Tire levers

[moto_madman]

Whats the best tire lever out there? I need something strong and long. I just bent a pair of 8 inch MSR's fighting off a Michelin. Then they bent even more while fighting a 756 on.

If any of you get MXracer on page 72 of the june 2002 issue there is a lever on the right. Anyone know who makes it? It looks good but i like the one on page 83 of the same issue better.

[Guest mxrider426]

If you get real good at changing tires, you will barely have to put any force on them at all(unless you use bib mouses or whatever). If you are constantly putting enough force on the irons to bend them, you are probably bending up your rim.

[yamaha.dude]

I think the Metzeler levers are the best you can get for motorbikes... should be about US$15-20 a pair...

David

[PumpkinHumper]

ty davis makes a wicked tire iron.

web page

[CAL]

Originally posted by mxrider426:

If you get real good at changing tires, you will barely have to put any force on them at all(unless you use bib mouses or whatever). If you are constantly putting enough force on the irons to bend them, you are probably bending up your rim.

mxrider426 is right. If you are bending tire irons, you're getting too much bite. I use (2) 11" Motion Pro irons. I've changed Dunlops, Pirellis, and Michelins with no problems. It's better to get used to small irons...that way you won't bend the rim or break a bead.

[moto_madman]

The MSR's i have are junk. They were six bucks a piece. They are almost as soft as my michelin. ? They bent because the bead slipped to the edge of the rim when i was taking the Michelin off. OOOPS, i didnt notice that until it was too late. All it took was one good push and they were bent. Also, they bent before when we ran out of pry bars.

[Hick]

I agree. I've bent a set of the cheesy irons getting the last part of the bead on, and yes, I had the rest of the bead held in the center of the rim.

I like the Davis irons with plastic handles the best. The tips are also nice and thin without being sharp.

[Fireballsocal]

I use the motion pro spoons that Cal uses. The are S shaped so you can use on side for taking the tire off and the other for putting them on. I haven't bent one and mine are 3 years old. Soapy water is the key to easy tire changes.

[moto_madman]

thanks for the help ?

[osheen]

If you need tire irons longer than 8" then you are doing it the hard way. I see alot of guys try to take too big of a bite at one time. They end up butchering the bead, rim, and their knuckles. Just take small bites and keep the bead pushed in. I always use 3 irons. Coming off, I hook one under the disc and use the other two to work it off. Going on, I stand on one while using the other two to work it around.

I have a set of cast steel units that were about 6 bucks each. Never have bent them.

[Fireballsocal]

While I don't need the length, it's the shape of the iron that I like. I have used smaller irons to the same effect except the shape just isn't right for me.

One other hint. After you get one side of the tire on and put in the tube, make sure the inner ring of the tube is all the way down in the v of the rim. I've popped more tubes than carter had pills before I figured that out.

[PumpkinHumper]

I heard someone mention soapy watter. Soap diluted in water would probably work fine.

But for a while I was using just straight dish soap right out of the bottle squirted on the bead. It works great. Super slipery. And your hands clean up real nice afterwards.

But, I discovered that over a period of about 2 years that the soap starts to eat the rim. I would imagine that diluting it would be fine or at least delay the decay process.

Lately Ive just been spraying wd-40 on the bead and it works fine.

[John_Lorenz]

replacing a tire 101:

The Ego Way

1: Remove the old tire ? Thats a tuff one

2: Always replace tube

3: Windex the BeeGeeepers of the bead area of the new tire and install tire

4: Windex the BeeGeeepers of the inside of the new tire.

5: Install new tube, inflate tub just enough to make round 1 lb maybe 2

6: Windex the BeeGeeepers inside the tire again and tube and outside bead.

7: Place the bead first at the tire lock

8: Work the tire onto the rim starting at the lock in a oppsite right to left fashion.

9: Whil doing this use a rubber mallet to keep the bead inside the lock and work the tire bead into the center of the rim until it pops all the way around.

Windex is extreamly slippery and evaporates wihin a day. Tires do not stick like soap or have that sealed glue type when tying to remove..

Walla garunteed

[ July 11, 2002: Message edited by: E.G.O.**** ]