For those of you who are doing this yourself I would like to know how you are doing it and what steps you take to ensure you dont mess up the wheel...

Thanks

 

i would like to know myself.

 

I blew a tire one time in Myrtle Beach. Just took the back wheel off the bike. Took it into the motel room. Used a couple of screwdrivers to get the tire off, went and bought new tire next morning. Put it on the rim (did not balance of course), and rode it home to Ohio. No vibration whatsoever. I refuse to pay $200-$300 to do what I can do myself. And believe me, if I can do it, you can do it...

 

I changed out many tubed tires on dirt bikes way back in my motocrossing days. Never on a street bike, but what the heck, can't be so much differnt it justifies paying $100.00 to have the HD shop do it. I'll be installing my AVON Venoms in a couple months and follow up with how it went (scraped knuckles and all).

 

Same here for the better part of 40 years. A LOT of miles and a LOT of tires with nary a problem....

 

Changing motorcycle tires is not rocket science. Something that really helps is to get some real tire irons. Screwdrivers will work to get BIG ones and be careful about pinching the tube and marring the finish on the wheel.

Also, get three (3) irons. It'll make your life much more bearable. If you are changing tires often, consider making a "stand" out of an old care tire to get the wheel up off the ground.

Oh yeah, +1 on Dyna Beads. Definately the easiest way to get a balanced wheel.

 

Plastic rim protectors keep you from bumming up the wheel.

 

As long as it only costs me $15.00 for my Indy to do it and he checks the balance i will keep on doint it..Plus the last time i needed a tire 2 days before a trip and he bumped me ahead of everybody no questions asked....I can throw him 15 bones here and there...

 

just did the same thing two months ago, Dennis Kirk, tires, $218 tires then had an Indy shop do all the work, R&R & balance both tires for $128

 

I bought new front and rear tires for my 2009 Fatboy online at Motorcycle Superstore. I bought the Metzler Marathon 80's. The front tire is a 140mm, rear is 200mm. I mounted them myself using 4 tire irons, the plastic rim savers, a bead breaker, some soapy water, and the plug into the cig lighter air inflator. The front tire beaded up no problem...the rear took a bit more work but I got the job done and did it myself. For balancing, I bought 2 of the 2 oz bags of dyna beads and placed one bag in each wheel through the valve stem.

I really can't see myself EVER paying through the nose for tires at a dealership. I saved over $100 ON EACH TIRE. Plus, I know the job was done with care and consideration for my ride.