Change your own tyres

[Gavo]

  This guy is a crackup for a  rider

[alans1100]

Hey!! did I miss something here

 

[Gavo]

And these guys are a more serious

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpPGp4hFZnI

[alans1100]

Pity they didn't actually show you how to remove the calipers to get the front wheel out.

When I look at my 1100.............I just go to bike shop for front tyre change. The rear is simple.

 
Alan

[Williamson]

I thought it was about time I fitted my new tyres today, but where do I start?  Found this on YouTube and (whilst this guy is a bit of a tosser) thought it would be a good start:

http://youtu.be/Dl1axs4a3S4

And it was - thanks Turbo, and BTW "Tosser" is not a bad thing here in OZ, it's a term of endearment,

Rear Wheel

I wasn't too impressed with the idea in denting the right exhaust to allow to aid the axle bolt removal, or taking a notch out of the heat shield to aid access to the rear brake caliper retaining bolt.  All I needed to do was remove the exhaust retaining bolts on both sides and raise the right exhaust, and lower the left exhaust by around 10 to 15mm.

I also needed to remove the tow hitch.  This involved removing 10 bolts of various shapes and sizes, but two of these were exhaust bolts anyway.  First time I've done all this and it took around two hours, I reckon next time this will be less than an hour.

Front Wheel

This was pretty straight forward, and took only around 10 minutes.   

Old Tyre Removal and New Tyre  Fitting

This is the easy part, as wheels with old tyres I took to a local tyre dealer to fit the new tyres.  I've done this before and have no problems as one of his fitters is a biker.  He knows how to fit and respect motorcycle tyre and wheels.  He only charges $20 per wheel.  I see this as a win / win situation. 

[alans1100]

I'm glad the 1100 mufflers have been designed to allow the axle to be removed without the extra work.

I do one wheel at a time normally but I might try doing what the guy in the video does as I need to jack the front wheel up anyway.

[Williamson]

I was thinking today, when removing the wheels, how pi55ed-orf the yanks must be having to use metric tools.

[Biggles]

I was thinking today, when removing the wheels, how pi55ed-orf the yanks must be having to use metric tools.

They probably wouldn't touch them with a glove on principle, and use what they call "crescent wrenches".
And there- I got back my 5555 posts.  Do I get the payout this time?   

[Nigel]

I thought it was about time I fitted my new tyres today, but where do I start? 


Goin` bush again Micheal, need some new rubber?

[Williamson]

Goin` bush again Micheal, need some new rubber?

Managed to squeeze about 9,500km out of the rear Bridgestone Battlax 023, it was desperate need of replacement. 

The old CB1300 wasn't as hard on tyres (15,000km from Avons and Pirellis, that's with towing the old Classic trailer at least 2/3's of the time) so I'm very disappointed with the wear, I put this down to 5,000 odd km towing the heavier Elite Camper, not sparing the throttle, and probably just a shyte tyre.

Front tyre, also a Battlax 023, was not much better, so it's getting replaced too.

One of the best value tyres I had on the CB was a Shinko, good wear, good grip well (for my riding style), so I'm trying the Shinko's on the ST - only $240 for the pair delivered from Jake Wilson.

[alans1100]

Even the BT 23 GT spec isn't much better but I managed 10,000 km on the rear which is plus 2000 km over the previous standard tyre. I have the new T30 in GT spec ready to on later this week.

[saaz]

I have used a number of sets of the Shinko Verges on the ST1100, as has Lionel on his many FarRides, and I get 15,000kms or so front and back with mainly solo and a bit of luggage on board.  Grip wet and dry is as good as all the other  tyres I have tried (Avon, Metzler Z6, Continental Road Attack, Michelin PR2s, Dunlop Rioadsmart) with as good to better life.

Goin` bush again Micheal, need some new rubber?

Managed to squeeze about 9,500km out of the rear Bridgestone Battlax 023, it was desperate need of replacement. 

The old CB1300 wasn't as hard on tyres (15,000km from Avons and Pirellis, that's with towing the old Classic trailer at least 2/3's of the time) so I'm very disappointed with the wear, I put this down to 5,000 odd km towing the heavier Elite Camper, not sparing the throttle, and probably just a shyte tyre.

Front tyre, also a Battlax 023, was not much better, so it's getting replaced too.

One of the best value tyres I had on the CB was a Shinko, good wear, good grip well (for my riding style), so I'm trying the Shinko's on the ST - only $240 for the pair delivered from Jake Wilson.

[Williamson]

...... took to a local tyre dealer to fit the new tyres.  I've done this before and have no problems as one of his fitters is a biker.  He knows how to fit and respect motorcycle tyre and wheels.  He only charges $20 per wheel.  I see this as a win / win situation.

Picked them up today, and there was no charge for fitting, he would not take any $$.  I return with a slab of VB, he didn't refuse that.  The $44 for the slab was 10% dearer than the usual $40, I put this down to GST.  Still a win / win, and I'm happy.
 
Put 'em back on tonight, hope I don't have too many parts left over.