Supporting Bike While Changing Both Tyres

[Jbizzle]

What is the best way to go about supporting my bike if I want to take off both wheels?


I want to take them down to Watling's to get both tyres changed.  If you take them to them loose it works out at £15 a wheel.


I'm guessing some sort of center stand and bricks combo might do it?


Cheers!

[sinto]

Best way for me is an easy rizer but guessing you don't have one

Another way is to take back wheel off first, then blocks of wood or such under the swing arm, then a toolbox or weight on back seat or bikerack/top box to bring the front end up but not too much then take off front and voila
Obviously the reversal to put them back on

[Jules-C]

And when you get it wrong your Fazer sits nice and stable and level on the floor on its downpipes and folded up centre stand.

Been there done that!

[Skippernick]

Tie the head stock to a roof beam.

[sinto]

And when you get it wrong your Fazer sits nice and stable and level on the floor on its downpipes and folded up centre stand.

Been there done that!

Oh, that sounds painful

If you've got it in a garage with beams, you can put straps over the beams to support bike either end?

[Jbizzle]

And when you get it wrong your Fazer sits nice and stable and level on the floor on its downpipes and folded up centre stand.

Been there done that!

Oh, that sounds painful

If you've got it in a garage with beams, you can put straps over the beams to support bike either end?

I have a garage, I hope the beams are strong enough!


An easy rizer looks a bit out of my price range (£325?) having just bought the bike, lessons, gear, insurance etc . . .


Though I could stretch to a paddock stand, so that's on the shopping list! 


I think I will try a combination of the above and stick a few bits of wood, bricks, axle stands and the kitchen sink in for good measure!


Thanks for the advice, no doubt I will be back when I cant get the wheel off

[joebloggs]

Not the answer your after but why not do one wheel at a time, could save a lot of expense and time in the long run

[Jbizzle]

Not the answer your after but why not do one wheel at a time, could save a lot of expense and time in the long run

I did think about it, given the carnage that can ensue if it gets dropped.


Might end up doing this as the bike is fairly mint so there would be tears before bed time if I smashed it up. 

[sinto]

Just had a thought after a beer there ......

Why don't you stop being Scottish and tight like me and just drive the bike to the shop and let them do it, all the tools etc and saves you the hassles?

[Bretty]

Just kick the bike over, that's what engine bars are for! 

[Jbizzle]

Just had a thought after a beer there ......

Why don't you stop being Scottish and tight like me and just drive the bike to the shop and let them do it, all the tools etc and saves you the hassles?

Haha funnily enough I do come from a long line of scots, maybe it is in the blood, but i just cant part with the £80 when a bit of effort makes it £30!

[His Dudeness]

£80 to fit tyres? Even £30 for bare wheels seems a bit pricey

[Jbizzle]

£80 to fit tyres? Even £30 for bare wheels seems a bit pricey

Yeah I thought it was a bit steep, the guy on the phone didn't seem to keen when I said I had bought them online and just wanted them fitted. I guess it eats into their margin? 


He really didn't sound arsed to do a ride in ride out. wierd, i'd heard that Watlings were supposed to be good?

[kgjersda]

That sounds a lot like the new practice after people starting buying from online dealers.
Especially in Norway they charge ludicrous amounts if you don't buy the wheels from them.

[darrsi]

That sounds a lot like the new practice after people starting buying from online dealers.
Especially in Norway they charge ludicrous amounts if you don't buy the wheels from them.

I've always bought online tyres then had them fitted after taking my wheel into my bike mechanic.
When I had a rear puncture a few years ago I got charged something like £164 to have a new rear tyre fitted when I managed to ride to a bike tyre shop, and that was with a bit of discount apparently.
I just checked and can get that same tyre delivered to me now for £96, and my mechanic will certainly charge no more than £20 to fit it.

[darrsi]

I tend to find Oponeo very good value for online tyres, they have 2 prices, a quick delivery price and a lower price if you don't mind waiting a few more days for delivery.

[celticdog]

It generally costs me about £100 to change a tyre, it's easy for me as I'm a bridgestone fan. I'm also happy to give my local company the business tbh. 

[Jbizzle]

I tend to find Oponeo very good value for online tyres, they have 2 prices, a quick delivery price and a lower price if you don't mind waiting a few more days for delivery.

I Picked up Pilot Road 4 for the back, and pilot road 3 for the front, for £175 from tyreleader.co.uk.


It costs £15 per wheel at Watlings, so £30 in total. It saves about £40 on ride in ride out service, not entirely sure it was worth the saving!

[Freck]

I've removed both wheels with the centre stand and a front headstock paddock stand.
They're on sale at Demon Tweeks at the mo too [size=78%]http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/motorcycle/front-stands/warrior-front-head-stand[/size]

[tommyardin]

£80 to fit tyres? Even £30 for bare wheels seems a bit pricey

SHIT!!! that a lot of money.
A tyre specialists near me Bordon Tyre and Exhaust (BTE) gave me a price for 4 new Toyo Proxes tyres fitted (Great track day tyres),new valves and balanced on my Sports Roadster, the price they gave seemed high but considering they had to get the tyres in specially I guess it was OK.


I shopped around on-line and found the exact same tyres at a fraction of the price (I think maybe Bankrupt stock, right place at the right time I guess)price for the 4 tyres £140 delivered by Currier to my door, way less than half of what I had been quoted elsewhere, tyres only.
I rang up BTE after purchasing the tyres online and asked if they would fit them? of course was the reply they gave me a price of only £50 to fit all 4 tyres, balanced with new valves and disposing of the old tyres. The fitter cleaned the inside of the alloys and even removed the old adhesive pads material from the old stick on balance weights.


Now that is great and fair service. I have used BTE before and have always been pleased with the service they give.


  5*****'s to BTE of Bordon in Hampshire

[joebloggs]

£80 to fit tyres? Even £30 for bare wheels seems a bit pricey

SHIT!!! that a lot of money.
A tyre specialists near me Bordon Tyre and Exhaust (BTE) gave me a price for 4 new Toyo Proxes tyres fitted (Great track day tyres),new valves and balanced on my Sports Roadster, the price they gave seemed high but considering they had to get the tyres in specially I guess it was OK.


I shopped around on-line and found the exact same tyres at a fraction of the price (I think maybe Bankrupt stock, right place at the right time I guess)price for the 4 tyres £140 delivered by Currier to my door, way less than half of what I had been quoted elsewhere, tyres only.
I rang up BTE after purchasing the tyres online and asked if they would fit them? of course was the reply they gave me a price of only £50 to fit all 4 tyres, balanced with new valves and disposing of the old tyres. The fitter cleaned the inside of the alloys and even removed the old adhesive pads material from the old stick on balance weights.


Now that is great and fair service. I have used BTE before and have always been pleased with the service they give.


  5*****'s to BTE of Bordon in Hampshire

I picked up a set of proxis for £100 fitted, all four corners, rears were shot after less than 4k, shocking wear rate considering I didn't track the car, sideways everywhere probably didn't help but no different to my driving with rainsports but they stand up to the same treatment far better. Will never buy toyo's again.
As for bike tyres I've always gone to car tyre fitters and paid about £10 a wheel

[Frosties]

I tend to buy from tyreleader or whoever gives the best online price. My fitter charges £40 for the pair after riding in, also gives my brakes a quick clean. Readily admits that he couldn't compete but I always pay him cash  .

[Frosties]

£80 to fit tyres? Even £30 for bare wheels seems a bit pricey

SHIT!!! that a lot of money.
A tyre specialists near me Bordon Tyre and Exhaust (BTE) gave me a price for 4 new Toyo Proxes tyres fitted (Great track day tyres),new valves and balanced on my Sports Roadster.

Tommy, definition of Sports Roadster below - think you're taking the piss fella 


A sports car (sportscar) is a small, usually two seater, two door car designed for spirited performance and nimble handling.[/color][/size]
[/size]Sports cars may be spartan or luxurious, but high manoeuvrability and minimum weight are requisite.[/color][/size][4][/size][/size] They may be equipped for racing, "especially an aerodynamically shaped one-passenger or two-passenger vehicle having a low center of gravity and [/color][/size]steering and suspension designed for precise control at high speeds.[/size]"

[tommyardin]

Tommy, definition of Sports Roadster below - think you're taking the piss fella 


A sports car (sportscar) is a small, usually two seater, two door car designed for spirited performance and nimble handling.
Sports cars may be spartan or luxurious, but high manoeuvrability and minimum weight are requisite.[4] They may be equipped for racing, "especially an aerodynamically shaped one-passenger or two-passenger vehicle having a low center of gravity and steering and suspension designed for precise control at high speeds."



And your point is Tiger?


Joe mentioned that he had less than 4K out of a set of Toyo Proxes, I agree I have had more mileage out of other brands of tyres, Pirelli did well as did some Continentals that I had but none of them stuck to the road anywhere near as well as Toyos that is why Toyota fit them as standard and also recommend them as replacements.
I personally would sooner have 2K miles less out of a set of tyres and retain all the original body panels, these bad boys grip.
But each to their own, I guess we could have many strong opinions and feelings about bike tyres also, I like Bridgstone Batlax on my FZS600, they have never let me down, I don't know how good they are in the wet as I never ride in the rain, but in the dry they give me confidence.

[joebloggs]

Tommy, definition of Sports Roadster below - think you're taking the piss fella 






And your point is Tiger?


Problem I think is one of image, sure either the MR or MX (Eunos) may not be the quickest car's out there but if the MR offers anything near the grip of the Mazda then pound for pound they're the best drivers cars out there.