Bandit Alley
MODEL SPECIFIC => BIG BANDIT BANTER => Topic started by: Sven on June 06, 2006, 10:24:46 AM
-
Oh heck, let's have a little fun with color and ignore the potentially suggestive subject line of this thread!
I will soon be needing a new front tire. I want to replace it with the same thing (Pilot Road), which I can get at a good price from Cycle Gear (we have a shop in town). They will mount it if you bring them the wheel, but they will not mount it on the bike. This is inconvenient since I have to take the wheel off and then drive to the shop.
If I buy the tire from them and take it to the dealership for mounting, I need a car to carry the tire (no I will not wear it around my waist on the bike like my friend saw a guy doing) and the dealershio charges twice as much to do it.
So either way is inconvenient, but one of more expensive, and even worse if I buy the tire at the dealer.
So...what do I do to take the front wheel off? The front wheel has to be off the ground, so the centerstand won't help. Is this worth the effort, or should I just let the dealer install it and call that an extra $40 well spent?
BTW, I'm presuming that the front wheel is easier for a beginner than the back because of the chain and all, but am I correct?
-
I use a small floor jack and a block of wood under the engine to lift the front end off the ground. A pair of jack stands under the engine guards hold everything in place while the tire is being changed. I would loosen the axle bolt before raising the front end up.
Others have used a pulley system to lift the front end off the ground but the floor jack works better for me. You can probably use the dinky scissors jack for you automobile if you don't want to buy another one.
-
I do it like tex.
I put it on the centerstand, remove the rear wheel, then jack up the front of the bike and support it for front wheel removal.
-
I just had the same experience with Cycle Gear. I strapped my rear stand onto my bike (I don't have a center stand) and took off the rear wheel in the parking lot at Cycle Gear. They got mad because it was against their lease or something, but I don't own a car right now. It took me about 3 minutes to take it off and under 10 to put it back on. The only bad part was that it was right in front of a Quiznos at lunch and I felt like a fish in a fishbowl because my parking lot wrenching is not a common site in South Orange County.
My point being you might be able to take off the wheel at the cycle gear depending on local restrictions. I would practice the night before so you know what the heck you're doing though.
-
OK, but I don't know HOW to get the front wheel off. What are the steps?
-
Take off the calipers (support them so they won't be hanging by their hoses), unscrew the speedo cable (1G bikes only), loosen the pinch bolts on the bottom of the fork leg, unscrew the axle, remove the wheel
-
I'm soooo sick of these inconciderate people changing the colors of their posts!!! Do you think this board's color scheme happened all by itself???? You nonconformist, Sven!!!
BTW smearig, he's talking about his front tire which would be a little tougher unless he had a front stand to strap to his bike.
Speaking of a front stand - I may buy one of these (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1,1&item=4639982034&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT). It seems that $75 would be worth not having to hang my bike from the celing every time I wanted to pull the front wheel, which is my method of choice.
-
Take off the calipers (support them so they won't be hanging by their hoses), unscrew the speedo cable (1G bikes only), loosen the pinch bolts on the bottom of the fork leg, unscrew the axle, remove the wheel
OK, that doesn't sound so bad, if I had one of those stands. Of course, doing that in the parking lot would be out of the question, unless I bring a trailer of goodies with me.
Thanks, all.
-
This doesn't help your dilemna, but if you thought you liked the Pilot Road, you would love the Metzler Z6. I added a Z6 to the front and wow, what a difference.
-
Hmmm....
-
I don't need to take my front calipers off to remove the front wheel, loosen the pinch bolts slide the axel out and your good to go, if you wanted to you could bring a blanket and just set the forks down onto the ground using that blanket as protection.
Just my two cents
-
I don't suppose you NEED to take the calipers off, but it's easier that way, especially when it comes time to put the wheel back on.
-
I am seriously NOT trying to start crap here but maybe you should invest $30 in a manual.
It will pay you back everytime you have to wrench. I feel the same way when people can't or don't buy the proper tools, if you are going to work on a bike then pony up and do it right. if you can't afford tools or someone to work on it for you then perhaps (not you in particular) they shouldn't have a bike.
Rant over.
-
I am seriously NOT trying to start crap here but maybe you should invest $30 in a manual.
I do have a manual. In fact I have a couple. But as you can see from above, there are several real-world ways to do this, and not all of them assume you have a shop full of equipment, as the manuals often do, and there are short cuts the manuals don't suggest. Go back and read this thread before continuing on, I'll wait for you.
Back so soon? I disagree that you should have to know how to work on a bike to own one. That sort of logic would have killed the PC industry. I also disagree that you should willingly hand over your paycheck to the bike shop. Bike shop labor is as expensive or more than auto shop labor, but offers less service and less convenience. Nothing is done while you wait, or in the evening after work.
So as things come up, I try to assess whether it's something I want to attempt myself. In this case, buying a tire *at my leisure* and putting it on *at my leisure, at home* would be more convenient than going and buying a tire, getting a friend to follow me to the bike shop with the tire, and taking me to work becuase the bike shop will TRY to get it done today. And this is on top of paying a premium for a bike tire compared to a car tire.
Ah, but then it was easier to criticize, wasn't it?
-
LOL Sven, simmer down...
If you have two manuals then why ask the question? It is not like you are reassembling the engine where a hidden fastener might be, it's a front wheel. A shortcut that might save you removing one two of perhaps 9 or 10 friggin bolts. LOL. The manual doesn't have you removing the rear side panels or the tank does it? :duh: The longest part of the process is finding a suitable place to lift it from.
Go ahead and rip me back, I won't respond. Just please don't talk about how fat my sister is...
AND YES, if you knew me I do find it easier to sit back and criticize, that's why I am alone and bitter.:wink:
Keith :banana:
-
I'm soooo sick of these inconciderate people changing the colors of their posts!!! Do you think this board's color scheme happened all by itself???? You nonconformist, Sven!!!
WHY IS THAT TABOOOOO???? LIKE TYPING IN CAPS!!!!! :shock: :shock: :duh: :monkeymoon: :monkeymoon: :beers: :beers: :motorsmile: :motorsmile: :banana: :banana: :banana:
-
But as you can see from above, there are several real-world ways to do this, and not all of them assume you have a shop full of equipment, as the manuals often do, and there are short cuts the manuals don't suggest. So as things come up, I try to assess whether it's something I want to attempt myself. In this case, buying a tire *at my leisure* and putting it on *at my leisure, at home* would be more convenient than going and buying a tire, getting a friend to follow me to the bike shop with the tire, and taking me to work becuase the bike shop will TRY to get it done today. And this is on top of paying a premium for a bike tire compared to a car tire.
Here here!!. I do all my own tire mounting etc! Bandit is easy with hard stands, Busa ! Got to have one. tire changing 101. Rear tire, use 2 2x6's nail together 12 or 14" long, bike on hard stand, lean to one side slide wood under pivot back slide wood under the other leg of stand. remove axle U know the rest... Front tire with hard stand on wood as before, have some one push down on seat to lift tire off floor/ground, slide object under headers ( metal paint can w/1x4 for cushion) worked for me! Remove wheel/tire. (calipers removed) I cut my bald tire in the center and to the bead with knife, with a good pair of side cutters, (dykes) cut metal bead,tire is off. Putting your new tire in the sun to heat it up helps a lot when mounting. Clean wheel, i use armoral on the bead area wheel & tire, set my wheel on a milk crate so rotors aren't in the way, with 2 tire spoons easily work tire on!! I also balance em. With yellow dot next to stem, weights off just spin and play with it before tightening axle nuts or applying brakes. Ok i know this is getting off the main Question but should help i think! My opinion is!!! if you don't do the whole thing at your convenience, why not just pay thru the teeth and have them do it all! Removing wheel in parking lot of walmart or taco bell is way too much hassel to save 40 bucks. But the 2x6's is the way to go. :roll: :beers: :beers:
-
LOL Sven, simmer down...
If you have two manuals then why ask the question? It is not like you are reassembling the engine where a hidden fastener might be, it's a front wheel.
You never know with me...my projects have a way of going awry.
-
PS: I posted my query from work, where I do not have the manuals. I was calling for tire quotes and trying to decide where to buy and who would get stuck doing the work.
Besides, if we don't talk about this stuff, what's left? Chatting about planting Hostas, only to kill them by peeing on them?
-
Just remember that the axle should easily thread in...if it doesn't then the forks aren't lined up.
Keith
-
Just remember that the axle should easily thread in...if it doesn't then the forks aren't lined up.
Good tip, thanks!
-
PS: I posted my query from work, where I do not have the manuals. I was calling for tire quotes and trying to decide where to buy and who would get stuck doing the work.
Besides, if we don't talk about this stuff, what's left? Chatting about planting Hostas, only to kill them by peeing on them?
Do you prefer the veriegated varieties of hostas? While they're typically considered to be a shade plant, I've done very well in locations that receive sun at least 25% of the time. I really think people can be more bold in their placement of this fine annual.
-
YOU NEED TO KEEP THE SLUGS OFF THE HOSTA USE BEER IN A JAR TAT WILL KEEP THE SLUGS AWAY FOR SURE
:stop:
-
Rob, Keef, let's invite Brough over for some nice Earl Grey and scones and trade gardening tips.
-
I do it like tex.
I put it on the centerstand, remove the rear wheel, then jack up the front of the bike and support it for front wheel removal.
How do you support the front of the bike after you jack it up? Do you mean you stabilize the jack itself?
:thanks:
Nerissa F.
'02 1200S
-
I use an automotive jackstand under a frame tube with a rag to prevent scratches.
-
i think i got on this board a year or two late for most interesting and funny posts (topics).