Changing M.C.tires

[DeadAye]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.