Am I Getting REAMED?
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 309
Likes: 0
From: SoCal
I changed my own on dirt bikes for years but then again I didn't have to worry about balance. I actually came up with an Indy. at $235.00 installed and including tax. Next time I will most likely pull the wheel myself and take it to get mounted & balanced. I just didn't want to do it this time (lazy I guess) and thought I would just pay someone.
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 328
Likes: 1
From: South Central Virginia
Diy
Learned to do it yourself.... I have been changing mine for 26 years, one time I thought I would take it to an indy and see what it looked like for balance and it was off only 0.5 oz been changing the tires on that rim for 16 years
There is alot of different ways to bust a bead and using a good set of tire spoons and some soap you can take off the rubber fairly easy, make sure you have tire rotation going the right way when you put it back on, the tire has a dot yellow or red and you place this at the stem. you have to take out the stem internals to push enough air in to set the beads a regular air compressor will have enough psi to do the job. if you dont have an A/C take it to the local gas station to set the beads. still Worried about balancing ? if you take the new tire on the rim to a motorcycle shop it can only cost a few dollars for them to balance it. I Say go for it, it isnt a lost art. Some of us old timers still do it.
There is alot of different ways to bust a bead and using a good set of tire spoons and some soap you can take off the rubber fairly easy, make sure you have tire rotation going the right way when you put it back on, the tire has a dot yellow or red and you place this at the stem. you have to take out the stem internals to push enough air in to set the beads a regular air compressor will have enough psi to do the job. if you dont have an A/C take it to the local gas station to set the beads. still Worried about balancing ? if you take the new tire on the rim to a motorcycle shop it can only cost a few dollars for them to balance it. I Say go for it, it isnt a lost art. Some of us old timers still do it.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 309
Likes: 0
From: SoCal
hawgnut,
What got me wondering about balance is that there is a couple of weights on each wheel.
Something I have never figured out, is that I let my kids use my old tire spoons that I had for probably 30+ years and they actually broke one and bent the other. But these are the same guys that didn't loose my tools either.
What got me wondering about balance is that there is a couple of weights on each wheel.
Something I have never figured out, is that I let my kids use my old tire spoons that I had for probably 30+ years and they actually broke one and bent the other. But these are the same guys that didn't loose my tools either.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 8,051
Likes: 50
From: Florence, MT (Bitterroot Valley)
Just put new Dunlop Elite 3's on mine. Dennis Kirk.com for right around $206.00 for both tires, and mounting $60. That includes shipping. (Free shpg over $100) So both for $265. The MOCO wants a lot for Dunlops, or any other tires. Shop the net.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 260
Likes: 1
From: Eastford CT.
Did my rear tire about a month ago.
It cost me 135 for the tire and 20 to have it mounted and balanced.
The local dealer wanted over 300 to do it.
I'm glad I did it myself...like others said, it was easy to do.
It cost me 135 for the tire and 20 to have it mounted and balanced.
The local dealer wanted over 300 to do it.
I'm glad I did it myself...like others said, it was easy to do.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 20,880
Likes: 33,828
$350 + tax is rediculous for a tire that's good for only 8,000 to 10,000 miles. Welcome to the world of Harley ownership.
