Adventures in Tire Changing

[mr72]

So I bought a set of 13" tire lever/spoons and successfully changed the rear tire on my GS by myself, although it was extremely laborious to say the least. But still, I had the tools and shops seem to charge obscene amounts of money to do what should be a reasonably simple thing. Mount and balance car tires all day long for $8-15 per wheel, why does it cost 4-5x that much to get a MC shop to do a moto tire? anyway...

So my dad bought a new set of tires for his Honda Shadow 750, at my recommendation. The tires on his bike came with it in about 2004 and while the tread looked fine and the bike only has like 8K miles on it, he constantly complained about how awful they were on wet roads which he attributed to them being "summer" tires. I attributed it to them being "shot". So he bought new ones and the plan was for me to help my retired, fixed-income dad change the tires himself with my shiny tools. It didn't go according to plan.

We started with the front since it was easiest to take off. The big complication of course is the tube. The tire went on easy enough and we got everything aligned and mounted, put 40psi in it and I even balanced the tire correctly using the spoke weights that were already there. But then we noticed a hissing sound and a squirt or two if windex revealed a leak. We took it back apart and discovered the tube had been pinched. First thought was to put the old tube back in, but we pinched it getting it off. Well, I went home after that and my dad went to the auto parts store to get a patch kit. He patched the tube and tried to put it back on, and he says in addition to it being incredibly difficult, he managed to pinch the tube again, he thinks in multiple places.

So, the new plan was to have a shop mount the tires. At least on front, they just need to literally change the tube. On the rear, he needs the tire swapped. So on Saturday he called around some shops. One shop flat out refused to even consider doing it because it's not a Harley. Seriously! Other shops either didn't answer the phone or suggested they may not be open on Monday etc.

This right here people is why I work on my own stuff. 100% of the time. Car and bike repair shops are unreliable ripoff artists in 99% of cases I have found.

So now my dad's motorcycle is in pieces waiting on him to find a shop that is willing to at least swap the tube, preferably one that's not a hour plus round trip drive. If he does want to drive an hour plus then for an astonishing $40 plus the cost of the tube apparently Cycle Gear will do it. Of course they won't do the rear tire unless he takes the wheel off the bike. We're hoping to get the front done and then ride it somewhere with the new rear tire in tow and have that one done while we wait. Fat chance of that happening, but we can hope. There is a shop up in Georgetown that's at least a nice motorcycle ride from his house, they are a Honda dealer to boot, so we can ride in there and shop while we wait. They made me a good deal on the front tire on my GS and installed it while I waited for what I remember to be a reasonable price. Maybe they'll see the benefit of decent customer service that leads to repeat business, but that may be hoping for too much business sense on the part of motorcycle shops.

I did strain my shoulder while patting myself on the back for having the sense to insist on a mag-wheel Bonneville rather than settling for a spoked Thruxton or a T100. I didn't even consider how much easier tire service is. I mostly wanted the smaller front wheel and lighter wheel/tire combos for better handling. Oh, and I don't think I have quite enough gray hair to look right on a spoked-wheel T100.

[Watcher]

I'd call that CG again.  Mine does $15 service for a tube swap (+ new tube).

Of course you would be bringing in the wheel off the bike...

[mr72]

The front wheel is already off the bike. He's trying to avoid having to remove the rear wheel himself, we didn't swap that tire yet.

I'll have him call CG again. I think the $40 may have been for changing the tire AND tube.

[Bluesmudge]

You are doing something wrong if you are pinching tubes. That should be a rare occurrence. Is it getting pinched by your tire irons or by the tire itself?
Maybe you are already doing this, but make sure to partially inflate the tube after you insert it (before you use the irons to put the tire in place). That way the tube has some form and its much harder to pinch with your irons.
Also lots of tire lube or baby powder.

You and your dad should have another go at it. You already spent the money on the tools.
I actually find tube tires much easier to replace because the bead isn't as stiff and you can set it with a bike pump (tubeless tires need a serious air compressor). Also remember that Motocross guys do this mid-ride, sometime multiple times in one day, so its not rocket science. If you feel like you need a lot more strength, try adjusting your technique.

[Watcher]

Maybe you are already doing this, but make sure to partially inflate the tube after you insert it (before you use the irons to put the tire in place). That way the tube has some form and its much harder to pinch with your irons.

I never bother with doing this.  I don't think it's necessary.  I normally don't have any issues when I put the tube in "inside edge" first and make sure it's lying deep in the tire.  A quick run inside the bead with your fingers can confirm if the tube is set deep enough or if there is a risk of it pinching.
Of course, on something like a 160 size rear tire there's so much damn room you'd have to be trying to pinch the tube to do it, lol!

Also lots of tire lube or baby powder.

Yes!  Baby powder is the tube-change technician's secret weapon!

If you feel like you need a lot more strength, try adjusting your technique.

This.  Forcing it is never an option.  The tire doesn't have much flex, truth be told.  If you really need to muscle the lever to finish the tire, the opposite bead needs to be down further onto the wheel.

Usually why people pinch tubes seems to be one of two things.  Either they're biting too deep with the levers and grabbing the tube by mistake and/or they aren't seating the tube deep enough into the tire before trying to lever the bead on.





I have some cameras and I do tire changes/tube swaps at least once a week, I should make a video next time I do it.