Law Abiding Biker Maintenance
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Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,935
Likes: 90
From: Charlotte
Law Abiding Biker Maintenance
I've gotten into doing my own basic maintenance. I've followed the exact steps as posted by "Law Abiding Biker." They post free video's on doing whatever with your bike.
I'm soon about to replace my front tire. Removing seems pretty simple but what makes me nervous is removing the rear tire.
On the video posted by Law Abiding Biker, in order to balance the removal of the rear tire, they jacked the bike up and then used a car jack to support the weight and remove the brakes, etc...
Is this how you guys remove your rear tire? Check out the posted video, does anyone see any problems with this process (I don't have a 2nd jack).
https://www.lawabidingbiker.com/?s=rear+tire
I'm soon about to replace my front tire. Removing seems pretty simple but what makes me nervous is removing the rear tire.
On the video posted by Law Abiding Biker, in order to balance the removal of the rear tire, they jacked the bike up and then used a car jack to support the weight and remove the brakes, etc...
Is this how you guys remove your rear tire? Check out the posted video, does anyone see any problems with this process (I don't have a 2nd jack).
https://www.lawabidingbiker.com/?s=rear+tire
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,062
Likes: 191
From: Boise, Idaho
I use a J&S jack. I never tie the bike down. I can remove either tire with no problem. I don't believe I would attempt to use 2 jacks to accomplish a tire change.
Here is a link to their website.
http://www.jsjacks.com/
Here is a link to their website.
http://www.jsjacks.com/
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,170
Likes: 14
From: washington dc
Yes. Bike high up on a lift then I use a modified floor jack to raise, lower and position the rear wheel assembly.
To deal with getting the wheel assembly under the fender and lifted into place, I cut a piece of tire into a small half moon and installed it on my jack. First, I get the wheel assembly under the fender and upright. Then I bend the cut tire and roll the rear wheel up onto the jack as I roll the jack under the bike and tire. I made a stop to hold the rear wheel in place on the half moon. Once the wheel is on the jack I can raise it to fit the caliper and axle. Works very well.
To deal with getting the wheel assembly under the fender and lifted into place, I cut a piece of tire into a small half moon and installed it on my jack. First, I get the wheel assembly under the fender and upright. Then I bend the cut tire and roll the rear wheel up onto the jack as I roll the jack under the bike and tire. I made a stop to hold the rear wheel in place on the half moon. Once the wheel is on the jack I can raise it to fit the caliper and axle. Works very well.
Last edited by jefla; Jan 3, 2017 at 10:23 AM.
Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,935
Likes: 90
From: Charlotte
I use a J&S jack. I never tie the bike down. I can remove either tire with no problem. I don't believe I would attempt to use 2 jacks to accomplish a tire change.
Here is a link to their website.
http://www.jsjacks.com/
Here is a link to their website.
http://www.jsjacks.com/
Thanks I already have a JS Jack and its great for lifting the bike. But my question is about securing the rear tire. As I'm releasing the bike, my fear is it just dropping.
But thanks again. I love my JS Jack.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 6,189
Likes: 2,419
From: USA
I'm going to say he made the job harder and more awkward than it had to be by cutting corners.
If the shocks are dropped you can raise and lower the bike making access to the axle very easy and you don't have to try to lift that heavy wheel up and hold it there while running the axle in.
Removing the muffler(s) makes access so much easier.
With the wheel sitting on the ground, bike on a jack, you can push the axle out with your finger, no hammer necessary.
Similar reinstallation, no pry bars used.
If the shocks are dropped you can raise and lower the bike making access to the axle very easy and you don't have to try to lift that heavy wheel up and hold it there while running the axle in.
Removing the muffler(s) makes access so much easier.
With the wheel sitting on the ground, bike on a jack, you can push the axle out with your finger, no hammer necessary.
Similar reinstallation, no pry bars used.
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,954
Likes: 148
From: Augusta, GA
Very easy to remove rear wheel assembly, but you have to be very careful lowering the bike to install rear wheel. It must be aligned and slowly lower bike. It is difficult for one person, but can be done. Just go very slow when lowering bike. Trust me, it would be a lot less stressfull to have two people lift rear tire and install axle or use a separate jack as described earlier.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 6,080
Likes: 1,957
From: Somewhere on the Bourbon trail
Easier to have the tire on the floor a bit and remove all the parts first and then raise the bike. Don't have to mess with the wheel falling. Might have to remove one of your mufflers to get the axle out. Then just reverse it to install.
Last edited by RKZen; Jan 3, 2017 at 10:50 AM.
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Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 654
Likes: 67
From: PacificNorthWest
Yes. Bike high up on a lift then I use a modified floor jack to raise, lower and position the rear wheel assembly.
To deal with getting the wheel assembly under the fender and lifted into place, I cut a piece of tire into a small half moon and installed it on my jack. First, I get the wheel assembly under the fender and upright. Then I bend the cut tire and roll the rear wheel up onto the jack as I roll the jack under the bike and tire. I made a stop to hold the rear wheel in place on the half moon. Once the wheel is on the jack I can raise it to fit the caliper and axle. Works very well.
To deal with getting the wheel assembly under the fender and lifted into place, I cut a piece of tire into a small half moon and installed it on my jack. First, I get the wheel assembly under the fender and upright. Then I bend the cut tire and roll the rear wheel up onto the jack as I roll the jack under the bike and tire. I made a stop to hold the rear wheel in place on the half moon. Once the wheel is on the jack I can raise it to fit the caliper and axle. Works very well.
Only way I could do it on my wide tire softail without growing an extra 4 hands
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 506
Likes: 7
From: Charlotte, NC
I have removed my rear tire multiple times with just a similar lift as you have with very little issues. Hardest part is keeping the spacers in place when mounting the rear tire. Definitely do not need a second jack. I also do this a a torn up asphalt driveway. Some day I will have a nice garage to do my maintenance.