First ever tire change

[GL4435]

After the local dealer quoted me $500 for a pair of PR2's, not including $120 to put them on the bike ... or $60 if I bring them just the wheels, I started seriously considering attempting a tire change myself. I read up on the process (many posts on the subject) watched a few YouTube videos, and was intrigued with the ingenuity of some of these guys. I decided to make this a low cost venture, so a changing station was not purchased, thus my home made changing station consisted of three scrap 4X4 chunks of wood, to keep the rotor safely off the ground, and my bead breaker ended up to be a six foot piece of scrap metal with with a perpendicular scrap 2X4 cut on an angle mounted to a hinge attached to a wall stud. I decided to use dynabeads for balancing. I did order a set of spoons and rim protectors however. The wheel removal went without issue, and I took the opportunity to lube the drive spline while the wheel was off (it was pretty dry). I was thinking that breaking the bead would be one of the difficult parts of this procedure, but the home made bead breaker worked in about one second flat, and hardest part by far ended up to be removing the old tire from the rim ... once that was done the new PR2 went on quick and really quite easily. I was concerned about using the bead balancing, and my first ride was slow and cautious ... I gradually increased speed and varied conditions, and I have to honestly say that the bike is as smooth or more so than the first day I rode it. I now have about 500miles on the new PR2's, and I have no complaints at all, and I spent roughly half the amount of money doing the job myself. My OEM Metzelers had about 8400mi on them. (the front had some life left, but I wanted to replace them as a set) Once again this forum has proven itself as an invaluable source of information and confidence building that, in this instance, paid off in cash.

 

[pjm204]

Good work. I've done a couple tire changes now on various bikes. It gets easier with every one I do. the FJR I just bought still has the original tires so they will need to be replaced soon. I plan to do it myself and either mount Shinko 009 or 005(I've had both in the past with good luck).

 

[Moosehead]

the PR2's are Very well balanced. I was taking the weights off for the first few changes until I noticed they were going back on in the same place. Now I just leave the weights in place and just check it after install. They haven't moved more than 1/4" over 4 changes.

 

[TC'sFJR]

Good work. I've done a couple tire changes now on various bikes. It gets easier with every one I do. the FJR I just bought still has the original tires so they will need to be replaced soon. I plan to do it myself and either mount Shinko 009 or 005(I've had both in the past with good luck).

I have also had good luck with the Shinko 009 on my last bike (Suzuki Bandit 1250, 12K on the rear). However, a friend riding a C14 only got 5 K on his 009 rear on his bike. Don't be surprised to not get the same kind of wear on a bigger, heavier bike such as a C14 or FJR.

 

[Patriot]

replacing the tire on ya wheelbarrow DOES NOT count here... :yahoo:

 

[Auburn]

After the local dealer quoted me $500 for a pair of PR2's, not including $120 to put them on the bike ...

I hope you mail ordered them. That price is criminal. You can get them shipped to your door for about half that cost.

 

[GL4435]

After the local dealer quoted me $500 for a pair of PR2's, not including $120 to put them on the bike ...

I hope you mail ordered them. That price is criminal. You can get them shipped to your door for about half that cost.

Yes, I should have mentioned that, and it was a little more than half the price from the dealer.

 

[n1acguy]

Thanks to the advice of this forum, I just got PR2s to my door for 235.89 from Derby Cycles. I didn't get the B tire for the rear. I ride solo.

You got a lot of miles out of your Metzlers. Mine are pretty cupped and feathered at a little less than 6000.

 

[CRMH Eagle]

Ordered PR2's from Southwest Motors on Wed. They arrived today! Around $255ish, shipping free. Went to Harbor Freight over the weekend and picked up the wheel changing stand plus motorcycle attachment. After reading this post a few days ago:

https://www.clarity.net/~adam/tire-changing-doc.html

I decided to return the HF tools and build my own. So I ordered 2 of the Motion Pro 16" irons

https://motionpro.com/motorcycle/tools/cate...teel_tire_iron/

plus the adhesive wheel weights from this vendor:

https://www.rockymountainatvmc.com

Then today the production manager at work gave me a 1" threaded rod, 2' in length plus washers. For some reason when I sold my Nissan Maxima (I really miss that car) I kept the doughnut since there was a full size spare in the trunk. Now this will be part of the base. I have plenty of wood in the garage to build a floor stand for the base and a bead breader. All I need is the nuts which I will get from the Depot tomorrow.

Yesterday the Marc Parnes balancer arrived.

Everyone at work is taking bets to see if I can actually do it.

I'm trying to make up for the bad sin of buying my helmet from the dealership when I purchased my feej... maybe this will do it!

 

[builderwill]

GL,

Like you I used the advice found here and decided to change my own tires this week, putting on PR2's. Got them all mounted pretty easily when I realized I forgot to order the dynabeads. So I decided to do my first TBS while I'm waiting for the beads. Funny thing, what I thought would be easiest, sliding the 2nd bead off the rim, was the most difficult. I guess just bad technique.

Glad you like the beads. Mine arrived tonight and hopefully have time to put everything back together tomorrow morning and try them out.

 

[GL4435]

GL,
Like you I used the advice found here and decided to change my own tires this week, putting on PR2's. Got them all mounted pretty easily when I realized I forgot to order the dynabeads. So I decided to do my first TBS while I'm waiting for the beads. Funny thing, what I thought would be easiest, sliding the 2nd bead off the rim, was the most difficult. I guess just bad technique.

Glad you like the beads. Mine arrived tonight and hopefully have time to put everything back together tomorrow morning and try them out.

Next tire change I was thinking about cutting the old tire off. It sounds a bit strange, but in reading the dynabeads info, you are to cut an opening in the old tire and pour out the beads for re-use, and I was thinking why not just use a pair of snips at that point, and cut the tire all the way across, and then just take it off.

 

[escapefjrtist]

the PR2's are Very well balanced. I was taking the weights off for the first few changes until I noticed they were going back on in the same place. Now I just leave the weights in place and just check it after install. They haven't moved more than 1/4" over 4 changes.

My findings echo these exactly...except over about 10 sets. Once the bare rims are balanced, PR2's seldom need any fiddling with. My choice of tire for now!

--G

 

[reecebike]

GL,
Like you I used the advice found here and decided to change my own tires this week, putting on PR2's. Got them all mounted pretty easily when I realized I forgot to order the dynabeads. So I decided to do my first TBS while I'm waiting for the beads. Funny thing, what I thought would be easiest, sliding the 2nd bead off the rim, was the most difficult. I guess just bad technique.

Glad you like the beads. Mine arrived tonight and hopefully have time to put everything back together tomorrow morning and try them out.

Next tire change I was thinking about cutting the old tire off. It sounds a bit strange, but in reading the dynabeads info, you are to cut an opening in the old tire and pour out the beads for re-use, and I was thinking why not just use a pair of snips at that point, and cut the tire all the way across, and then just take it off.

YES TRY THAT IT SHOULD BE A PEICE OF CAKE??????

 

[Fjryder]

like most everyone else here, i try to stay current on relevant topics concerning my FJR. my 08' needed a set of tires so i ordered a set of PR2s from Derby Cycles for $238 shipped. then, i came across the Dynabeads while watching a how to video on changing tires. i was intrigued. so i did some research and decided to install the Dynabeads in the PR2s.

i had a hell of a time trying to remove the old tire off the rim. i ended up taking it to a local shop and paid $28 for them to mount the tire. then, i installed the Dynabeads (2oz) myself. went for a ride and seemed very smooth.

the following day, i wanted to change the front tire. took me 3 hours just to mount it onto the rim. i'm sure bad technique and poorly chosen tools. in the front tire, i installed about 1.25 oz of Dynabeads.

cutting to the chase, i went for a ride after inflating the tires 37 psi front (cold) and 39 (rear) cold. i immediately noticed buzzy vibration at the clip ons at 70mph. i remembered when i called Dyanbeads they told me to start around 1 oz then to add if vibration was felt. i added another 1 oz. then took her for a ride. smooth up to 80 mph. then when i hit 90mph i felt shaking. around 97mph the bike began to shake violently. i rolled off the gas and returned home thinking i needed to add a little more (there was a 3oz weight on my wheel which i removed). so i added another .5 oz Dynabeads and headed back out. same thing. at about 95 mph the shaking got too violent for me to push anymore.

returned home scratching my head and wondering why the beads werent working. so i thought, maybe i needed to add some more to the rear. so i added about a .5oz to my rear and headed out. this time it had to work, because i was out of Dynabeads. took her up to 90mph. smooth. 95mph....the shakes were still there.

cant figure why the beads arent working for me. any ideas???

 

[builderwill]

I used 2 oz in rear and 1 oz in front when I did my tire change and was about to say the bike never felt smoother, but I'm not so sure I've been at 95 or above since changing in June. I guees I'll have to go test tonight.

 

[bikemiser]

Good work. I've done a couple tire changes now on various bikes. It gets easier with every one I do. the FJR I just bought still has the original tires so they will need to be replaced soon. I plan to do it myself and either mount Shinko 009 or 005(I've had both in the past with good luck).

I have also had good luck with the Shinko 009 on my last bike (Suzuki Bandit 1250, 12K on the rear). However, a friend riding a C14 only got 5 K on his 009 rear on his bike. Don't be surprised to not get the same kind of wear on a bigger, heavier bike such as a C14 or FJR.

I have a Shinko 009 on back and have 15K miles and still going.

Jim

 

[Harald]

like most everyone else here, i try to stay current on relevant topics concerning my FJR. my 08' needed a set of tires so i ordered a set of PR2s from Derby Cycles for $238 shipped. then, i came across the Dynabeads while watching a how to video on changing tires. i was intrigued. so i did some research and decided to install the Dynabeads in the PR2s.
i had a hell of a time trying to remove the old tire off the rim. i ended up taking it to a local shop and paid $28 for them to mount the tire. then, i installed the Dynabeads (2oz) myself. went for a ride and seemed very smooth.

the following day, i wanted to change the front tire. took me 3 hours just to mount it onto the rim. i'm sure bad technique and poorly chosen tools. in the front tire, i installed about 1.25 oz of Dynabeads.

cutting to the chase, i went for a ride after inflating the tires 37 psi front (cold) and 39 (rear) cold. i immediately noticed buzzy vibration at the clip ons at 70mph. i remembered when i called Dyanbeads they told me to start around 1 oz then to add if vibration was felt. i added another 1 oz. then took her for a ride. smooth up to 80 mph. then when i hit 90mph i felt shaking. around 97mph the bike began to shake violently. i rolled off the gas and returned home thinking i needed to add a little more (there was a 3oz weight on my wheel which i removed). so i added another .5 oz Dynabeads and headed back out. same thing. at about 95 mph the shaking got too violent for me to push anymore.

returned home scratching my head and wondering why the beads werent working. so i thought, maybe i needed to add some more to the rear. so i added about a .5oz to my rear and headed out. this time it had to work, because i was out of Dynabeads. took her up to 90mph. smooth. 95mph....the shakes were still there.

cant figure why the beads arent working for me. any ideas???

I don't have any experience with dynabeads, so can't comment on their use. I prefer the traditional spin balancing method and it's worked great for me with speeds over 165mph (not on the FJR).

One thing to check that could cause your problem is the tire mounting. If you don't use lube when seating the tire on the rim, then the tire could be seated unevenly and this will cause a vibration like you're experiencing. Most tires have a line in the rubber that can be used to compare the tire to the rim to make sure it is seated evenly. If your tire is not, then you'll need to break the bead, add lube and reseat it.

 

[Checkswrecks]

Next tire change I was thinking about cutting the old tire off. It sounds a bit strange, but in reading the dynabeads info, you are to cut an opening in the old tire and pour out the beads for re-use, and I was thinking why not just use a pair of snips at that point, and cut the tire all the way across, and then just take it off.

Huh???? Piece of cake.

Fossilized, rock-hard, fruitcake from the stone age.

About the only thing that makes it through the steel bead wire sets is a carbide wheel, and the smell from that going through the rubber will ensure that the cats won't be sleeping in the garage for a long time. Try not to knick the aluminum wheel while cutting off the tire.

<_<

Seriously, the beads pick up bits of rubber and balled talc during their life, so just ditch them and put in new beads. Personally, I do a static balance and also stick the beads in. Smooth as silk.

For the post about the tires that the beads didn't seem to help, the beads seem to work in most street tires, but for some reason there are some tires they just don't work with. You'll just have to stick with Plan A.

 

[FJRBluesman]

ynotride has a tire ma-cheen, and he gave me a lesson on tire changing, went well and easier than I thought. It was good to have "Dan The Tire Zen Master" to help me too.