race tires danger for new rideR?

[redial]

And be manly.   Bust your own tires on and off.  I've got about 5 tire irons, I don't HARDLY EVER scratch my rims anymore, and it's a piece of cake after 30 years of practice.    Line up that line with the valve stem, and, personal opinion here, balance is close enough.  I don't run 160 mph any more, and nothing shakes at 120, so it's all good. 

can you point me to a thread/literature/resource where i could read up on how to mount my own tires?
the tires seem fine so far after 2 days riding. today in heavy heavy rain. the bike is too fun i couldnt get off even though it was pouring.  (more fun than dry almost!)

new rubber to arrive monday, ill keep these treads in the garage for spares

p.s. 100mph sweepers !  mm not that confident yet but excited for the season

[Greg]

can you point me to a thread/literature/resource where i could read up on how to mount my own tires?
the tires seem fine so far after 2 days riding.

You can always get on of these

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=34542

[DrDesmo]

You can always get on of these

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=34542

Make sure you modify it a bit so you don't bang up your rims 

Harbor Freight Tire Changer Modifications

Adam

[DrDesmo]

... And here's how to use the Harbor Freight changer w/ a Motorcycle Tire

Mounting a Motorcycle Tire

[redial]

wow awesome video for someone with no experience with tires like myself. thank you guys so much im going to order that kit
and try it myself. ill get the machine out of it for the cost of labor the first time 

[DrDesmo]

wow awesome video for someone with no experience with tires like myself. thank you guys so much im going to order that kit
and try it myself. ill get the machine out of it for the cost of labor the first time 

Make sure you mod it a little bit per that pdf if you like keeping your wheels scratch free 

Adam

[corndog67]

The video doesn't seem to want to work for me.  I'll see if I can explain the manual/hand way to do it.  I like to have at least 3 tire irons at hand, although I've seen enduro guys do it on the side of the trail with 2.   I also like to use the 15 or 18 inch ones, but be careful, I've seen a guy break a Kawasaki wheel with one.   

The hard part is breaking the bead from the wheel.  I used to use a Triumph Bonneville long style kickstand to break them, but I sold that bike.  Now I either stomp the bead off the rim, a lot of times that doesn't work, or a big vise that we have a work, or the Yamaha dealer that I bought my dirt bike from does them for nothing.   I've also seen a guy jimmyrig a couple of 2x4s together and leverage the bead off using his truck bumper, it really worked pretty well. 

Once the bead is broke, I use hand cleaner, the non abrasive kind to lube the tire, since it evaporates after a while.   Lay the wheel disc side down on a piece of carpet or cardboard, and I always remove the sprocket to reduce the amount of blood shed.  Using my knees, I push the nearside of the bead down into the valley in the middle of the rim, and try to push it down, all the way around.  Then I put 2 tire irons (hook side) under the bead opposite me.  Making sure the nearside is still in the valley, and most of the rest of the tire, I lever the bead over, with the tire irons maybe 3-4 inches apart.   Pull one out, and stick it in the gap between the bead and the rim, right next to where the bead is going over the edge, and pry another part over, remember, take small bites with the tire iron.  Repeat a couple of times and you should be good to go.

Now I stand the tire up, so the rim drops down over the bead still on it, so there is a gap at the top.   Using the smooth side of the tire iron, put 2 irons under the edge of the rim, removing the tire from the same side you pulled the first side off of, and lever them over, but watch the ends/sharp edge of the irons, they will gouge your wheel if you aren't careful.  Pull one out, take another small bite and you should be able to yank the tire of the wheel.

It really helps if you lay the tire out in the sun for a while, it softens them up.  I've seen a guy at the races when it was cold set if on top of his hot truck engine to soften it up.  Make sure that you the direction of rotation correct in relation to the wheel.   Lube it up.  Nearly every time, I can stomp the first side back on.  Make sure you know where the painted line is on the tire, that goes where the valve stem is.  Same thing, using your knees, get the first side into the valley in the middle of the rim and work your way around with your knees.  I use the smooth side the lever the last 8 or 10 iinches over the rim, careful, don't scratch things up.   Take small bites and make sure the side near you stays in the valley of the rim.  That part is crucial.    Line up the line with the valve stem, air it up, if you use hand cleaner, it makes them pop on the bead pretty easily. 

The last time I did the 900RR, it was 25 minutes, from rolling the bike into the garage, to back on the ground, ready to ride. 

[Greg]

If you have a Cyclegear nearby you can take the wheels off and they will mount em for 60.

Jon - I'm thinking I might have to invest in one of those Harbour Freight tire changers 

[redial]

can anyone tell me if the "motorcycle adapter" is useful or necessary?

i ordered the portable tire changer, and some tire irons (24inch, they didnt have any other sizes)

And i was going to order the moto adapter, but i dont see the guy using it in the video. also from the pic i cant even tell what the thing does!

heres the product http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=42927 i have no idea how it helps

[DLSGAP]

+1 on the HF tire changer... I havent used one with the motorcycle adapter. Takes me about 2 minutes per tire for old one off, new one on...

[Porsche Monkey]

Jon - I'm thinking I might have to invest in one of those Harbour Freight tire changers 

Greg you can just give me your rims and I'll do it at work.  No big deal really.

[redial]

Greg you can just give me your rims and I'll do it at work.  No big deal really.

thanks! ill pass on the moto adapter then


the machine is on backorder tho boo!

[Roscoe]

the moto adapter is what clamps to the rim. I use the same setup and it works well once you get the hang of it. Nice thing about the adapter is you clamp the wheel in, start removing the bead ( after breaking it) and insert the long bar. You then lever the bar around a rod you insert into the middle, spinning the tire bead off in one motion, without even touching the rim.

I've never seen the coats changer in action, but to me the holy grail would be the No-Mar changer.

[redial]

I've never seen the coats changer in action, but to me the holy grail would be the No-Mar changer.

i looked up the no-mar
http://www.nomartirechanger.com/product/show/1

i must have it!!

[sochuck]

OK once I am done turn the flame up....Mate I just wanted to point out a few things, if you are that nervous about the bike, tyres and road conditions, get out to a racepark and take a road course. You will learn what those "race" tyres and you are capable of doing.
Now, to say that the meat put on your Monster's wheels are race tyres is a bit misleading. A slick is a true race tyre. You have DOT tyres that have a compound that lends itself to be real sticky when at temp (and at the proper operating pressures). Those same DOT tyres are used by racers in WERA, AMA, CCS and are just as safe to be used on roadways shared with truck and cars. Are they race tyres, well on a race track they are, on the street they aren't. The amount of grip will change from cold to warm to smoking hot. The amount of grip will be determined by the pressure in the tyre at any given point (this is a point you need to be clear on...PROPER AIR PRESSURE LEVELS based upin load,,,do the research).
I suppose the point I am trying to make is before you go shucking the Tyres off for something else, get to a track and learn more about riding what you have. I am not trying to be insultive but it is what it is. Cofidence is what you are lacking not improper tyres....Get out and ride!

Cheers