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New Skins Too!

2K views 16 replies 4 participants last post by  airspro 
#1 ·
In addition to my new Corbin seat, I also received new Tires, Avon Distanzias to be precise.

I was very unhappy with the Bridgestone Trailwings. They rumbled like crazy braking, had uninspiring grip, and were not too smooth either.

So, having extensive experience with the Avons on my R1200GS, I figured they might work well on the slightly lighter Scrambler.


Off they go.


On to my very well used Harbor Freight Tire machine.


Pop the top bead.


Pop the bottom bead.

Continued...
 
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#2 ·

Pop the bottom bead.

Nice little heritage sticker inside the rim.


Check the direction.

Pop on the lower bead and powder up the tube to keep the binding down.
Pop it on, air it up, and balance it!

continued...
 
#3 ·

Put it back on the bike and repeat on the rear.

Note, the rear is a serious pain in the arse. Getting all the parts to line up, and the cush drive in tight, is no fun at all!

In the end, the new seat, and the new tires really made a great difference! Smoother ride, smoother braking, and a seat that is still very firm, but if experience tells me anything, will break in wonderfully!

Jim :cool:
 
#4 ·
That's good that.

Given how fast I am now going through rear tyres, I am seriously considering a tyre changing machine, but I think I'll save and splurge on the Nomar one. I see you use the nomar bar for working the tyre on your harbor freight deal. That's a pretty good cost / function compromise.

I am fairly sure I can recoup a lot of the cost of the tyre changer by taking "donations" for changing my mates tyres for them.

So anyway, tool acquisition plan for next year.

Good stuff Jim as always. I found the rear wheel to be a total :gooff: experience first time I did it, but every time since then it has been pretty easy.
 
#5 ·
Yeah, had I known I was going to be changing so many tires I would have splurged on the NoMar set-up, or its cheaper no frills unit. NoMar makes good stuff!

I have literally changed about 250 sets of tires on this $70 tire machine, so definitely got my money out of it.

Jim :cool:

PS Glad to know that the rear gets easier, on my BMW it is 5 easy bolts and it pops off like a car tire.:D
 
#8 ·
#11 ·
That's cool, I didn't know about the mojolever.

Jim, did you custom make the rim grips? That's one aspect that put me off about the harbor freight one, but if you can replace the grips with those nylon (guessing) blocks of yours then you can have a good tire changing tool for a pretty reasonable price, especially if you add either the Nomar or mojolever bar.
 
#12 ·
As a matter of fact my best bud Kermit (yes, real name) made them for me. Mitch, of the Mojo Lever, also makes the blocks from plans "borrowed" from Kermit. They work well, and protect the rims beautifully!

Jim :cool:
 
#13 ·
I'll have to weigh the cost of the harbor freight with mods vs the NoMar set up carefully. I wouldn't mind paying for the quality of the NoMar setup though....kind of depends how things work out this year.

Thanks for the info Jim!

EDIT: Is that Kermit of the "Kermit chair" fame?
 
#14 ·
Nah, just an Irish guy who lives near me!

By the way, If you have a few fabrication skills, and I believe you do, I have the "Y" portion of the Nomar kit with the three hand clamping blocks in red I never used, you could have them for a reasonable (cheap) price. It was originally a Coats upgrade kit from Nomar. I bought it with the Nomar bar from a guy, but don't do any welding, and already had the HF unit.



Jim :cool:
 
#15 ·
I was very unhappy with the Bridgestone Trailwings. They rumbled like crazy braking, had uninspiring grip, and were not too smooth either.
Seems to me that most scrambler owners hates the stock Trailwings.
I've heard some claims that Bridgestone is notorious for delivering cheaper, lower quality versions of their tires to OEM's....
Anyone...? :confused:
 
#16 ·
Seems to me that most scrambler owners hates the stock Trailwings.
I've heard some claims that Bridgestone is notorious for delivering cheaper, lower quality versions of their tires to OEM's....
Anyone...? :confused:
I've heard that as well.

Someone posted on ADVRider that they get "special" tires that are not up to the normal quality, and cost about $20 easch for the factory!

I don't know about that, but the OEM tires were loud, rumbled at low and high speed, caused juddering during braking, and were not very confidence inspiring in the rain, or dry!

I'm quite happy to have the Distanzias now!

Jim :cool:
 
#17 ·
Mine were so noisy , it was like a four wheeler with off road tires on it .
 
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