Thank you, FedEx...

[montmil]

...and American Motorcycle Tire http://www.americanmototire.com/catalog/index.php for the prompt delivery from Bob Roller's village to mine.

The R100S is getting new rubber to replaced the old, hard Metzlers that have been on for who knows how long. The tire's sidewall build date code scared me!

I had fitted the '81 R65 with Bridgestone S11 Spitfires shortly after acquiring the bike; replacing a pair of mis-matched shoes. The S11s are bias tires developed for bikes built in the 70s and 80s. The R65 and I have both been pleased with the handling and tread wear from the 'spits so the R100S is getting the same tires.

I'll pull both wheels this weekend and deliver the wheels, tires, tubes and rim strips to friend Craig Reed's shop for mounting and balance while I wait on 'em. Saves me a trip, he does.

I have decided that the time, frustration and blood saved in subbing out one's tire bustin', mounting and balancing is a good thing. Plus, there's a fairly large discount/closeout motorcycle accessory store close by Craig's shop. For me, the day will qualify as a two-fer.


Got a few months worth of rubber remaining on the Triumph Triple before it will need fresh tires; then we'll head out for a week of riding twisties in northern Arkansas. Will need good, sticky radials on the Trophy. I can almost smell my credit card smoking.

[Bob_Roller]

Problem I've run across with purchasing tires online, when you go to a shop to  have them mounted,  they want to charge you twice the cost to mount and balance the tire / wheel, because you didn't purchase the tire(s) from them .

Anyone else experience this ??

I got my Pirelli MT 75's for my Guzzi at American Moto Tire, the Guzzi has 16 inch wheels, not many tires availalbe in that wheel size .

[montmil]

The small but professional bike shop I use doesn't sell tires. But they do offer mounting services at very reasonable prices for many of their MC drag racing clients.

 [smiley=thumbup.gif]

[marcmax]

The small bike shop I use doesn't "sell" tires but they will order whatever you want. They have a user rentable shop area with everything you need to mount and balance your tires as well as work on your bike. They also have an independent mechanic that works in the shop area who will do work or give assistance.

When I went in to mount my new tires if was $20 shop fee to mount two tires. The mechanic said, "I'll mount them for you for $30". $10 more than me doing it myself and I don't even have to get my hands dirty. That was a no-brainer decision. Walk down the block to the micro brewery for a few refreshing glasses and come back to newly installed tires.

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

Problem I've run across with purchasing tires online, when you go to a shop to  have them mounted,  they want to charge you twice the cost to mount and balance the tire / wheel, because you didn't purchase the tire(s) from them .

Anyone else experience this ??

Yes I did - so I chose to buy my tires from that (accessory-only) dealer to support him.

[AlfromNH]

My local BMW shop won't mount tires I bring in. Period.  

I need to try some other shops in the area. I can mount tires, although its not a job I enjoy. But I still need them balanced.

[montmil]

... I can mount tires, although its not a job I enjoy. But I still need them balanced.

I have a Harbor Freight m/c wheel balancer and, after doing several Airhead wheels, believe that it works very well. I've also seen identical balancers offered by vendors but with a higher price tag. A hands-on inspection at a couple accessory shops confirms that the only difference is the sticker on the base of the tool.

[AlfromNH]

I have a Harbor Freight m/c wheel balancer

Is this the one?
http://www.harborfreight.com/motorcycle-wheel-balancing-stand-98488.html

[Barry]

When I change the tires I remove the wheel bearing seals and clean the bearings. Before re-greasing I lightly oil the bearings and assemble the wheel back onto the axle with spacers to apply a touch of preload.  I then balance the wheel on it's own bearings. Clean bearings with a few drops of light oil have very little drag and I have no problem getting the wheel to respond to 5 gram weights.

Perhaps not a method for those that get through several new tires a year but I'm changing tires only once every 5 years so it's no hardship.

5 years is also long enough to forget what a bear it can sometimes be to change your own tires so you enter into it with optimism.  The ones I have now were a breeze to mount so I live in hope.

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

I once made a video of the front wheel of my R65 spinning.  It was a dream!

Just as I was getting ready to film, I heard a racket outside, so I went out to see what it was.  As a result, I also captured some precious moments with my kitty.

http://youtu.be/961A4V371sc

And yes, that is Zappa in the background of the garage.

[montmil]

I have a Harbor Freight m/c wheel balancer

Is this the one?
http://www.harborfreight.com/motorcycle-wheel-balancing-stand-98488.html

That's the one. Throw in one of the HF 25% Off coupons, than use the free $3.99 LED Flashlight coupon and you're golden.

I did have to shorten the "axle" rod by about 0.125-inches to keep it from dragging on the balancer's bearing 'back plate, axle stopper, thingy.'

[montmil]

Still talking tires...

The R100S had Metzler Lasertec rubber. Shortly after acquiring the bike, I checked the manufactured date codes on both tires.

The rear tire showed to be 4 years and a few months old. Not too old and plenty of tread remaining. The front tire showed minimal tread wear but decoding the tire's build numbers revealed a birth date of the third week in May of.... 1992! The rubber did feel a wee bit hard after twenty+ years!

I put quite a few miles on the "S" since bringing it home, including one run up into Oklahoma for an Okie Airhead Beemer Club Tech Day. Hustling through some dandy twisties on OK Scenic 77 just east of Marietta, the rear did break loose once... big time.

[montmil]

Looks as if the planets are aligning in my favor.

New Spitfires are on the R100S and nicely balanced. Weather is projected to be 70+ degrees and clear on the morrow.

Tire mold release chemistry needs to be scrubbed off with some gentle twisties before getting overly aggressive in the turns,

Wifey is outta town so my chore list... isn't.

Love it when a plan comes together.