Norm does tires

[BigNorm]

Hi folks! I finished installing my tires yesterday. If you need exercise and are out of shape this job is for you! I installed a Yokohama Avid Envigor 205/60/16 on the rear and a Bridgestone Excedra Max 170/70/16B on the front. I am aware that the rear tire is a car tire and that the front belongs on the rear. I mounted it with the rotational arrow facing opposite rotation. I ran the same car tire on the Road Glide I had before and liked it. I noticed how many praised the longevity of the excedra max on the rear of their bikes and wanted to try one on the front. Why a 170? I like the way it looks and now I know for sure that a 180 will fit between the fender as well but that's a tale for hopefully 20,000 miles or more down the road.
The first step in this grand adventure is to get the rear tire in the air. So I put the bike on the lift which my neighbor still doesn't want back (I asked!). You will notice a creative use of a pallet in the picture.

Then I secured the front down with motorcycle straps and lifted the rear tire with my scissor lift putting a small board between the two sides. I lifted the bike high enough to put a 2x4 under the rear tire where then I lowered the lift and replaced my small thin board with a 2x4 on top of the lift.

with the rear tire resting easy on a 2x4 I then took off the left side exhaust. This would be a good time to take both pipes off since you will need to put a torque wrench on the axle nut later. I used my BF crescent wrench to break the nut loose but next time I will just use a 15/16 or the appropriate metric if I have added it to my collection by then.

 

[BigNorm]

While I was breaking the axle nut loose I observed that the opposite side needed to be held in place. I don't have the appropriate BF Allen wrench as of yet so I used a tool I had made in the past.

With the opposite side secured. I removed the axle nut and the 4 bevel box nuts. I then removed the left hand shock off the bevel box. Last I removed the axle. At this point the only thing holding it together are the 4 bevel box studs. I gently rolled the rear tire rearward and let the bevel box swing down. I then lifted the scissor lift to give me room to get the tire out. I removed the bevel box and set it aside. To break the bead I did something I saw on the Internet. A picture says a thousand words they say. Hey Ya'll watch this:

I found that straddling and sitting on the board was far easier than exerting myself. Make sure you lube the wheel first.

 

[BigNorm]

With the bead broke I proceeded to remove the tire. I would highly recommend watching several YouTube videos to find a method that works for you. The taking the tire and wheel to the motorcycle store and having them do it is highly advisable. But as I am recently retired I have more time than dinnero so here goes:

I then replaced the valve stem and set the bead using my air compressor. You didn't remove the valve stem previously? Wow, breaking that bead must have been a royal bytch.

 

[sonny]

Hey Norm the O ring seal in the last two pics is the one I was referring to in the other thread.

 

[BigNorm]

I just realized that I forgot to take a picture of the car tire on the stand. This will have to do:

I also forgot to tell you to remove the caliper earlier. If these things confuse you then read the book. Seriously I'm just making this up as I go. replace everything in reverse order making sure that you torque everything correctly. The rear axle nut needs to be torqued to 110nm or 81ft pounds. I forget the torque on the bevel box nuts.
Something I learned in doing my own tires. Putting a car tire on is EASY. I just used my 3 spoons that I bought for.the purpose and used lots of lube. Putting a motorcycle tire on the front was a royal pita. That is until I watched more YouTube videos. I had a spare piece of carpet and laid it on the ground. I used my tire spoons to get the first bead on (remember to reverse the rear tire rotation when you use it up front ). The outer bead can be a real bytch. The secret is to kneel on the tire on one side which gets it started and then use your spoons to get that tire lip over (don't forget to lube! (Windex works too)). As you gain ground with the spoons you walk your knees up around the tire until that last little piece of lip is left and there is no room for the spoon. Just keep on walking your knees around the tire and POP! Joy!!! The next step should have been simple. No matter what I tried my tire refused to seat. I think I may have tore the inner rubber slightly trying to wrestle it on with spoons. The knee approach worked. Just make sure to set it on some carpet to protect the wheel and rotor. I also made sure that the abs rotor was facing up. I didn't want to risk excessive weight being placed on it.

 

[BigNorm]

I also forgot to add that when reconnecting the bevel box it helps to lift the shafts some to get it to line up. I tied a knot in a piece of laundry line. When you connect the bevel box and feel the splines slide in just pull the line out.

 

[BigNorm]

After I got it all back together I put 8 Oz of ride on in each tire. I was going to go with 16 each but I'm still waiting on the last 16 oz. I took it for a 30 mile ride to break them in. So far it is much more nimble than the wore out Metzler were. 4000 miles and the stock tires were wore out. Metzler should be embarrassed.

I forgot to add previously that I brought the front tire to a local tire shop and with the extra psi of the tire machine air two satisfying pops of the bead seating were heard. The air was on the house and it cost me 6 dollars to dispose of my old tires. I hope this is helpful to someone if not I hope you were entertained. Love and kisses brothers! NORM

 

[BigNorm]

 

[alpental]

But can we talk about why you're drinking Costco lite beer for a minute?

 

[BigNorm]

But can we talk about why you're drinking Costco lite beer for a minute?

It's better than all the other name brand lights I've tried and you can buy a 48 pack for the cost of a Coors 36. Just sayin. I used to be a bit of a beer snob and still make my own. A friend of mine and I just did a 23 gallon batch of a dark rye IPA. I can't wait to bottle it.