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I change my own with rim protectors and tire irons. To break the bead I use a hand crank scissor jack between the tire and the hitch of our truck, which works best if my wife helps me. I balance the tires with Ride On.
If you can find and indy to do it for 25 go for it. Lots of shops wont anymore.
Most shops can't beat the on line prices so they lose that sale and thier tire mark up. Without the tire markup they are forced to overcharge for the mount and "balance". Some shops just outright refuse to mount tires they dont sell.
But like I said if you got someone to mount it for 25, then awesome go for it.
I have this one. Haven't tried it yet, but will in the next two weeks. I'll try the front tire first, if it's too much of a PITA, I'll just pull the wheel and take it in.
But, for $60, heck, worth a try. I've got the rim protectors, lube, and weights.
I do it old school. On the floor with tire irons and rim protectors. Never balanced a motorcycle tire in 35 years. No issues.
Order my tires on line. Can't find a dealer that even comes close in price and nobody local will mount them unless they sell them. All claim liability issues.
just bought a new 150 80B 16 delivered to my door was 200 bux. Dealer wants 300 plus 100 to mount if I drop off the bare rim. 150 if I bring the bike. For me it's a no brainer but to each their own.
Years ago I bought a Coats 220 (manual) tire machine; I think it cost about $800 at the time. I keep (fairly good) track of how many tires I've changed with it, and the current count is around 80, so figure $10 per tire. I use a simple balancer made by Wikco and stick-on weights.
It isn't just the money saved that's important to me. I know it's done correctly and that my rims won't be scratched (if they are, I don't have far to go to find the guilty party). And instead of wasting my time at a dealership or shop (or worse, dropping it off and trying to find a ride both ways), I'm working in my own garage.
Have always changed my own (and my buddies), used to do it old school on the ground but found Harbor Freight sells a stand for auto tires and an attachment for MC tires. Its cheap, about $90 for the two parts, but it holds the rim tight off the gound and has a bead breaker. I still use my tire irons and rim protectors but it puts the rim/tire at bench top level and holds it tight!! I've never balanced a tire and have never had ill effects, only recently started using Ride On though.
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.
