What are your tricks for removing the rear wheel?

So I got all my parts together (finally) to replace the front and rear wheels and tires after my run in with a truck part in the road.

Front wheel is straightforward enough, but I was surprised when the manual said I needed to remove a side cover? loosen the muffler? rotate it out of the way?

I ended up just pulling the muffler altogether. I needed to work on the junction anyway since the debri I hit seriously flattened the band clamp.

So has anyone else done there first tire change yet?

Don

The exhaust cable was one of the first things to come off my 1200 so wheel changes are a cinch. I just undo the hanger, loosen the clamp and swivel the pipe out of the way. I also have a slip-on which is easier to remove than the stock muffler.

I hit something on our lovely So Cal Caltrans roads {101/405 merge} a couple of months ago and had to buy a new front wheel but, I had my rear wheel repaired in Pasadena.
Removing the muffler is fairly easy now that I am initiated but, it was a surprize the 1st time.
Becareful with the muffler gasket or keep a new one around just in case. I have a spare gasket but, I have not needed it yet.

Mine was changed for the first time in Spain (on track day in Almeria). Although these guys change at least 50 tires a day, this was their first VFR 1200. Once you know how to do it, it can be done in a few minutes. As phobe said: remove the hanger and loosen the clamp (bold on the right) and swivel the the pipe out of the way. Then lift the bike.
You have enough space behind the muffer to unbold the nuts one by one. You don't have to swivel the pipe very far - just enough to take the wheel off.
Note: no need to remove the side cover for the exhaust cable. You have enough play.
You better do it with 2 persons (so someone can take an eye on the exhaust and hold it in place while you take out/put on the wheel).