Changing/balancing Tires

[beechfront]

I'm due for a new front tire and was considering doing it myself. After reading through the FAQ I'm sure I won't have any trouble changing the tire but am unsure about the balancing part having never done it. Being my first bike I have never had a motorcycle tire changed before. I love a challenge and would rather do it myself if possible. I'm sure someone on here changes their own tires - I was hoping for some advice on whether you think it's worth it to spend the extra money on tools (initially) or if it's way too much trouble and I would be smarter just having somebody else do it. I also would like to check the bearings, fork fluid & brake fluid while i have everything apart.

any advice would be appreciated.

thanks in advance.

Cory

[fusionking]

Having been raised in a tire repair business I always did my own including my former LG. My advice is take it off yourself and take it to a shop that has a computer balancer. If you are off on balance it will eventually start cupping. Not to mention when you really blast it (come on admit it you do ,we all do) and you're layin' down over those bars take a look at how much it really shakes! If you statically balance a tire perfect 9 times out of 10 it will be off. Besides if you don't like hanging out at the bike shop then change bike shops! Seriouslly I still have all my stuff and I wouldn't change it if you paid me! Plus it might help if you bought your tires from the same guy. I realize not everybody has a great bike shop in their area. Down here at the lake we have a place called The Motorcycle Doctor and he would die rather than rip anyone off. I really can't brag enough about him, he raced with Yamaha sponsorship ,knows his 1100 stuff. and about 50% of the time he beats online prices. Guess I'm really lucky! Garry

[Jerry]

A large part depends on the cost of getting the tire mounted and balanced. I did my own a couple times when I lived out in the boonies, not that difficult but can be tedious. Then I found a dealer who would match catalog or on-line prices and mount/balance a tire for about $5.00 plus a tire disposal fee, total cost less than $8.00. Not worth the time to do it yourself at those prices.

This was a 'loose tire', meaning I took the tire and wheel off myself, brought it into the shop for the mount/balance, and re-installed it myself. If the shop does the whole job you are looking at $40 - $50 for a rear tire, less for a front.

Shop around, some places include tire mount/balance as part of the purchase price. Other places will do it "when time allows', meaning you might have to wait a couple days but the price is generally pretty good. Check the independent shops as well.

I am glad I learned how to do it myself, but if you can find someone to do it for you at a reasonable price, farm it out.

[buggrin]

It's a Zen Thing

I always paid somebody else to change my tires, then had a front go flat at 70mph while in the fast lane. The tube had been pinched by a ham fisted tire iron cranker at the local dealer about a week prior. That, combined with being a titewad, convinced me to start changing my own tires after changing my shorts.

Asking the guys here in the forum gave me plenty of tips, but I still put the front on backwards -- good practice. Static balancing made it smoother than it was from the hamfist.

For a tube type the job is not bad - not easy mind you - but doable with a minimum of tools. To me, riding on new tires that I put on just feels better.

[schpiff]

I hear ya..I had a front go down on me too...(NOT fun)..I have no fears doin a back tire but prefer to have the guy with the stuff do the front..

[beechfront]

i opt'd to have the bike shop do it and it's gonna cost me. $28 per tire.

next time hopefully i'll have a shop to work in. it's tough doing any work on this thing when it has to sit outside the apartment.

[schpiff]

i hear ya there beech (been there)