Oi, tires!

[primal]

Just ordered a new rear tire for my bike today. Apparently EVERY 130/90-15 tire ever made other than the Dunlop D404 is on backorder right now.

$120 for the tire, installed + $12 for a tube + $15 to balance it

Sound decent?

[music man]

Sounds about right to me.


Later

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by primal

$120 for the tire, installed + $12 for a tube + $15 to balance it

Sound decent?

I'm sure there are a couple of folks who will jump in with "Do it yourself; save $50. It's really not that hard." While that may be true for someone who has a good mechanical apptitude and the time and the tools........it is NOT true for most of us.

SO.....yes, I think that is probably a fair price, if you ride it in and they do everything.

Just for curiosity, what type do you have on the front? Your handling may change a bit with a different tire.....but not much with just the back.

[primal]

I've got a Metzeler in the front.

The quoted price is for me bringing in just the rim. It doesn't include remounting it on the bike. The only other option is an independent shop, and they already pissed me off with crappy customer service.

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by primal

The quoted price is for me bringing in just the rim.

Well, now the quoted price is a little on the high side but not outrageous.
This would be an excellent time to check the rear brake shoes too.

[primal]

Basically what they do is charge MSRP for the tire and labor is free (i.e. included in the markup). If I'd been able to get the Kendas it would have only been $60 + $12 + $15. The main thing is that the only tires I could get were the expensive Dunlops. But, oh well, it will be cheaper in the long run than driving my car every day waiting for the Kendas to get back in stock.

Rear shoes are just fine. A good 3.5mm of shoe left.

[primal]

Ended up only costing me $136. They must have given me a discount because it should have been closer to $150. One of my motorcycling friends is friends with the son of the owner, so that might be it...

[Brian Donofrio]

I got a harbor freight motorcycle changer tire about 100 bucks. I use the Cheng Shen tires. Changing tires is not all that difficult and if you do alot of miles it makes a lot of sense. The Dunlops have steel belts in them witch can make them tough to do with spoons ( I wrecked one thats why I bought the Harbor freight changer.)

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... mber=34542

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/D ... mber=42927

The price has risen but sometimes the only way to get it done right is to do it yourself. Balance is done using the steel stock and a couple of buckets. The big advantage with the GZ is that it uses tubes and thus you can do it without a compressor.

Tires
http://www.google.com/products?client=s ... 1&ct=title

Lube 6 in 1, soapy water or No Mar solution

http://www.google.com/products?client=s ... 1&ct=title

http://www.nomartirechanger.com/

The more you can do the better you understand your machine, the better off you are ;-)

Spoons can be tough I wrecked a Dunlop trying to use spoons. the Dunlops have steel belts in the sides.

[David Bo]

Question- Do WHITE WALL tires for our bikes exist?

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by David Bo

Question- Do WHITE WALL tires for our bikes exist?

:lol: :crackup :haha2: :shocked: :roll:

:facepalm:

Sorry.....that made me laugh.
I'm pretty sure the answer is NO.........or maybe I should say I HOPE the answer is NO. :biggrin:
But to each his own, I guess.