Triumphrat

letsxplor · 08-23-2007, 07:09 AM

Morning all. It's time for a new rear tire on my '06 Bonnie. I'm considering the Avon Roadrider as it's affordable and I've read good things about it on this site. I'm also considering doing the installation myself.

How hard of a job is this? I have basic wrenching skills and tools, mostly from changing out parts on cars. My Haynes manual tells me how to get the wheel off, but won't give up any info on changing the tire itself. I can get a set of tire irons pretty cheaply from Bike Bandit. Are there any other special tools I would need?

I sure don't want to pay somebody $60 to do this when I can do it myself - at the same time, I don't want to get over my head on a part so important to my safety.

Whatcha think?

Lori

mn9130s · 08-23-2007, 07:50 AM

I got the Roadriders a few weeks ago. Couldn't be happier. I took the wheels off & brought them in to let the dealer mount & balance them. It was worth it to me not to have to fool with it. I did Progressive Suspension fork springs at the time as well. Did that myself. Changing a tire isn't that hard.

Geoff · 08-23-2007, 07:53 AM

you could change the tire yourself, with tire irons. then what about balance. you could do that too, with the proper equipment. are the spokes all tensioned correctly? you could do that also, with know how and experience.
I do most of my repair and maintenance my self, but I take my wheels off and give them to a specialist to install tires, balance, retension spokes, etc. He does this for 30 bucks a wheel, and I feel its money well spent
G

davidc · 08-23-2007, 09:06 AM

I changed a rear motorcycle tire once - and I'll never do it again.

markbvt · 08-23-2007, 11:22 AM

Mounting the new tire on the rim isn't such a big problem -- it's getting the old one off that's a pain. Breaking the bead can be a lot of work.

And as others have pointed out, once you have the tires mounted you still need to get the wheels balanced. May as well just have someone do everything for you.

As for the Avon Roadriders, I put a set on my Bonneville 1500 miles ago and like them a lot.

--mark