Tire Mount And Balance Service, Kansas City Area

[beardo]

OK, I need to replace the tires on my FJR. The problem is that I'm trying to find a decent shop to do this for me with out getting "bent over." I live just north of Kansas City in Kearney, Missouri.

First of all, could anyone give me some recommendations on shops to mount and balance tires in the Kansas City area? I'm looking for decent overall price of purchasing tires and having them mounted and balanced... meaning I don't care if I purchase tires online and take them to the shop or purchase the tires from the shop. I'm just looking an overall decent price with decent quality of work. Please note that I will have the wheels removed the motorcycle... I will not be taking the motorcycle into the shop. I felt I got a good deal last year when I was able to take online purchased tires to a local BMW dealership and they mounted and balanced them for $30 each. However, they've raised their prices this year. Maybe I just got a good deal last year, I don’t' know... I haven't had enough motorcycle tires changed to even know what would be considered to be a good deal.

I do have one concern that I haven't decided on yet though. Should I make sure that I go to a shop that dynamically balances the wheels and tires? The reason I ask is that I plan on having the Ariete 90° degree valve stems installed and I'm not sure if this would cause a problem with static balanced wheels and tires.

I've considered purchasing a tire changer and balancing stand, but I just don't know if I could justify the cost. Right now I have one motorcycle and I would say that I typically put about 6,000 to 10,000 miles a year on it. Hence, I'd probably only be changing a set of tires maybe once a year, so I don't know if the changer and balancing stand is worth the investment. However, if I did this I would probably wait a little while, so I still need to find a decent shop to mount and balance tires for me at this point in time. Then regarding the balancing stand... I would need to be convinced that static balancing would be sufficient.

OK, I'm done rambling now... I'd appreciate any recommendations that anyone can give me.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

BeardO

 

[edocar]

Cafe Racer matched the internet prices I found for my Avons (st45/46) and they replaced them (static balanced) for $25/piece. Ask for Greg (owner) or Nick at

816-221-0711. Tell them Ed mentioned them to you. I think yuo willfind them to be a very good service shop.

 

[RonBB]

Where is Cafe Racer Located? Is that a shop name or a forum name? Thanks for the info.

 

[edocar]

Cafe Racer Inc.

1305 Union Avennue

Kansas City, MO 64101

816/221-0711

The address and zip code allows you key it in www.mapquest.com.

 

[beardo]

edocar,

Thanks much for recommending Café Racer for new tire mounting and balancing. Overall, I was happy the service and price. I dealt with Nick and mentioned that you had recommended them. They matched the Internet price for me as you stated. Since they included the shipping charges on the price match, the tires ended up costing me little more because they charged me sales tax, but I didn't push the issue since I felt the overall price was much better than most places around the area.

I'd recommend Café Racer to others based on my first experience with them. Nick, as well as the others was very nice and easy to deal with. It took a little longer than expected for them to receive my rear tire, but it was not their fault so I can't hold that against them. They promptly ordered the tires for me the same day I spoke with them, so it was just my bad luck with the delay for the delivery of the rear tire.

Anyway, thanks again for the recommendation.

BTW, for anyone's benefit they have a redesigned website as follows:

Café Racer

BeardO

 

[edocar]

Beardo.....

I am glad to have made the reference to Cafe Racer and am glad you found them to be as I described. I have limited experience riding north of KC (just a bit around Smithville Lake) and would like to know where your favorite routes are located. Do you know about https://www.motorcyclecloseouts.com? They have lots of goodies in inventory!!

 

[RonBB]

For what it's worth, I enjoy areas to the SE of KC. Back roads between Warsaw & Oseola. Also back roads between Boonville & Sedalia. No great roads like East TN or West NC, but not a lot of traffic & some scenery. Watch for deer though. Good luck.

 

[edocar]

RonBB, I am a little acquainted with the area you referenced because I have some property within ten minutes south and east of Truman Lake. Some of the roads I have traveled getting to my property and around that general area are a bit rough and quite a few do not have center lines.....so I have to be very careful but those rode conditions have not prevented me from exploring and enjoying the country. I don't know how many riding days remain this season but maybe we ought to keep in touch and arrange a rendesvous sometime.

 

[RonBB]

Yes, I would like to ride the area with a fellow FJR rider. I suggest not riding the area during deer hunting season. Lots of hunters in the area then, also lots of deer in that area. Do you ride weekends or during the week? Send me a PM.