04-26-2019, 01:23 AM
I’ve been changing my own motorcycle tires for a while now. All the investment in tools has paid for itself. It takes a few times to get the technique down so it’s not such a chore any more. Still takes some muscle power but nothing like the wrestling match the first time I tried it. Getting the bead down in the rim groove is key. Knees and body weight help. Watch the brake disks so you don’t damage them. A good tire changing lube like Bead Butter or Bead Ease is key not only for getting the tires on and off the rim but to make the bead seat more easily. I have a cheap small compressor with a 1 gallon tank and that seats the beads like a charm with the lube. Never had to resort to the strap technique after starting to use lube.