revtothelimit - motorbike forum

I've ridden off road bikes most of my life and removing/changing tyres goes with the hobby. Its only in the last 5 or so years that I've been changing road bike tyres though and that was only because the local fitter started charging £25 per tyre.

With road tyres hand tools wise its 2 tyre levers, 3 rim protectors, a valve core remover and tyre soap ..... A valve snake is handy if its a tube type and you can use glass cleaner ( the spray on type) as an alternative lubricant.

I use one of these as my bead breaker whether its off road or road tyres ...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Warrior-Moto ... SwwKNdlIh8


And balance them using one of these..

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Red-Motorcyc ... SwCdRew4Ce

Like most things in life the more you practice the easier it gets, but i found if your having to force things when changing a road bike tyre your not using the right technique.

I'd just like to put it on record that I hate changing tubed tyres. They really are the devils spawn. Just had to do it on both 350LC wheels after they came back from powder coating and they both fought me every inch of the way. Plus there's always the danger you'll nip the tube and plunge yourself into an even deeper well of hurt.

Did I mention I hate inner tubes with a passion?

mangocrazy wrote: Mon Jan 18, 2021 9:57 pm I'd just like to put it on record that I hate changing tubed tyres. They really are the devils spawn. Just had to do it on both 350LC wheels after they came back from powder coating and they both fought me every inch of the way. Plus there's always the danger you'll nip the tube and plunge yourself into an even deeper well of hurt.

Did I mention I hate inner tubes with a passion?

One little hint is to put some air in so it doesn't sit in the well where the tyre levers will nip it.

Yes. Also I still see people struggling to get the valve stem through the rim. This is one occasion when the Haynes manuals actually get it right (I think the original method actually comes from Avon). Slightly inflate the tube and put it in the tyre. Offer the rim up so that the valve stem goes through the hole and run the securing nut on a couple of threads. Then fit the first bead followed by the send using the normal technique.

Something like this makes getting the valve through the rim alot easier...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tyre-Changin ... SwqDpfID~o

mangocrazy wrote: Mon Jan 18, 2021 9:57 pm I'd just like to put it on record that I hate changing tubed tyres. They really are the devils spawn. Just had to do it on both 350LC wheels after they came back from powder coating and they both fought me every inch of the way. Plus there's always the danger you'll nip the tube and plunge yourself into an even deeper well of hurt.

Did I mention I hate inner tubes with a passion?

At this time of year, leaving the tyre next to a radiator for a few hours to cook at gas mark 6 helps.... obviously that doesn't apply to Yorick

@mangocrazy Do you have a build thread for the lc ?

Scuffmark wrote: Tue Jan 19, 2021 8:06 pm Something like this makes getting the valve through the rim alot easier...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tyre-Changin ... SwqDpfID~o

But you don't need it if you do it properly. Here at around 3 minutes......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMAMKz2C7_o

... although he'd make his life easier if he used some lubricant.

iansoady wrote: Tue Jan 19, 2021 10:03 am Yes. Also I still see people struggling to get the valve stem through the rim. This is one occasion when the Haynes manuals actually get it right (I think the original method actually comes from Avon). Slightly inflate the tube and put it in the tyre. Offer the rim up so that the valve stem goes through the hole and run the securing nut on a couple of threads. Then fit the first bead followed by the send using the normal technique.

Yup, did all that. Getting the correct amount of air in the tube is critical. Too much and the tyre doesn't go fully down into the well. Too little and you run the risk of nipping the tyre.

And the tyre had been sat by a radiator for several hours prior to fitment.

A lot of the problem is that old rims (like on the LC) are so narrow and there is so little room for manoeuvre, especially when tubes are involved.

Still hate inner tubes.

Scuffmark wrote: Tue Jan 19, 2021 8:24 pm

mangocrazy wrote: Mon Jan 18, 2021 9:57 pm I'd just like to put it on record that I hate changing tubed tyres. They really are the devils spawn. Just had to do it on both 350LC wheels after they came back from powder coating and they both fought me every inch of the way. Plus there's always the danger you'll nip the tube and plunge yourself into an even deeper well of hurt.

Did I mention I hate inner tubes with a passion?

At this time of year, leaving the tyre next to a radiator for a few hours to cook at gas mark 6 helps.... obviously that doesn't apply to Yorick

@mangocrazy Do you have a build thread for the lc ?

I 'sort of' did a build thread on another forum that I've been a member on for years. Here's a link. Haven't updated it since about September...

https://ridersite.com/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=13813

mangocrazy wrote: Wed Jan 20, 2021 12:42 pm
I 'sort of' did a build thread on another forum that I've been a member on for years. Here's a link. Haven't updated it since about September...

https://ridersite.com/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=13813

Thanks.... Really enjoyed the read and great to see the restoration and some of the downsides and how they've been overcome... Top job

iansoady wrote: Wed Jan 20, 2021 10:56 am

Scuffmark wrote: Tue Jan 19, 2021 8:06 pm Something like this makes getting the valve through the rim alot easier...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tyre-Changin ... SwqDpfID~o

But you don't need it if you do it properly. Here at around 3 minutes......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMAMKz2C7_o

... although he'd make his life easier if he used some lubricant.

He mentions the lube and the didn't use it till later on ..... I wouldn't use any washing up liquid solution on tyres and alloy rims no matter how diluted though. You never know how corrosive its going to be.

There's not enough side wall flex in a motocross/ enduro tyre to fold it over the rim like that and place the valve stem into the rim. Its where I learned to skin my knuckles changing tyres.... Old habits and all that malarkey

Scuffmark wrote: Wed Jan 20, 2021 2:27 pm

mangocrazy wrote: Wed Jan 20, 2021 12:42 pm
I 'sort of' did a build thread on another forum that I've been a member on for years. Here's a link. Haven't updated it since about September...

https://ridersite.com/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=13813

Thanks.... Really enjoyed the read and great to see the restoration and some of the downsides and how they've been overcome... Top job

Excellent stuff - glad you enjoyed the read. Just been re-fitting some of the powder coated bits (in addition to the wheels) that i received the other day. It's reminded me of a truism - ALWAYS re-tap any threads even if they appear to have been masked off. The same applies when getting parts back from blasting.