Self Installation

first off, how difficult is to install a tire on an 07 vfr. i need to do front and rear soon. also will i need any special tools to do the job.

is it worth it doing it on my own.

i have heard that that a tire does not need to be balanced on a motorcycle...this seems very odd to me. is it true?

also...how well do those balance beads that you can put on the inside of the tire work...i have seen them a couple of times and have been curious

i also am curious about the different speed rating on tires...

You can get away without balancing the rear...

The front tire unbalanced will open a whole new can of worms.
First you will post up here that your hands are going numb.
Then you will complain about terrible head shakes...

So rethink the front. You may be able to run it into a shop and get them to balance it cheap.

I have a computer balancer with the rear hub tool, if you want me to do it. :)

The biggest challenge for me was getting the bead broken... that was accomplished by... ahem... laying the tire/wheel on a piece of cardboard under the truck. set a piece of 2x4 (4x4 works a little better) under the front axle of the hydraulic jack. jack jack under rear bumper pushing down on tire, slowly, making sure the jack doesn't come in contact with the wheel. It actually worked better than it sounds. Work it around the tire, flip, repeat. Make sure to get Rim Protectors for the tire spoons (psychle gear sells in sets of 2, 3 works better) to pry the tire off.

[image: View Post]Mr. Horsepower, on Dec 8 2008, 05:55 AM, said:

first off, how difficult is to install a tire on an 07 vfr. i need to do front and rear soon. also will i need any special tools to do the job.

is it worth it doing it on my own.

i have heard that that a tire does not need to be balanced on a motorcycle...this seems very odd to me. is it true?

also...how well do those balance beads that you can put on the inside of the tire work...i have seen them a couple of times and have been curious

i also am curious about the different speed rating on tires...

It is not hard to mount and balance your own tires on a VFR; however, it does require a certain amount of equipment and then experience before it stops being a profanity laced blood letting. The VFR requires a special balancer set up to deal with the single sided swing arm back wheel. Marc Parnes makes a great system for the VFR.
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I think for your average rider it is not worth the effort to do your own changes unless you really like doing things yourself. Those of us that ride a lot and really don't trust the quality of work by the shops find the DIY tire thing very successful.

There are a number of very good tutorials on line of how to mount and balance motorcycle tires, a quick Google search should find those for you.

The primary benefit for me, other than saving money by getting mail order tires and no mounting fee, is convenience. I keep my next set of tires in my garage ready to go on when I need them. I also throw on a new set to start a tour and save my partially worn set and put those back on after I'm back from my tour and I've worn that tour set out.

[image: View Post]rad, on Dec 8 2008, 08:19 AM, said:

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ooooOOOOOOOooooooooo cool toy... added to "Christmas" list

[image: View Post]rad, on Dec 8 2008, 08:19 AM, said:

Marc Parnes makes a great system for the VFR.
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I think for your average rider it is not worth the effort to do your own changes unless you really like doing things yourself. Those of us that ride a lot and really don't trust the quality of work by the shops find the DIY tire thing very successful.

I can vouch for the Parnes balancer. Works great. Even on my race bike at 150mph I don't notice any issues with the balancing. I use a Harbor Freight tire changer with a Mojolever and Mojoblocks.

Dirk

thanks for the info...i guess for now i may be better off going to the shop to have it done...i will be moving from hawaii soon and weight of everything is coming into very tight scrutiny. i know that these items by themselves may not weigh a lot but when coupled with a bunch of other things that also don't weigh a lot it gets pricey...thanks for the info though...when i get to my destination on mainland i will definately consider the DIY way...i like to be able to do things myself...

Easy as pie.

The shops around here are a ripoff and they never do the job right. Plus the worst part, actually removing the wheel, you already do for them (assuming of course you would rather die by fire than give them your whole bike).

You already see the mar parnes setup posted above by rad. Get it. Plus grab a pile of weights and a bunch of valve stems.

Now you need 2 or 3 tire irons. I like the 10" motion pro spoons. here:
linky
cheaper elsewhere though

Now get four 2X4s like so:
linky
I use a stair lip rather than my truck

Now get some plastic rim savers (i use 3) if you care about your wheels getting nicked:
linky
cheaper elsewhere though:

Grab a valve core tool for a buck on eBay.
linky

Get some dish soap and some water.

Pop the bead all around, both sides, as shown above.

Grease it up.
pop on the rim savers.
pry up some of the first bead with the spoons.
pull the rest up and off.
pull the second bead up and off (may not even need tools for all but the very first part)

cut of the valve stem
pop in a new one.

Grab your new tire.
grease it up
squish the first bead on using your knees and palms. (might go on without tools)
finesse the tire so the lower bead is in the deep part of the wheel to give you the most slack (remeber those short 2X4s?)
press on the top bead on as much as you can by hand.
pry the last bit on.

Fill it with air. Listen for two pops.
Fill it to spec.

Use the Marc parnes balancer on two jack stands to balance it.
Took me a bit to balance it perfect the first time, will get faster with time.

I will never go back to a shop.

Good Luck!

(disclaimer: this does NOT work with your truck tires, ask me how I know)

Like others said, it's not difficult at all.
Seeing how shops in NY charge $175 to mount and balance two tires (off bike)
I bought spoons from motion pro for $35 The black one is da bomb

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I also bought some DynaBeeds for balancing.
I began by breaking the bead by driving the front wheel of my cage over the tire(not the rim) - Easy as pie.
Next spoon off, spoon on - Also easy. All you gota do to put them on is grease the bead area - I used motor oil.
Next, I filled both tires with some dynaBeeds and off I went.
The DynaBeeds worked pretty well at first, but weren't perfect. maybe I didn't put enough or something.

Now, I use Mark Parnes balancer $130

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Also, I don't use the car to break the beed. Instead, I simply stick the curved spoon in and that does the job w/o any mess. Again, easy.

Try it. You'll never go to a shop again

[image: View Post]Peto, on Dec 8 2008, 05:34 PM, said:

Easy as pie.

Easier than pie:

http://www.vfrdiscus...showtopic=47328

I've done the manual method for several years and the changer/bar method is immensely mo' better. :fing02:

Next, static spin balance with stick on weights. I have a crude bar made from PVC for the VFR rear wheel and use the stock axle for the front. Cheap bastards will re-use old stick-on weights with an application of clear rtv sealant (24hrs set time before use is recommended); holds just as well as the original adhesive. :biggrin:

Instead of using soap, go to a NAPA store and ask for tire mounting lubricant. It's made specifically for the job and works great.

That is a nice piece of work but you can also use a front wheel hub off a junk yard toyota.

Hey Rice, motor oil to lubricate the beads????? That sounds scary... what happens when you accelerate hard first ride on the bike. Do the rims spin inside the tyre? I have aways used a weak solution of detergent and water, or even better, as checksix suggests, a purpose made tyre mounting lubricant. I would go to my local garage or tyre dealer and ask him for a cupful. :happy:

A low-buck way of balancing tires is just to install the wheels and axles on the bike. Leave the brakes and chain off, and spin the wheels on the axles. Works fine for occasional use.

[image: View Post]lindavy, on Dec 12 2008, 02:02 PM, said:

Hey Rice, motor oil to lubricate the beads????? That sounds scary... what happens when you accelerate hard first ride on the bike. Do the rims spin inside the tyre? I have aways used a weak solution of detergent and water, or even better, as checksix suggests, a purpose made tyre mounting lubricant. I would go to my local garage or tyre dealer and ask him for a cupful. :happy:
Murphy's Oil works really well and dries up quick, and cheap.

Drive your car over the tire to break the bead?? :blink: :blink:

I have never gotten a good front balance off any automated balancer . do my own static balances as a result, they are far more accurate .

Do a search and find someone in your area with a NOMAR Tire changer and balance kit. Nothing does a better job of changing VFR tires. Am I right vfrrider17. :excl: :excl:

[image: View Post]vfrbadger, on Dec 12 2008, 08:26 PM, said:

Do a search and find someone in your area with a NOMAR Tire changer and balance kit. Nothing does a better job of changing VFR tires. Am I right vfrrider17. :excl: :excl:

Hells yes Ol'man. Here is a photo of our No-mar in action!

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I can mount and balance in 15 minutes.

[image: View Post]vfrrider17, on Dec 12 2008, 10:17 PM, said:

[image: View Post]vfrbadger, on Dec 12 2008, 08:26 PM, said:

Do a search and find someone in your area with a NOMAR Tire changer and balance kit. Nothing does a better job of changing VFR tires. Am I right vfrrider17. :excl: :excl:

Hells yes Ol'man. Here is a photo of our No-mar in action!

[image: Posted Image]

I can mount and balance in 15 minutes.



LOL.The arrow goes which way? LOL. ZING!

Ran my'n over, with the truck, to brake the bead. The first time, I had heard of that, I flipped. BUT, if you are in total zen, it is tops.

I use the bar clamps you get at lowe's, takes 3 of them, to break the bead. Working the soapy solution between the rim and the bead while breaking also helps.

"Time for a change".

Here's how I do it with low tech tools, except for (optional) Marc Parnes balancer.

my solution. took about 6 hours total to make it and have changed out 6 pairs of tire so far. about 30 bucks in material and I use a coats tire iron.
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RuGlyde from Napa is your friend. That's the tire lubricant. It takes all the work out of it. Slick stuff and make for seating the bead much easier also. :fing02:

[image: View Post]lindavy, on Dec 12 2008, 05:02 PM, said:

Hey Rice, motor oil to lubricate the beads????? That sounds scary... what happens when you accelerate hard first ride on the bike. Do the rims spin inside the tyre? I have aways used a weak solution of detergent and water, or even better, as checksix suggests, a purpose made tyre mounting lubricant. I would go to my local garage or tyre dealer and ask him for a cupful. :happy:

I usually use any oil that is handy. Mostly the old used one remaining after oil changes. The tire would NEVER spin on the rim no matter how much oil you use. Actually, there is no way to put too much, since it does not get absorbed. I just dab a rag into some oil, shmear it on and do the dirty.

Easy as pie :laugh:

[image: View Post]1LuckyDude, on Dec 18 2008, 09:39 PM, said:

RuGlyde from Napa is your friend. That's the tire lubricant. It takes all the work out of it. Slick stuff and make for seating the bead much easier also. :fing02:

+1 RuGlyde not only lubes the tires when you install it but it helps the tire stick to the rim somewhat when it dries. If you use watered down soap, make sure you thoroughly rinse it all off before remounting the wheel. I have spun tires on the rims before when I raced so I know it can be done. Not such a big problem now days with tubeless tires but it necessitated a longer than normal pit stop in an endurance once years ago when we ran tubes in the tires.

I ride alot, but as far as street rims, its easier for me just to go to the shop with wheel in hand for $25, I do the balance when I get home. Shops arent worth a sqaut with those automated balancers.

Even if I spent the $100 dollars and the stand, my time is of value, I can get a tire done my shop in less than 1 hour.

I dont like using spoons on tubless applications , I like the shops with the automated mounters, less bead damage and risk

I use a Harbor Frieght tire changer with WD-40. There are several good articles here on how to chage your tires. The biggest issue I've found is while mounting; keep the first bead that is already on in the center of the rim (don't let it seat) or you'll not have enough slack to get the second bead over the rim. The tire changers will pay for themselves over time.

I made a simple plywood platform with a threaded rod that allows the tire to be clamped down it. Put a couple of carpet covered 2x4 blocks under the tire to protect the wheel and brake disks. One end of the platform has a 4x4 post with a 2x4 lever and post to unseat the bead. Best technique is to put the platform on the floor, break the beads both sides, then clamp the wheel in, kneel on the near side of the tire to force the tire into the wheel valley, then spoon off the other side of the tire with 3 tire irons and guards. Had both tires off in about 20 minutes or less with little force. Use good lubricant like the NAPA stuff(which is just water, oil soap, and 5% antifreeze).