Tire/tube replacement
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 467
Likes: 0
From: Binghamton, NY
Yesterday, I put my bike up on the lift, removed the rear wheel & took it in to have the new tire mounted. I had already purchased the tire during the spring open house sale & expected to pay the labor charge of $24 for mounting & balancing, plus about another $15 or so for the cost of a tube & rim strip. When I went to pay the bill, they said that I owed $67.50 for the service & parts. They charged me $30 to replace a tire tube that hadn't been in the tire for a year! WTF! I've bought tires for less than that! (a long time ago)
I'm going to buy a tire changer & start mounting my own tires & re-use the tubes at least once. I usually have to change tires once or twice a summer. There's no way I'm going to pay $60-$90 a year just for tire tubes!
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,328
Likes: 15
From: Pacific Northwest
I don't really feel that it should be necessary to change out the tube & rim strip every tire change, if you wear out tires fast enough to need new ones once or twice a year. That said......my local dealers won't put a new tire on with an old tube & rim strip. This has always bugged me, but I just paid the price.
Yesterday, I put my bike up on the lift, removed the rear wheel & took it in to have the new tire mounted. I had already purchased the tire during the spring open house sale & expected to pay the labor charge of $24 for mounting & balancing, plus about another $15 or so for the cost of a tube & rim strip. When I went to pay the bill, they said that I owed $67.50 for the service & parts. They charged me $30 to replace a tire tube that hadn't been in the tire for a year! WTF! I've bought tires for less than that! (a long time ago)
I'm going to buy a tire changer & start mounting my own tires & re-use the tubes at least once. I usually have to change tires once or twice a summer. There's no way I'm going to pay $60-$90 a year just for tire tubes!
Yesterday, I put my bike up on the lift, removed the rear wheel & took it in to have the new tire mounted. I had already purchased the tire during the spring open house sale & expected to pay the labor charge of $24 for mounting & balancing, plus about another $15 or so for the cost of a tube & rim strip. When I went to pay the bill, they said that I owed $67.50 for the service & parts. They charged me $30 to replace a tire tube that hadn't been in the tire for a year! WTF! I've bought tires for less than that! (a long time ago)
I'm going to buy a tire changer & start mounting my own tires & re-use the tubes at least once. I usually have to change tires once or twice a summer. There's no way I'm going to pay $60-$90 a year just for tire tubes!
Trending Topics
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 547
Likes: 2
From: Oregon
I just had my front tube replaced (3000 miles on it). It had a split at the base of the valve stem.
My Indy charged $43.55 for new tube, installation and wheel balance.
I was happy with that considering the local HD dealer wanted $100 for the same thing.
My Indy charged $43.55 for new tube, installation and wheel balance.
I was happy with that considering the local HD dealer wanted $100 for the same thing.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Road Master
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 766
Likes: 3
From: SoCal Desert
I've been told that if the tube is less than 3 yrs old it's OK to re-use. If the rim strip has no damage, then re-use it too. That might work for others, but not for me. Replace them all, it's cheap insurance.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
