Darkside Mounting Suggestions

[jaredmt]

Heavily considering going dark for my next tire. There are some good threads discussing the tires themselves. What I would like to hear are experiences with mounting. Specifically with getting it done somewhere (as this is what I'm going to do), though self-mount advice is good too.
I see some have had this done at a regular car tire shop, some at motorcycle shops .. and no one at a Triumph shop, as it appears they won't touch it.
Experiences good & bad with various shops?

 

[TriumPhil]

Mine was mounted at my local Triumph, dealership. Their shop rate is $90/hr and they struggled to get the Metz off the rim. Not sure they had the best tire mounting equipment for the job. either, adding more labor time to their endeavor.

Either way, Jared, it is much less expensive (1/2 to 1/3 the cost) to remove the MT and rim and take it to a shop with the right tools to both remove and remount your tires than to have a shop remove and remount the rim for you.

 

[snuffcityrider]

Two different shops I've been to, although it was for MC tire mounting just cut the old Metz off because it is a ***** to get off. Saves time if you don't want the old tire.

 

[BehereNow]

I get mine done at a custom build bike shop. They never did the Darkside before, but do lots of eversized MCT.

 

[JRock]

I got mine mounted at the same Triumph dealer as Phil. I took the wheel off myself. The mounting cost $50. Not bad.
I was stressing over whom to take it to as well.
Try to find a shop that has done it already.

By the way, Phil, I scraped the peg yesterday for the first time, chasing a sports car around a tight one.

 

[rusty]

I purchased a Cooper darkside tire from a local speciality tire & wheel shop. It took 4 guys working together to get the darkside tire on the rim (I had cut the Metz off & delivered the wheel to them). I guess they had never experienced the "no center drop" wheel style that Triumph came up with.

They were successful after about 1/2 hour but did comment on the challenge. I also chose to use Dyno-beads for the balance approach. About 3 1/2 to 4 oz for a darkside of the size the Rockets can accommodate.

Good luck! See ya.

 

[TriumPhil]

Glad to hear that you busted your bike's cherry, JRock.

When are we gonna' meet up and unleash our two TOYO shod Rockets on the unsuspecting masses?

 

[JRock]

Hey, Phil,

Work is a *****, 12 hr days, some Saturdays.
Gonna rain all weekend.
Maybe a month or so.

Thought you were going to forsake the CT cause of the unnatural wear on the sidewalls

 

[IMFASTTOO]

Hey, Phil,

Work is a *****, 12 hr days, some Saturdays.
Gonna rain all weekend.
Maybe a month or so.

Thought you were going to forsake the CT cause of the unnatural wear on the sidewalls

HEY dont forget you have to remove the wheel around 8k to lube the driveshaft splines Just cause the tire will last longer you will still have to keep up with maintenance

 

[Lester532]

HEY dont forget you have to remove the wheel around 8k to lube the driveshaft splines Just cause the tire will last longer you will still have to keep up with maintenance

The wheel is not that hard to remove and replace.