No new posts today so I think I shall share.
Well I finally did it, I bought some manual tire changing tools. Close to me MC shops are charging $60 cad a tire to change and balance. I know its harsh but I say pooie!
Two bikes need tires. If my math is correct that's $240 before tax. I picked up two spoons (may need a third), a few rim protectors and valve stems off of Amazon.ca along with the BMW adaptor from Marc Parnes and away we go.
I have not received the tools yet but I am somewhat leery as my right rotator cuff is caput and my left is very sore. I hope I did not bite off more than I can chew and I know there are you peeps out there that would say just that, with good reason. Anyhow here goes nothing.
Funny thing is I bought a 12 gauge and a 308 (yes I am Canadian) but have not fired them yet for the same shoulder reason.

The wide rear tire of the RS has a flat cross section and not much of a drop centre, so the rear tire especially can be difficult to change. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

I never managed with my Cycle Hill Tire Changer. But I have a better option and I will be trying that out later in the Fall as the tires wear. Actually, looking forward to it. No announcements as I don't want to raise expectations, but I expect success this time around (better engineering design, and it is definitely not old school).

I still like the challenge of old school tire changes for my front rims, but whimp out by taking rears to a shop for the reasons Grumpy mentions.  Last BMW dealer M&B was over $70US.  Thinking about proposing getting my riding club to sponsor a location and group buy-in on a proper set up.

Before starting, consider ways to over-protect your rims and discs and don't forget dish soap lube!

Multi brand MC shop near me charges $30 US mount and balance per wheel whether buy my tires from them or I bring in my new tires and the wheels off my bike. Not worth doing it for myself.

Do not use DISH SOAP as lube it will attack the aluminum at the bead seats and over time cause pitting and air leaks .
MSDS and from the Goldwing forum you can use Armor All sprayed on a sponge to lube tire beads and rim lip . No chemicals in Armor all that attack Aluminum or rubber .
Many detergents are alkaline and will etch aluminum , and Sodium chloride ( salt ) look at cars that live up north .
So using soap on your bead and never getting it rinsed off will no be a good thing .

I change all my own tires for the last 19 years . Good tools and practice make it easy job .

Some Cycle Gear stores will mount and balance tires (off the bike) for $25 per wheel.

My adventures in old-school tire removal are in the thread "wire tie method" under "tires". I have a friend with an MC Shop tire changer. He charges $20 per tire for mount & balance off the bike.

(09-09-2023, 06:07 AM)Motorhead1977 Wrote: Multi brand MC shop near me charges $30 US mount and balance per wheel whether buy my tires from them or I bring in my new tires and the wheels off my bike. Not worth doing it for myself.

At that price I don't blame you, unless the people doing the changing don't give a crap and nick your wheels ...

(09-09-2023, 06:39 AM)c10 Wrote: Do not use DISH SOAP as lube it will attack the aluminum at the bead seats and over time cause pitting and air leaks . 
MSDS and from the Goldwing forum you can use Armor All sprayed on a sponge to lube tire beads and rim lip . No chemicals in Armor all that attack Aluminum or rubber .
...

Good tip on the dish soap. I can see Armor All being a good lubricant for this purpose for removing the tire, as it has mineral oil in it. However, this MSDS for Armor All says it too is a bit alkaline. Perhaps the mineral oil counters that when it comes to corrosion.

Bead grease is apparently recommended for putting the tire on ... what do you think?

Armor All might of updated then as a decade ago it did not . Been using Armor all as bead soap is great and what we used in the tire shop but it dries out . So if you are doing a few sets a week the bead soap will last or be used up but for a few sets a year it will dry out I've found.
None of my wheels including high end APEX 6 forged wheels ever developed corrosion .
MY FJR wheels did though before I switched from dish soap to Armor all .

When I had my NoMar changer I only used this tire lube paste. In addition to using the paste their instructions state you can add a couple of tablespoons to a pint spray bottle and add hot water to make a liquid spray. There is likely a video on their website or Utube has one with instructions.

https://www.nomartirechanger.com/sp-lube-pint.html

GG, yes these guys at the shop I use are excellent and very careful. Never had any issues in 6 sets of tires.

(09-09-2023, 10:00 AM)c10 Wrote: Armor All might of updated then as a decade ago it did not .  Been using Armor all as bead soap is great and what we used in the tire shop but it dries out . So if you are doing a few sets a week the bead soap will last or be used up but for a few sets a year it will dry out I've found.

Yes, I heard that some bead grease can dry quickly even when applied during a tire change (depending on the product, or course). Just have to be aware and reapply if the change is taking more time than expected, I suppose.

Still have my NoMar. The lube, Darrell mentioned, works great for mounting (paste) and removing (spray).

Once I get all my stuff I will report on my struggles, I am sure I will have one or two 8P

(09-09-2023, 10:41 AM)darrell Wrote: When I had my NoMar changer I only used this tire lube paste.  In addition to using the paste their instructions state you can add a couple of tablespoons to a pint spray bottle and add hot water to make a liquid spray.  There is likely a video on their website or Utube has one with instructions.

https://www.nomartirechanger.com/sp-lube-pint.html

Yes I have that paste as well and see where they suggest diluting it to make the spray.

Never changed a tire and hopefully never will, lol.  Definitely respect the commitment of you guys that do. I watched my tire guy struggle with the super stiff RSIV sidewalls, even with his machine.  I was happy to look at magazines while that was going on.

As I recall, beer and friends also help the process along and the beer can be used as a tire lubricant if one reaches that point.

(09-11-2023, 07:40 PM)TriangleRider Wrote: Never changed a tire and hopefully never will, lol.  Definitely respect the commitment of you guys that do. I watched my tire guy struggle with the super stiff RSIV sidewalls, even with his machine.  I was happy to look at magazines while that was going on.

 I don't blame you. Main reason I am willing to do my own is because I do not want to waste rubber and needlessly fill landfills. Many places will only mount new tires. If I found a place that would mount any tire for me at a reasonable cost, I would probably do the same. 

Now that I have an ADV bike, there is the potential that I might have more than one set of tire (50-50 & 80-20) and so may have more frequent tire changes, but I'd have to see how this bike and me going occasionally offroad works out. If it does then doing my own makes more sense ...

(09-11-2023, 10:30 PM)Ray Wrote: As I recall, beer and friends also help the process along and the beer can be used as a tire lubricant if one reaches that point.

R&D department

Biggest challenge for me when changing tires is to get the old one off the rim, rear tire of course being the more difficult one. I have fabricated a 6 feet long lever “tool” from 2x4 wood, which after some huffing, puffing and cursing helps me break the bead. Instead of soap, I use a deliberate amount of silicone spray, which also helps when removing the tire next time.
I do my own balancing, long time ago I bought a balancing kit which includes the attachment for BMW rear rims, some independent tire shops don’t have that. However, after recent front tire replacement, I decided it was the last one I did myself, no more at my age (77).