How to install a tire

How would I go about installin a back tire myself.

Mainly how do i brake the bead?

 

If you're going to continuosly change your own tires, spend a few bucks:

Tire Changer
Motorcycle Attachment

If you just need to break a bead, this looks like it would work: Bead Breaker

It works well once you get the hang of it. There are videos on youtube using this system if you need reference.

 

Here's the video I used as a howto - it worked for me, although I got a few scratches on my rim putting the new tire on. The basic process is very similar to reg71's howto. Tutorial on changing sportbike motorcycle tires

I made a much more ghetto version of the diy bead breaker shown in the video - just a stud, cut with an angle, drill a hole, and used the bumper of my van for leverage on it. That sounds cryptic, but if you watch the video, it should make sense...

I used the following tools:
Tire irons & rim protectors from a local cycle shop (short - about 8", per the video's recommendation)
Valve core tool from an auto parts store
Ghetto DIY bead breaker
lots of Pledge (which worked great!)

The main thing that would have made it easier is a good way to lock down the rim - resting it on 2x4's on a peice of cardboards was a hassle. Breaking the bead was a peice of cake.

I took it to a local shop to get it balanced. I think I'll pick up a wheel balancing tool next time around and do it myself. I've heard a few people on another forum who like Dyna Beads, which eliminate the need for a balancer - Tire Balancing Products

 

take the wheel to the shop 15 twenty bucks let them do it they have the right MACHINE and BALANCER..:thumbsup:

 

None of the shops in my area will mount a tire that they didn't sell me (or they charge a ridiculous extra fee to do it). I was looking at an extra cost of almost a hundred bucks just for the rear wheel if I had a shop do it.

They're also real jerks about the process if you buy the tire online. I can sympathize to a certain extent - they need to make their margins, but don't have the money and am not willing to put up with the abuse. YMMV depending on your local shop...

 

After much pain and hassle

I just find it's easier to take it to Cycle Gear and have them mount and balance it for $35. But I have to remove the wheel myself.
The local honda shop will do it for $50 but I needed to strip off the white paint so I removed the wheel, broke the bead and stripped the paint, then took it to cyclegear.

Oxygen

 

My setup:

Harborfreight ITEM 92961. $30-40
cut off the that little bent piece of metal on the middle bottom bar as it might mess up a rotor or rim. I put the tire on a couple of 2X4's to keep the rotors from touching anything.

Harborfreight ITEM 42927 $40-60
I plastic coated the clips that touch the tire. You don't really need the bottom half (the greyed out part.) All you need to do is make a mount from a piece of threaded steel pipe (2" I think) and a flange from Home Depot plumbing dept. You can mount the flange directly to a work bench or to a 2X6" like I did and stick that in a Black & Decker Workmate. Or you could just mount the whole thing to a workbench like the pic below. If you do get the bottom half (another $40-60) there is a built in bead breaker.

I use a Mojolever (you'll have to Google that couldn't find a pic) but some folks prefer a Nomar Lever.

Here's a pic I found in a pretty good write up called Mojolever and Harbor frieght. - ApriliaForum sponsored by AF1 Racing, inc.
http://www.apriliaforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=109869[/URL]


For balancing I use a Marc Parnes balancer

My VFR is new to me and I have not changed a tire on it but have done quite a few on my ST1300. I just ordered the VFR adapter (the left cone on above pic) but this thing did a great job balancing the tires on my ST and a Magna before that.

I also use NAPA's tire lube RuGlyde which really helps the tires on and off.

 

The Harbor freight tire changing base comes with a bead breaker built in. You can also get a motorcycle attachment for it. Also HF makes a balance stand and a VFR adapter. Stand is about $60 or so and the adapter is $12.00.

I used the base to break the bead then I do the rest with tire irons.

BIG HINT>>>> Make sure the tire is WARM. The warmer the tire the more pliable and the easier it is to break the bead. If is is warm out let the tire sit in the sun a while... If it is winter or cold out bring it in for a while (couple hours) the bead is easier to break then.

 

I figured out an even cheaper way to break the bead and that is to use a C-Clamp. It's a little tedious but I like spending 14 bucks for a c-clamp vs $100 for a tire changer.