[Hobbit on a Honda]

I don't want to use screwdrivers. I found some in a catalog, but they were 30" long and seemed like over kill. Where can I get some made for motorcycles, and do I need 3, or will 2 do? Thanks.....and happy Thanksgiving

 

[Blindstitch]

Well I just did a tire today and I always us two fifteen inch prybars and if things go bad a 24 incher.



But I understand your need. If I needed some I would probably get them from motorcycle superstore.

 

[JoelsPC]

These are what I ended up with after much trial and error, they are great! I bought a couple of 24" cast steel ones from Harbor freight, but their rough casting was not going to be kind to the aluminum rims. The BikeMaster ones in the link have a real hard chrome and are nice and slippery to the rims. I used them (bought a pair) to change both tires and could not be happier. They may be a little pricey, but worth it. -Joel

 

[Shep]

Before you throw them away cut some pieces out of old plastic oil containers.You can use these as protectors for your rims.Even old Plastic milk containers will do.



In fact you can do a Twofer,



http://www.pdsrecording.site90.com/cxgl500/OilChange.htm

oil change draining container



HTH

 

[InWeldingWeTrust]

Best tyre irons you can use for a motorcycle are the longest ones you can comfortably use with the smoothest tip. Always use irons in companionship with a rim protector. Double ended irons, are also much more adaptable, ie a spoon one end and a hooked curve on the other. This allows you deal with a lot more rim types and flange heights and combined with a longer length ensures you need not use much effort in doing so.Also, tyre irons under 3/4 inch wide, or wider than 1 1/4 inch are much easier to damage beads with so if the irons you are looking at fall into this category then be aware when removing a tyre that you may later want to refit

 

[theRatBiker]

hey I was just looking at this myself, and behold, rocky mountain atv has a thanksgiving sale on em'.



12" but they're only $3.99



http://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/p...3&quickAddByPart.y=6&quickAddByPart=addToCart

 

[richnct]

If you are putting a lot of force on the tire irons you are probably not getting the opposite tire bead deep enough into the center of the rim. It sounds simple, but practice helps. Some claim to be able to dismount/mount tires with their bare hands, I believe it can be done, but not by me.* Point being, too much force means not good enough technique. Less force also reduces the liklihood of rim damage. Welcome to the "Change your own rubber" club! Balancing with rudimentary jigs and weights can also be remarkably accurate.



*Edit: I could not find anything on the internet showing or claiming to change tires with bare hands (either than bicycle tires) so maybe I'm imagining it? Anyone ever heard of or seen it done on a MC or auto tire?

 

[Blindstitch]

I would put money on your thinking to be of knobby dirt tires. And they are probably very fresh tires. I had some moped tires that I fought and fought and fought. Eventually irons wern't really working so I took a hacksaw and wire cutters and removed it. I do believe the new ones went on with very little force.