Changing the tires myself..

[desmodoktor]

hello,
'02 M750D.
just bought 2 Michelin Pilots 2CT. went to ask at some shops how much is the cost of the installation. from 100-150$. 
And of course i didn't like their prices... for something i'm sure its not too hard.... 
Decided to do it myself... watched some videos on youtube, looks pretty easy. 
The tools + the balancer is going to cost me around 100$
(never done it b4) Is there anything important i should know before i start? any infos will help ...  thanks!

[battlecry]

Warm the new tires.  Makes it a lot easier.

[He Man]

my Honest no bullshit opinion.

I dont balance my wheels. If you really wanted to save money you could find atleast 5 differnt ways to balance the tire without a balancer.

I made my own breaker, but there are several ways to break the bead, you can find whatever you like.

and i swear to god, buy some TROPICANA Plastic jugs of orange juice and cut them up into slides, they work really well to keep you from maring your own wheel. I've changed about 5 tires with just tire irons

the key is to keep the tire warm, after a ride, or keep them next to the boiler in the basement over night. It makes it 10x easier. I have the Pilot ROAD 2ct. over 12k miles later, ive had to break the bead and take the tire off about 3 times because of nails.

[desmodoktor]

my Honest no bullshit opinion.

I dont balance my wheels. If you really wanted to save money you could find atleast 5 differnt ways to balance the tire without a balancer.

I made my own breaker, but there are several ways to break the bead, you can find whatever you like.

and i swear to god, buy some TROPICANA Plastic jugs of orange juice and cut them up into slides, they work really well to keep you from maring your own wheel. I've changed about 5 tires with just tire irons

the key is to keep the tire warm, after a ride, or keep them next to the boiler in the basement over night. It makes it 10x easier. I have the Pilot ROAD 2ct. over 12k miles later, ive had to break the bead and take the tire off about 3 times because of nails.

thank you very much for pointing out the breaking the bead... i thought i could do it by hand Cheesy
this is the balancer i want to get : http://www.amazon.com/Motorcycle-Wheel-Balancer/dp/B0040HE8OS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=automotive&qid=1299285183&sr=8-1
should i go with the ``redneck method`` or can u tell me some different ways to do it?

[desmodoktor]

and yes, you are right.. there are many ways to balance the tire. i wanted something ready bcoz i didnt want to deal with welding bearings ect ect..
this is pretty ready and cool ...

[Gimpy]

I've used another bike to break the bead using the kickstand, then gone after it with tire irons from there.  I had a pregnant dog of a time the first time I changed a tire.  I recommend patience and lots of it, but after that.  It is as simple as it looks but it can be kinda tricky to work the tire around on and off the wheel. 

[gregrnel]

I have a friend who was killed going over his handlebars at 60MPH trying to save a few bucks by balancing his own wheel. There are certain things that you cannot safely do without the proper tools and experience, and I believe this is one of them. RIP JB.

[Ddan]

thank you very much for pointing out the breaking the bead... i thought i could do it by hand Cheesy
this is the balancer i want to get : http://www.amazon.com/Motorcycle-Wheel-Balancer/dp/B0040HE8OS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=automotive&qid=1299285183&sr=8-1
should i go with the ``redneck method`` or can u tell me some different ways to do it?

That balancer is well worth getting.  Check the balance on the wheels before you mount the new tires, Michelin doesn't mark the light side of the tire but most others do and it will make it much easier if you get the light side of the tire on the heavy side of the wheel.  Have some C-clamps handy, they make a great third hand and use plenty of lube on both the tire and rim.  The juice bottle plastic is a good idea, I use rim guards.

[J5]

just bought 2 Michelin Pilots 2CT. went to ask at some shops how much is the cost of the installation. from 100-150$. 
And of course i didn't like their prices... for something i'm sure its not too hard.... 

the price quoted would likely be ride your bike to them, sit down and drink coffee while they do it all and give your bike back

even then $150 is damn expensive which is what no more than a 30-60 min total job

best ask around what the price would be if you took them just the wheels

but either way changing your own tyres is always good to be able to do , esp if there is a significant saving and can guarentee yourself that you wont damage the wheels if you do it right instead of the workshop monkey

but if its only $10 or $20 for them to change a couple of tyres on loose wheels then its often better to drink the coffee

[desmodoktor]

the price quoted would likely be ride your bike to them, sit down and drink coffee while they do it all and give your bike back

even then $150 is damn expensive which is what no more than a 30-60 min total job

best ask around what the price would be if you took them just the wheels

but either way changing your own tyres is always good to be able to do , esp if there is a significant saving and can guarentee yourself that you wont damage the wheels if you do it right instead of the workshop monkey

but if its only $10 or $20 for them to change a couple of tyres on loose wheels then its often better to drink the coffee

thats a good idea.. will do .. 
im going to ask them how much is it if i bring only the wheels and tires to them..
for cars i know they charge 10$/each tire. thanks 

[desmodoktor]

I have a friend who was killed going over his handlebars at 60MPH trying to save a few bucks by balancing his own wheel. There are certain things that you cannot safely do without the proper tools and experience, and I believe this is one of them. RIP JB.

very sorry to hear that...
u might be right.. but not all people have the same brains, or skills.
the reason i want to do this by myself is that I think NO MECHANIC out there is going to do the job with the same patience/care/love i will.....
but thx for pointing it out bro. RIP JB.

[desmodoktor]

That balancer is well worth getting.  Check the balance on the wheels before you mount the new tires, Michelin doesn't mark the light side of the tire but most others do and it will make it much easier if you get the light side of the tire on the heavy side of the wheel.  Have some C-clamps handy, they make a great third hand and use plenty of lube on both the tire and rim.  The juice bottle plastic is a good idea, I use rim guards.

these are the tool i'm planning to use:
http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/4/77/28914/ITEM/MotoCentric-10-Spoon-Tire-Iron.aspx?WT.ac=Cart_Item
http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/4/77/29625/ITEM/Motion-Pro-Rim-Protectors.aspx?WT.ac=Cart_Item
http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/4/77/4486/ITEM/Motion-Pro-Valve-Core-Remover.aspx?WT.ac=Cart_Item
http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/4/77/29602/ITEM/K-L-Quickstick-Wheel-Weights.aspx?WT.ac=Cart_Item
And the balancer + Tire Lube...

im going to go today at the shop and ask them how much it would cost me if i bring them only the wheels and tires..

[desmodoktor]

i literary called all the shops around my area... (11385)
the cheapest i found was 100$ with the wheels on... and 60$ with the wheels off...
reading the reviews, everybody complains about them .. 
the ducati dealer will charge 120$/hour.. for 1 1/2 hour.. which is insane... 

[He Man]

I have a friend who was killed going over his handlebars at 60MPH trying to save a few bucks by balancing his own wheel. There are certain things that you cannot safely do without the proper tools and experience, and I believe this is one of them. RIP JB.

RIP to your friend and im sorry to hear him pass like that, but what did not having his wheels balance have to do with him going over the handle bars? There are plenty of ADV riders who dont balance their wheels. I have 3 track days on unablanced wheels and had the bike topped out then slammed on the brakes as hard as possible after the long straight without issue...

those rim protectors are near useless, they get chewed up pretty quickly. I found a vid on youtube and the guy said tropicana plastic jugs, no lie. they work much better. i have never tried the motion pro bead breaking tool. but hey if it works well let me know, id like to pick one up.

i am due for a tire change soon.

your alternative is to just get something like the no mar, or their clone ( i forgot the brnad its blue), but i dont mind spending extra time with a spoon 2 irons and a few jugs of OJ.

[desmodoktor]

RIP to your friend and im sorry to hear him pass like that, but what did not having his wheels balance have to do with him going over the handle bars? There are plenty of ADV riders who dont balance their wheels. I have 3 track days on unablanced wheels and had the bike topped out then slammed on the brakes as hard as possible after the long straight without issue...

those rim protectors are near useless, they get chewed up pretty quickly. I found a vid on youtube and the guy said tropicana plastic jugs, no lie. they work much better. i have never tried the motion pro bead breaking tool. but hey if it works well let me know, id like to pick one up.

i am due for a tire change soon.

your alternative is to just get something like the no mar, or their clone ( i forgot the brnad its blue), but i dont mind spending extra time with a spoon 2 irons and a few jugs of OJ.

yeah. im going to go for it !
i had never worked on bikes b4.. and changed the head base gasket and was successful from the 1st time for the f*** sake...
what am i doing having dubts abt changing/balancing the tires... 
i ll order the tools + balancer today .. and do it next weekend...