[FretlessMetal]

My girlfriend gave me Sport Demons (110/70/17 & 140/70/17) for Christmas, and since I am a do it your self kinda guy I figured I'd install them. I knew it would be a pain but...well I cant seem to break the bead on the rear tire and I didn't try the front yet. All the local bike shops want to charge $40-45 per wheel. $80+ tax is a bit much as I just purchased $150 worth of more stuff for my ex-500(Aluminum for making rear-set brackets, zx6(1991) bar risers, clear signals, and a new battery).

If anyone can offer any advice on tire instillation and balancing it would be much appreciated. I am fairly mechanical and usually don't have a problem with these kinds of things but...damn it just seemed impossible using a clamp and tire irons.

Thank you in advance to anyone who responds.
-Matthew

 

[fog]

You need Four things. 2 pieces 8" 2X4 and a 6' 2X4 , and a Buick.
Place the Wheel and tire on one of the 8" boards near the edge of the Buick. Place the second 8" board on the tire Bead Endways Take the long board and fit it under the Buick and over the other end of the 8" board on the tire bead. Try to invert the Buick. The tire bead should break first.

FOG

 

[whitey]

Go to the auto parts store and get the little tool that removes the needle out of the tire valve, and a C-clamp big enough to clear the tire. Remove the the needle from the valve, it is about the only way to truly remove all the air, place the c-clamp on the tire as close to the rim as possible without touching it. I use a small peice of wood on the bottom side of the c-clamp to keep from scratching the rim. Tighten down the c-clamp, when it looks like the bead is about to let loose take a rubber mallet and hit the tire on each side of the clamp. It usually breaks pretty easy that way. Remove the clamp turn the tire over and do the same to the other side. Work your tire off using flat tire irons (you can use screwdrivers but they are not very kind to your wheels), usually when you get the tire a 1/4 of the way off it will pull right off of the rim.
When installing new tires I use dish detergent as a lubricant, spread it over the lips of the tires and press the tire over the rim, you should be able to get atleast half of it on by hand. This is where it gets difficult, ecspecially by yourself. You will need atleast 2 tire irons. Put your knee in the middle of the tire already on the rim, it needs to be about in the middle of the rim to give the other side enough room to stretch over the rim. Use your tire irons to work the rest of the tire over the rim, moving small sections of tire at a time sing the one iron to hold the previous accomplishment in place. The very last 6-8 inches is the pain in the a#$ to get on.
Things to pay attention to is cycle tire should only go one direction there will be an arrow pointing the correct direction for rotation. And there will be a dot or paint mark showing the lightest side of the tire, you want that to mark to be, where the air valve is in the rim. I have strips of plastic that I cut from milk jugs to place between the rim and tire iron to keep from scratching the rims.
I balance my rims by putting the axle through the rim and setting it on jack stands and spinning the wheel lightly, atleast enough for it to make 2-3 rotations, I then mark the bottom of the rim where it stops. Repeat this 3-4 times, the heavy side should be where it stops the most often.
Hope this helps some, it has saved me alot of money over the past 10 years on many bikes.

 

[FretlessMetal]

Thank youboth for your help. I will make another attempt this evening. Cant wait to try the new tires out with the new rea set brackets I made and the zx-6e bar risers.

 

[knightslugger]

why not rent a tire changer from a tool rental company?

 

[ChopperCharles]

I've used the 2x4 method before, and it works like a charm. You won't believe how easy it is.

Charles.

 

[Guest]

I used this site as a guide, it worked out well. http://www.clarity.net/~adam/tire-changing.html

Rich

 

[SoarAndEnvision]

Thank youboth for your help. I will make another attempt this evening. Cant wait to try the new tires out with the new rea set brackets I made and the zx-6e bar risers.

hey matt you got photos of this?

 

[ChopperCharles]

I found the link that explains it: http://www.webbikeworld.com/t2/bead-breaker/motorcycle-tire-bead-breaker.htm

Charles.

 

[FretlessMetal]

Wow, I thank everyone for being so helpful. I going to try the 2x4 method in a few days, I busy with work before I go on vacation. Cant wait to ride.

-Matthew

 

[render]

Too bad you can't find a good motorcycle shop. I know a shop here in Dallas that charged me $30 total for both tires. Great place and service and well worth the $30.

 

[FretlessMetal]

That's awesome I'd have no problem even with $50 but damn, the shops on Long Island just want money. I even ended up calling a shop called Big Bottom Bikes(read: all custom HD's) I told them it was for a Ninja 500 and the guy gave me a big bottom "UMMM... yeah I'll do it for 40 each." after I almost laughed I thankes but no thanks'd him and hung up.

Back tire is off by the way. Thanks again for the help, anybody know the hex size for the front axle?
Gonna try to get the tires on tomorrow morning and hopefully balance them... I'm kinda nervous about balancing them my self. It seems deceptively easy.

 

[whitey]

Up until about a year ago I never even balanced them. Now that I realized how easy it is I do, but before I never had no problems with vibration or anything else.

 

[FretlessMetal]

Back Tire is DONE... front tire is a royal pain. Cant even break the bead. I think I just have to take a break and come back to it after vacation, going away with the honey for four days. I just want to get this done before school starts.

-Matthew

 

[fog]

Back Tire is DONE... front tire is a royal pain. Cant even break the bead. I think I just have to take a break and come back to it after vacation, going away with the honey for four days. I just want to get this done before school starts.

-Matthew

You must have been using a Chevy. Get a Buick.

FOG

 

[AntiAndy]

Back Tire is DONE... front tire is a royal pain. Cant even break the bead. I think I just have to take a break and come back to it after vacation, going away with the honey for four days. I just want to get this done before school starts.

-Matthew

You must have been using a Chevy. Get a Buick.

FOG

japanese bikes require japanese cars, duh.

 

[FretlessMetal]

Good one FOG. I was using a CHEVY and it's didnt work, couldnt get hold of a Buick, but I found some C clamps that did the trick. Tires are mounted and all, just have to adjust the slack put the pipes bakc on and ride.

How many miles does it take to break in new tires? If anybody knows, what is the recomended tire pressure for the pirelli sport demons 110 and 140. Their site give's no info that I can find.

 

[Guest]

A) why were the pipes off?
B) I've heard ~10-15 miles is enough. After that though, try not to go beyond 30% new rubber (i.e. don't lean way into a turn if the center is the only part of the tire that's clean.)

 

[bitzz]

Did you line up the RED dot?

 

[FretlessMetal]

Yes I lined up the red dot. My father actually took the wheels (with tires on) and brought them to a shop to get speed balanced. This was under my nose while I was on vacation, which was nice, but I want to do all the maintainence my self. I dont trust anybody to fix anything I own, except for my car.

The pipes were off to put the bike on my fathers new motorcycle lift.
-Matthew