Rear tire time-need some wisdom...

[C.V.]

Took a look yesterday and realized its time for a new rear tire...past time for a new rear tire. My dillema is whether or not to do it myself. I have a delicate time/money balance to consider, ie. I dont have a lot of money to spend, but also don't have a lot of time to do the job. I familiar w/ tire prices, does anybody know approx. what the labor cost is to have it changed at the shop (iknow this varies, just lookin for ballpark), I know it will be cheaper to remove the wheel and take it to them, but at that point, maybe I just ought to put on myself. I've done it once or twice about 16 yrs ago, and remember it being a big pain in the a$S, and I'd still have to buy irons. I saw the thread on the "strap method" anyone tried this with any success? There is a mobile service here that charges $35 an hour, that might be a good option... any advice is appreciated

BTW 1979 GS850G shaftaroonie

Thanks gang

[chuckycheese]

Tire

This has been discussed 1654 times and everyone has their opinion. Personally, I prefer to take the wheel off, myself, and pay someone to mount and balance it. I recently had a couple of tires mounted and paid $25 each (at a Suzuki dealer). I think that's pretty much the going rate, these days, in the Sacramento area.

Be sure to take them a new tube and make sure they put the tire on in the right direction.:-D

[doctorgonzo]

Shop standard (around here) is $20 to $25 bucks if the wheel is off the tire. If it's on the bike, $45 front, $55 rear. It was worth the $40 to me to not mess with breaking/getting a bead.

[Nessism]

I do my own, but then again, I enjoy working on bikes.

If you decide to go that way you will need to purchase a couple of tire irons (three is better) and figure out a way to support the axle to balance the assembly (I use some automotive jack stands). Rim protectors are highly recommended as well.

Like anything else, doing it yourself will allow you to assure the job is done right. My 850 wheels had a fair amount of corrosion on the inside which required a good scrub down with scotchbrite. No way a shop is going to take the extra time to do this like I did. Also, doing it yourself will allow you to inspect things like the brake pads, and grease the shaft drive splines (for those shafty folks).

One positive toward letting a shop do the work is if they have a dynamic tire balancing machine; static balance will never balance as accurately as dynamic (although it’s ‘good enough’ for most GS bikes).

Hope this helps and good luck.

[chuckycheese]

Fun?

I enjoy working on bikes.....I just don't enjoy working on tires!:-D

[Muser3]

Tires

C.V. I totally concur with Mr. Nessism. I started changing my own tires on a Triumph cub in the late fifties and have been doing it since. Get a couple of motorcycle Irons and go for it. It will take a bit longer the first time while you are learning but it is well worth the time and effort to me. I've never used the straps but I will try it and see what happens. Looks and sounds good. Do a little searching and get some good mental pictures of what you will be doing and I'll bet you'll find the experience rewarding.
Lee :-D

[Skateguy50]

If your in a rush and want it done right I would suggest taking the wheel in to get the tire mount and balanced.

Thats what I did... but long term I prob will start doing these myself and seeing that it cost me $60 to have two tires done that money could have bought me some tire irons and stuff to get setup to do it myself.

So if the tire is getting close but safe for now prob best to order the tire and irons and read up all the threads / guides for info while you wait. Oh and if yours is a shaftie like mine I think it was Basscliffs site that had a good guide that helped me with taking the wheel off and putting it back on.

[C.V.]

Thanks for the responses everybody, all very helpful! Given my situation, I think Skateguy's suggestion is my best bet. I let the tire go a little long (or it wore faster than I anticipated...:shock and it's kinda a safety issue now. I think next time around I may tackle it the hard way, but w/ time and cash flow as they are now...
I saw the tutorial on removing the wheel, but can't remember where, I'll go look, but can anyone drop me the link?

Thanks again guys! THE GSR rules!:-D

[flyingace]

I like to work on all aspects of my bike, rather I enjoy it or not. Once you get comfortable with a working component, it's one less thing to be uncertain about on the road.

My advice is to change your tire at least once. It is difficult, true, but you can store it away as one more thing you know.

[C.V.]

I like to work on all aspects of my bike, rather I enjoy it or not. Once you get comfortable with a working component, it's one less thing to be uncertain about on the road.

My advice is to change your tire at least once. It is difficult, true, but you can store it away as one more thing you know.

Definitely good advice, you can never know too much stuff! I've done it a few times way back in the past (I actually went to MMI in phoenix way back when), but I had a bead breaker and good tools and a guy standing behind me who new what he was doing! I think that I just don't have the time this time around, and if I get stuck, its more time and more cost, so i gotta play it safe. Hopefully I'll be better prepared next time and will be able to do it entirely myself.

[flyingace]

Once is enough. I spent an entire day changing a rear tire, and I doubt I'll forget that nightmare. If I can find someone cheap enough, I'll let a pro do it myself.

[chuckycheese]

Me, too

Once is enough. I spent an entire day changing a rear tire, and I doubt I'll forget that nightmare. If I can find someone cheap enough, I'll let a pro do it myself.

Amen! I know how to do lots of things that I don't choose to do.8-[

[catbed]

i think there is a tutorial for changing tires on basscliff's website. seems pretty good to me.:-D

[80GS1000]

Call around the local shops and see who'll do a mount/balance cheapest.

Taking the wheels off your bike is easy, changing a tire isn't, at least without the proper tools.

I can get tires mounted/balanced for $10 a piece around here provided I bring the rims off the bike. $20 for a mounted set seems pretty fair considering the money you'd have to put into tools and supplies if you wanted to go the DIY route.

[Billyboy]

Ballanced my wheels last weekend. WOW! What a difference!
Cheap and easy. Thank you, I'll do it myself.