Changing M.C.tires

vrichard · #1 03-25-2011, 04:06 PM

I`ve been changing my own m.c. tires for ever,I just got thu putting a new one on the rear my Heritage,I`m going on 87 years old and i`m going to let
some one mount the next one
Dick

ralph7 · #2 03-25-2011, 04:10 PM

you're a tough dude!

DGNY · #3 03-25-2011, 04:20 PM

We tip our hats to you, Sir, and concur with your plan for future tires!

Regards,

Dyson

GKC · #4 03-25-2011, 05:05 PM

Well, I'm sixty and don't change the tires on my Honda VTX, and haven't ever in the 8 years since I bought it...so, my hat's off to you, sir!

cowboy117 · #5 03-25-2011, 05:09 PM

Harley riders are a breed to themselves.

Take it to a shop,and thank you for your service[i rode HD's from 1969 till 1990].Here's me with my last bike in 1990.

pbslinger · #6 03-25-2011, 06:32 PM

Wisdom has taught you to know when to fold them. As a fellow self changer, I can only hope to perform this for thirty more years. Imagine those who never earned the satisfaction of doing it themselves. I kind of feel sorry for them, and proud of you. A tip of the hat to you! I use a fiberglass batten for a spoon so as not to mar my rims. That looks like a Dunlop from here.

shooboy · #7 03-25-2011, 07:10 PM

Wuss........ just kidding Dick ! Keep on keepin' on Bro, Shoo

mkk41 · #8 03-25-2011, 08:02 PM

A few years back , I was on the PA turnpike when I got a flat on the rear of my 1968 FLH. Ripped the valve stem off , so I called the nearest HD dealer and told them I was stuck with a flat. They asked what kind of bike , I said "Harley , of course". He asked what model , I said , "Electra-Glide". They came and got me quick enough and took us back to the shop , but since I too don't let anyone touch my bike , I asked if I could do it myself. But they kicked up a fuss and I had to leave the service bay. 10min later , the service manager came and got me. No one knew how to remove the rear wheel on my old steed. I had to show them. Didn't have a clue , or the right tools. Class was soon in session as I had 5 guys watching me. They asked all sorts of questions. What's this , what's that , pointing to various things.
After I was done and she was happily on the ground , I went to pay my bill.

Charged me $55 for the pick-up (ok) , $15 for the tube (ok) and 2 hours ($130) shop time (!!!). I jokingly said to the service manager that they should pay me for teaching their 'technicians' how-to. He , very seriously , replied that if i told him on the phone my bike was a '68 , I'd still be on the turnpike.

G.T. Smith · #9 03-25-2011, 08:05 PM

Sir, thank you for serving our country. But it is obvious that you are a biker, so don't be a cry baby. You will be changing those tires till at least 100. You just gotta get a process together that fits your capabilities. I just hope to hell I can still do it at 87. Again, thank you for your service. In my mind you are the best.
Peace,
gordon

cowboy117 · #10 03-25-2011, 09:16 PM

Beautiful bike,mkk41.Gen.shovels are my favorite.

feralmerril · #11 03-26-2011, 02:07 AM

In 1968 I rode this 1963 FL from tujunga california to wisconsin on a solo trip. On the way back I had spent the night in jackson wyoming. I called a GF from jackson who had been watching my house. She said someone had broke in and stold all my guns! I didnt have near what I have now, but did have a good armfull. Of course I hit the switch! I left jackson about 7am. I got to salt lake city and I needed a rear tire. I was almost broke, and the harley dealer sold me a recap. I never heard of a retread for a motorcycle before or since! I tried to put it on myself and had big trouble. I must have fought it for several hours and finaly someone at the dealership took pity on me and finished the job. I had bucked snow drifts on a pass between jackson and salt lake. When I got to st. george that night I was down to a T-shirt. I got to whiskey petes at cal/nev state line. In those days it was just a filling station and a very small casino. I gassed up and somone informed me they heard on the radio that bobby kennedy was just shot! I dogged it in to tujunga right at 7am that morning. 24 hours and exactly 1,000 miles! Turned out my house was broken into and a ruger single six was missing that I had left out for the GF. I had hid all my long guns and thought I had told her that, but she had seen them gone and assumed they were stolen. That was my longest one day ride on a motor. About a week later the GF and I were rideing and the tire came apart just like you cut it with a knife all the way around the middle. It took my wireing out from under the rear fender, but we didnt dump it. The things I did when I was young and dumb! That was one miserable trip! It had rained and snowed on me almost all the entire trip! But yet those are the ones you remember the best!

jframe · #12 03-26-2011, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cowboy117

Harley riders are a breed to themselves.

Take it to a shop,and thank you for your service[i rode HD's from 1969 till 1990].Here's me with my last bike in 1990.

That wouldn't just happen to be a '68 or '69 Roadrunner or GTX Plymouth behind you in that pic, would it? I just love those B body Mopars, even though I'm a Ford guy thru and thru. What I wouldn't give for a triple black '68 Charger R/T 4-speed!

Bassamatic · #13 03-26-2011, 08:01 AM

Good for you old timer. I say that admiringly as I am 63 and someday hope to make it to my 80's.

Besides, we "old" Harley riders need to stick together. Here is my Heritage...I ride her everyday...well, as long as it's over 55 outside.

zoom6zoom · #14 03-26-2011, 08:03 AM

So, you're finally re-tired?

Smith357 · #15 03-26-2011, 08:21 AM

It's getting harder and harder to pry those tires off and on the rims, I too have grown too old to mess with it and have sworn the next time I'm just going to pay someone to change the tires on the bike.

ChattanoogaPhil · #16 03-26-2011, 09:56 AM

I put new tires on last year. Had to buy a motorcycle lift. Wonder who came up with the great idea to not put center stands on bikes anymore....

cowboy117 · #17 03-26-2011, 09:57 AM

jframe,it was a friends car[and house]I'm not sure what year it was.I'm a Ford guy also.

Black_Sheep · #18 03-26-2011, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jframe

That wouldn't just happen to be a '68 or '69 Roadrunner or GTX Plymouth behind you in that pic, would it? I just love those B body Mopars, even though I'm a Ford guy thru and thru. What I wouldn't give for a triple black '68 Charger R/T 4-speed!

It's a '69 for sure, probably a Satellite or 'Runner because the Sport Satellite and GTX had recessed tail lights and a wide finish panel across the decklid.

Nice bikes btw, I dream of someday owning one but I have to get the youngest through college first...

ridewv · #19 03-26-2011, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vrichard

I`ve been changing my own m.c. tires for ever,I just got thu putting a new one on the rear my Heritage,I`m going on 87 years old and i`m going to let
some one mount the next one
Dick

Dick, at 87 you shouldn't have to change your own tires. If you lived near me I'd gladly do it for you.
I love my Harley but of my bikes it is the most time consuming one to change and balance tires on, especially the rear. Carefully jack it up (it has no center stand), have to remove the mufflers just to get the axle out, getting the rear caliper on and off is awkward, and the big pulley on one side with the brake rotor on the other side of the rear wheel makes it is heavy to balance. Must get the wheel back on straight and with correct belt tension.
Contrast this with my R100. Lift bike on center stand, remove 4 lug bolts (like a car) and remove wheel.

GTbob · #20 03-26-2011, 11:10 AM

VRichard..... Thanks for your service. My Father is a WWII Vet also. I too ride Harleys and do most all my own work and repairs. I also live in Colorado, Denver area.

Here's a pic of mine....

DeadAye · #21 03-26-2011, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChattanoogaPhil

Wonder who came up with the great idea to not put center stands on bikes anymore....

I've been riding HDs since 1966 and haven't owned one yet with a center stand. My first was a Solo 45/45 then a 48 Pan then some others till the latest - a '93 FLSTC

The rigids were THEE best, btw. The 45 was stolen and I HAD to sell the Pan (48FL8202)

feralmerril · #22 03-26-2011, 11:48 AM

My 63 had a center stand that raised the rear wheel off the ground. They were a option. Dont they sell them anymore? I also had a simple makeshift made out of pipes stand jack that I could lift the bike up with. Picture a U shaped 3 piece pipe with another long pipe handle offset to one side that acted as a lever and a brace after you just rotated it over. Simple, easy and worked!

DeadAye · #23 03-26-2011, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by feralmerril

My 63 had a center stand that raised the rear wheel off the ground. They were a option. Dont they sell them anymore? I also had a simple makeshift made out of pipes stand jack that I could lift the bike up with. Picture a U shaped 3 piece pipe with another long pipe handle offset to one side that acted as a lever and a brace after you just rotated it over. Simple, easy and worked!

I still have mine

feralmerril · #24 03-26-2011, 12:06 PM

Here is a couple of my other harleys. My 63 had a center stand, a side stand, of course, and I also had the ride off stands on three of them. The trans am was a 1976. The blue harley is a 64 that I gave $1,500 for! The prior post of my 63 cost me $1,000s in 1966! The maroon one was where I T-boned a woman that ran a stop sign. I was lucky on that one. A off duty chip seen her run the sign and told me when my buddy gets here, we will bring you a copy of her ticket to the hospital, and they did!

mkk41 · #25 03-26-2011, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by feralmerril

My 63 had a center stand that raised the rear wheel off the ground. They were a option. Dont they sell them anymore?

Back in the days of real bikers , on the road tire repairs were a fact of everyday riding. Most carried tools and a patch kit for tubes.

Those cast aluminum center stands were available from the dealer and fit all swingarm frame from '58 to '85. Ya still see them at swap meets and there are repros available. I have 2 NOS still in the box.

The rigids till '57 all had a stand that folded up under the rear fender that allowed a rear tire change.

Center stands have made a come back. They are available , at least for the big touring bikes. I'm watching out for one on Ebay for my '97 Road King.

That's a great idea as removing the rear wheel on a new bike is a much bigger pain than on my '68.

cowboy117 · #26 03-26-2011, 03:18 PM

The newer H-D's don't have a hinged rear fender.I put a ride off stand on my '79.I also had a stand in my garage.

Feralmerril,that 3rd.pic is amazing!Ouch!!!You got lucky on that one.

mkk41 · #27 03-26-2011, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cowboy117

The newer H-D's don't have a hinged rear fender.I put a ride off stand on my '79.

Feralmerril,that 3rd.pic is amazing!Ouch!!!You got lucky on that one.

Yeah , and that's a pain. Some lift tales have a removable panel so ya can put a scissors jack (or blocks) under the frame and drop the rear wheel.

During the event I described earlier , those young 'technicians' at the dealership were blown away by my hinged rear fender.

mkk41 · #28 03-26-2011, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cowboy117

Beautiful bike,mkk41.Gen.shovels are my favorite.

(Oops , missed this.)

Thanks Cowboy. Yeah , I've got a few other Harleys , but my '68 is my favorite.

Marshwheeling · #29 03-26-2011, 07:10 PM

I'm 63, and usually mount half a dozen tires a year, and may fix 2 or 3 flats in the course of a riding season. My wife gave me a tire changer a few years ago, but I haven't bothered to put it together yet. It's really easier and quicker just to use tire levers. Since I got a set of these, I don't pinch tubes any more:
Motion Pro - T-6 Combo Lever

I use talc as a lubricant for the bead as well as the tube. It does not leave a sticky residue on the rim, and you can also dust your undershorts with it on a hot, sticky day.

On the road, I carry spare tubes as well as patches. On a dirt bike, a front tube can go into a rear tire for long enough to get you out of the woods. Otherwise, one of each goes along any time I am more than a couple of hours from home.