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Tobba611

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2021 PA Special
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Discussion starter · #1 · (Edited)
Wondering who all changes their own tires and what implement(s) you use? I typically do all preventative maintenance myself. In my 35 years of riding, I have predominantly installed all tube-type tires myself and taken tubeless wheels to a shop to be swapped and balanced. But it's gotten expensive. it used to be like 30 bucks, the HD dealership and even my local "powersports" shop want upwards of 60 bucks per wheel to swap a tire. (If you bring them the wheel). I'm looking at a "Rabaconda". @Jesse Davis did a thread about the unit a year ago, but it's been a while so I thought I would bring it up again. @mikeInPA did a video with his "No-Mar", so I'm comparing those.

Anyone using anything else I should look at?
Anyone made this choice already?
Beads for balancing or something else?
 
#2 ·
Tobba611 said:
Wondering who all changes their own tires and what implement(s) you use? I typically do all preventative maintenance myself. In my 35 years of riding, I have predominantly installed all tube-type tires myself and taken wheels to a shop to be swapped and balanced. But it's gotten expensive. it used to be like 30 bucks, the HD dealership and even my local "powersports" shop want upwards of 60 bucks per wheel to swap a tire. (If you bring them the wheel). I'm looking at a "Rabaconda". @Jesse Davis did a thread about the unit a year ago, but it's been a while so I thought I would bring it up again. @mikeInPA did a video with his "No-Mar", so I'm comparing those.

Anyone using anything else I should look at?
Anyone made this choice already?
Beads for balancing or something else?
Click to expand...
I do my own tires, have for many years. I have a tire machine in my home shop.
I also have the tire and wheel warranty, but it takes to long and I dont like to wait so Ill through an old tire on to ride till the new one comes in
I dont bother balanceing motorcycle tires, never had an issue with it.
 
Discussion starter · #3 ·
Rocket said:
I do my own tires, have for many years. I have a tire machine in my home shop.
I also have the tire and wheel warranty, but it takes to long and I dont like to wait so Ill through an old tire on to ride till the new one comes in
I dont bother balanceing motorcycle tires, never had an issue with it.
Click to expand...

REALLY? No balance at all?? Do you ride interstate speeds?

What tire machine do you have?
 
#4 ·
Tobba611 said:
REALLY? No balance at all?? Do you ride interstate speeds?

What tire machine do you have?
Click to expand...
Yes, highway speeds.....high milage,
I was also drag racing. I have changed hundreds of tires for many other riders as well, and never had anyone complain about it. I let them know before that I don't balance them.
 
Discussion starter · #5 ·
Rocket said:
Yes, highway speeds.....high milage,
I was also drag racing. I have changed hundreds of tires for many other riders as well, and never had anyone complain about it. I let them know before that I don't balance them.
Click to expand...

Mind blown :unsure:. I will certainly try not balancing..

Just went down to the garage and looked at my PA... No wheel weights to be seen. My 23 Ultra limited sitting across from it. No wheel weights.. Ok, ok... Thanks.
 
#10 ·
Burnin Padrons said:
Gravity balancing works just fine and a gravity balance tool is cheap. I believe Harbor Freight even sells one.
I change my own tires as well but don't have anything near as nice as Rocket. I use spoons and a basic stand
Click to expand...
I used a 30 gallon grease barrell with rubber hose around the top and spoons for years, I still have it, then the Harbor Fraight machine, when this air over electric machine popped up on CL, I jumped on it. It paid for itself in a month!
 
#11 ·
you already know my answers :)
Still using beads just because it's quick and easy and have not had any issues with the Pan America. I did have slight balance issue on my Road King that required adding 1/2oz more in the front tire over Counter Act's recommendation
.
I will add that I recently mounted some Trailmax Missions, and they took a bit more effort even on the No-Mar.
 
Discussion starter · #13 ·
mikeInPA said:
you already know my answers :)

I will add that I recently mounted some Trailmax Missions, and they took a bit more effort even on the No-Mar.
Click to expand...
My next set is a set of Trailmax Missions. That's what started this "rabbit hole" for me. (The stiffness) I'm going with more off-road biased than the Dunlop Mutants I've been running, since I bought my Ultra Limited and plan to use it more for the long trips the PA used to get. I've also got a enough time and miles on the PA now, I don't care if I beat it up a bit.
 
#14 ·
as far as the space, I installed threaded drop-in style anchors in the concrete of my garage floor for mounting the no-mar. It takes me about 10 to 15 minutes to get it all setup, and when I'm not using it I store it in a big rubber maid style bin under one of my work benches. I don't use it enough to justify a fulltime setup. The drop-in anchors are flush with the floor, so no posts sticking out for me to trip over.
 
#15 ·
mikeInPA said:
you already know my answers :)
Still using beads just because it's quick and easy and have not had any issues with the Pan America. I did have slight balance issue on my Road King that required adding 1/2oz more in the front tire over Counter Act's recommendation
.
I will add that I recently mounted some Trailmax Missions, and they took a bit more effort even on the No-Mar.
Click to expand...
I really like your Chanel Mike, I have referred you to a few guys.
 
#17 ·
tvond said:
Theres a guy near me who has a small shop that offers $20 per wheel tire change service. You remove the wheel, bring to him (with a new tire) and he'll mount & balance it for $20. For that price, it makes no sense for me to fiddle with manually trying to do it.
Click to expand...
Also, my local HD dealer (Boston HD) does offer free tire change if you buy them there. Includes the whole sha-bang, if still offered.. Just ride down there and they take care of it. A nice deal if you want OEM's
 
Discussion starter · #18 ·
Burnin Padrons said:
I'm running the Trail Max Mission tires and I love them.
They can be a bitch to mount though. I threw them on the hood of my truck for a few hours to get them warmed up before I started working with them.
That helped a lot.
Click to expand...

@Burnin Padrons and @mikeInPA , Are your Trail max tires "B" rated? I read about the difference in radial vs biased and load ratings... Just a sanity check.

Image
 
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