So I'm out riding 2 days ago and my 2005 Electra Glide feels crazysquirlly. Go home let bike cool downpull saddlebag check rear tire-about 10 lbs of air. Air up to about 32 or so. Put bike away. Today flat tire. Air up to 35lbs at noon make service appt at HD dealer for 430 PMtoday. Flat by 4 Pm. Air up againride to dealer like I stole it. Tech racks it-drywall screw in tire. "We don't plug, patch or fix tires you need a new tire" "you could put a tube but I warn against it". Now I am so far from cheap its a crime. I waste money on ALL my toys. But you know 270.00 for a rear tire including laboris just flat out no vaseline and break it offbullSiht. Thats with 25% off the tire too-do you believe it. 105.00 labor---GIIVE ME A FREAKIN BREAK DO I LOOK LIKE I JUST LANDED HERE WITH A PARACHUTE????? I paid it in full disgust of the harley mystique of BS. To be fair all motorcycle stuff is WAYYYYY outta line. American or Jap bike. But whattaya gonna do screw around when you only got 2 tires on the ground to begin with. To boot I rode home in the rain on a new slippery overpriced tire afraud to even breath on my rear braketo really crown off the involuntary rectum wrecking. Plus bike is dogged to death filthy.[:@]

 

I know the feeling well. I have found a local shop that is about 50% of HD. I now use them when possible. Did back brakes for the price HD wanted for parts alone. I now do it myself or use the local non-HD stealer shop.

 

I would have tubed it and rode on.

 

hogdad,

I feel for you that crap just pi##ses me off. I wonder what a home version tire changer cost ? Also would like to find a local place besides Stealership

 

In retrospect I probably should have. But I just got this bike about 2 weeks ago with 800 originalmiles on it. I put 1000 miles on it about 2 weeks and I go to some real off the beaten path roads where I am the ONLY person around for miles of farm land. Thats where I pull over and eat my luch and have a cold drink and just marvel at the serenity. But I hate wasting money, I love spending it on what i want though.

 

Get yourself a plug kit and a little 12V compressor to carry with you. Never now when a nail can jump up a bite you.

 

You can get a portable tire changer from Harbor Freight with the motorcycle attachment for well under 100 bucks.

I bought just the tire changer to get the bead breaker. I do the actually changing on a piece of old carpet with a couple of good tire spoons and a couple of rim protectors. I doubt if I have 100 bucks in all of my equipment. I hand mount all of my own tires.

 

Found me a HD qualified mechanic. Charged me $20 to put a rear tire on my Heritage. He will get all my business.

 

Today I bought a portable air tank. You fill it up with air and take it where you need you need it. Came with 150 lb gauge and an air chuck attached to 6 feet of hose for 30.00 from NAPA. Obviously that won't be with me on the road but it beats usinga bicycle pump at home thats for sure. Portable compressors are good to have though.Any onefrom wally world would be fine.

 

Here's my on the road tire repair kit. The pump is out of one of those plug in the cigarette lighter pumps that you can get for 10 bucks. I just took the housing off. The plugs are just a 3 buck kit from Walmart. The lighter socket has a lead on it that I can plug into my heated gear plug. Of course, you Dresser guys can just plug the pump into your cig lighter. All of it fits in that zippered bank bag.

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