I think I am getting too old for this.

[Tony Smith]

Changed the tyres on the wife's r65/80 yesterday. The old tyres were not worn out, but they were approaching 9 years of age - time to go.
 
I've been dreading changing them because I remembered the drama putting them on - Pilot Activ 100/90 on the front and Macadam 120/100 on the rear, tubeless types.

The rear has always been a grim struggle just to get on and off the bike, requiring to be deflated to get past the brake shoes, so I was really looking forward to fitting proper imperial sized Pirelli City Demons  to it.

I underestimated (as I am wont to do) how long it would take to get the old tyres off, in fact the less said about that the better.

Last night consisted of dinner with a side order of anti-infammatories and some codeine reinforced ibuprofen. I am beginning to think that changing tyres is a young man's game and that I am getting too bloody old, I still hurt this morning.

Anyway, here are some photos of the amusing process, the size comparison between the 4.00 City Demon and the 120/100 macadam is telling.


Lastly, Anyone got a lea don a fast acting anti-infammatory? I use Meloxicam and it works but takes too damm long to kick in.

[montmil]

Agreed, Tony.

I installed new Bridgestone Spitfires on my 1981 R65 a few years ago. Swore then that it was the last time. Always the blood offering, the intense profanity and the exhaustion. Plus, a pinched tube or boogered up rim was on my dime.

Just this week, I've returned from an indie bike shop that has handled the dismount, mount and balance of the third set of tires for the bikes. This time it was new Michleins for the Triumph Trophy. The rear tire is a rather large 180/55-17. Even by itself, it's a heavy mutha.

One day service. Balanced and ready to refit. $50.00USD all in and money well spent. Did some quality time this morning scuffing them in during a breakfast ride with an R90S friend.

No blood.

[Tony Smith]

I have walked past the tyres for the KLE several times this morning and glared at them disconsolately.


The front is a 90/90 -21 which will be a pussycat to change as all big diameter tyres are, but the 130/80-17 for the rear looks like it will be a first class bastard.


I think I'll see how I feel tomorrow.

I also have to report - no blood loss was involved, I just ache from the exertion.

[Barry]

I found the City Demons easy to mount. I think I walked them on with no levers.  Getting them off was harder but not too bad on the rear with the wider well.  Front was harder because of the narrower well.  I think I ought to make some sort of clamp to help squeeze the beads together so they drop into the well properley.

But yes it's always a lot harder than I remember especially with 5 or 6 years between new tyres.

When removing the original 28 year old tires that the bike came with I resorted to cutting them in half while still on the rim which in itself is not that easy but possible with care and some good wire cutters for the beads.

[thrang]

I can't remember the last time I hand mounted a set of tires on any of my bikes, for one my local tire stockiest in Ulverston offers free fitting, (and they specialise in bikes) and for two I have a access to a motorcycle tire machine where I work. Sure it's on the other side of the  campus in engineering block, but no one complains if I nip in when all the students are gone and pop a set on the wife's Zephyr...

[clonmore1]

Tony,

How does the other half like the Kawa, they look lovely and remind me of the 70's Z's.

Is it the big engine model?

C

[Tony Smith]

Tony,

How does the other half like the Kawa, they look lovely and remind me of the 70's Z's.

Is it the big engine model?

C

As an overall starting position she is indifferent to it - she sees it as a dirt bike and she has no interest in riding on dirt, in fact she sold her XR200 several years ago and now proclaims that if the ride involves dirt, then she doesn't need to go.

The rear suspension has aftermarket "dog bones" fitted to raise it up, I am removing these as soon as I secure a standard set, presently the thing is so tall I have fun throwing a leg over it and I am over 6 foot, wife has zero chance of riding it presently and I suspect that even lowered to standard height it will still be too tall for her.

The engine is presently a high mileage, stock 500cc. I have the pistons, barrels and cylinder head to convert it to 650cc but am holding off as I would want to replace crank bearings, timing and primary chain and balance shaft (with a yet to be procured later model) and gearbox bearings before fitting - I may have mentioned the eye-watering price of Kawasaki bits which is a bit of a major disincentive to doing the swap immediately.

I have it in a million pieces again, changing swing-arm bushes, wheel bearings and fixing some more cracked plastic prior to registration.

The guy I bought the engine from dropped a few things over on the weekend, aftermarket exhaust, original tool kit were the major gems. Gee I feel sorry for him.


Soon as it is back together I'll post photos.

[thrang]

She's got the 750 Chris, and she likes it. The classic styling, fairly low seat and the seating position was what attracted her to one. About the only problem with it is its 20 years old and cosmetically showing its age. I've offered to strip and restore it, but she taking about getting something a something newer as a friend of ours wants a mechanically good nick late model Zephyr 750.

[Semper Gumby]

One of the consequences of actually riding my BSA A65 Firebird was getting a slow leak from all the abuse heaped on it over the weekend on rocky forest service roads.  So yesterday I pulled the rear Heidenau off the rim removed the tube and patched it with a kit from NAPA.  And then remounted the tire with both the BSA rim locks installed.  Two days later and the tire pressure is still the same.  I'd call that a moral victory!  BTW - I really liked the patch kit from NAPA.  Big soft rubber patches - easy to work with.

Tony - even with three Givi Bags on the back and the Luftmeister Fairing on the front I have a 4.00H18 Michelin Pilot Activ on the back.  It works really well.  years ago I had a 120/90H18 but I gave it up because of the fitting issues you have had.  I think the 4.00-18 rear tire actually handles better than the bike did with the 120 width tire.  Subjective I know....

[Burt]

I replaced the rear tyre once with a metric version. It may have been the 120. I eventually put on a 4.00H18 and have done ever since.  The 120 left a wear mark on the inside of the swing arm.  

I was informed later that the 4.00H18 is the CORRECT size tyre for our R65s.  Even through the 4.00 is a narrow tyre, this is the tyre BMW chose and not the metric versions.  

The 4.00 may have been a generic rear tyre size for most BMWs of that era.  Sort of makes it fun riding a bike with a narrow tyre.  

[Semper Gumby]

The 4.00 may have been a generic rear tyre size for most BMWs of that era.  Sort of makes it fun riding a bike with a narrow tyre.  

When the BMW club guys are riding behind me in the hills (because they cannot pass me) on their moderns, I usually get comments afterwards about how they cannot believe "how narrow" my rear tire is.  Then they look at the tread and see I'm using the Pilot Activ tread surface right to the edge and they get quiet.   8-)