Hi all,
Just changed my first motorcycle tyre.....its NOTHING at all like fixing a bicycle tyre, I almost had to take a lunch break it took so long !

Anyway, is appears to all be about technique ?
I have 3 tyre levers, inserted 2 at the same time fairly close to each, left the one permanantly inserted, wedging the other end under the brake disc but careful that there was very little pressure exerted against the disc not to damage it. I then slowly, slowly worked the tyre off using the other 2 levers alternatively prying the tyre over the rim.

Does this sound right ? - It was the only approach that seemed to work for me. (Pain in the @#*%)

Another question.
I also noticed that once the wheel is off the bike, the bearings are exposed, or are they further in the tyre ? Something was being exposed, and that concerned me with respect to working on the lawn and getting grass in the the mix. I suppose one should work over a tarpaulin. It will have to be a solid tarpaulin, at one stage I was standing on the rim, fighting it with my tyre levers! - hopefully I will learn some finess with time.
Can one pack grease into the bearings once the wheel is off the bike, or do you have to remove the bearings to do this ? Should one pack grease into the bearings ? How often ? Can I use CV Lith-Moly Grease ?

Any pearls of wisdom regarding the wheel, changing the tyre, wheel maintenance etc would be appreciated.

But hey, besides looking a twit in front of half of my neighnbourhood, Ive learnt something today !

Tomorrow I try the rear tyre.
SM

I hate changing tires! I usually have my local mechanic take the rubber of the rim as it saves a lot of time! Wheel bearings wear out over time so its always a good chance to check them. As long as they are greased then dont worry too much about re-greasing.

For the rear tire; make sure the bike is blocked up and secure, tap the axel pin out with a piece of dowel/something soft or the ends of the pin will damage and you will have a hard time getting the nuts back on. Keep check of which direction the axel pin is going and the position of the spacers. To remove the tire push forward to get the chain off and then bring straight back, taking care not to damage the disc. Check your brake pads too; replacing them is easy peasy!

Try and remove the brake disc and sprocket before going mad with the wheel as you dont want them to bend. Only other thing is to check the spoke tension, if the wheel is spoked, and tighten if required with a spoke wrench.

Most importantly; remember that a cup of tea is required every hour as well as a platef of biscuits, ideally chocolate digestives.

Good luck!

You may find that the rear tyre is a bit harder to do than the front as it's usually a bit bigger and butcher.

One point on technique that you may be doing already but I didn't pick up on from your post is keeping the opposite side of the tyre pushed into the wheel well when you're doing the levering. That's opposite as in across the diameter of the wheel, not bottom as opposed to top.

With some of the bigger knobbly tyres making sure you've done that can be the difference between getting the tyre off or not.

A warm tyre's easier to work than a cold one, plenty of lube helps. I usually kneel on the tyre opposite to the levers to push the bead in to the rim...

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If you're going to be changing a lot of tyres at home, fasten three equal lengths of wood together to form a triangle on which to support the wheel, keeps discs & sprockets off the ground. I nailed this together about 13 years ago, still going strong as is the home made bead breaker.



I prefer the Michelin / Buzzetti type levers personally and carry a Bead Buddy with me when trailriding bikes with tubes fitted. Practice at home, don't leave it until you have your first roadside puncture. As others have said, warm tyres are more pliable than cold ones. Also worth buying a decent sized pot of tyre lube, I take an old film canister of tyre lube with me in addition to a stripped down 12v compressor.

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Great Idea the tri angle love the tool as well, I would suggest like most carry some form of tyre lube, & dont forget you can use your side stand to help remove the tyre, or even look at the HU dvd tyre changing

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