro at no matter how bad a job I do ...on no matter what I do !  

I've have a new 66 route tire for the rear to put on and I've change a lot of tires but you guys have scared me off,At 71 I guess I best have it done.

If you plan on buying a tire changer, I highly recommend the No-Mar tire changer. Their mount/dismount bar is pictured above. I bought one a few years ago and it has easily paid for itself. Or if you buy one like the Harbor Freight unit, the No-Mar M/D bar is a must. Makes life much easier.

I have a friend who got his front teeth smashed out while changing a tire with screw drivers. It's a must to have the proper tools and to be careful.

2 summers ago, I had a flat on the rear. I been working on cars over the last 23 years, and 3 gazillion tires of all shapes and sizes later, I found it not too difficult using 2 screwdrivers and one official-type tire spoon. Kinda awkward without some type of holding device, but do-able. The hardest part for me was getting the back tire off the dam bike, with no lift. I was balancing the center frame on a pile of 2x4's, and I piled lots of heavy things found in the garage on both sides, in case of an errant tipover.

watch the video...

http://nomartirechanger.com/videos/5

I have a sure-fire way to make changing the rear tire on the Savage a lot easier:

Change a few GL1800 rear tires.

I have, and will continue to do so (using just tire irons, BTW).

In comparison, changing the rear tire on my Savage (see signature) is a non-event.  

Practice and technique is everything.