Think I am going to get the machine to do the tires from Harbor Freight. Cost is 100.00 and the tire is 120.00 for a Metz ME880 140/90/16. They want 70.00 labor so for an extra 30.00 and some tax, I can change my own. Got about 12000-15000 miles on it. Just can't remember how many miles were on it when I did it last but think it was around 55000-58000 miles & have 70000 miles on it now.

Toby

 

.....

 

If you think your going to get anything but a total piece of junk of a "tire machine" for $100 you got some serious rocks in your head. For a half a$$ motorcycle tire machine you got to spring for a min of $1500...and that is a POS. If you want a real changer for MC's....its about $2500, and for a decent MC tire dynamic balancer its another $3000 min.

You want to throw away $100....throw it this way....I will sell you a pair of old screwdrivers to pry the tire off with.

 

+1

You get what you pay for.

 

Hmmmm...

 

A friend of mine got one of those Harbor Freight so called tire changers and gave it away. Said it didn't work!

 

The Harbor Freight tire changer most certainly will work. The MC attachment is really nothing more than a glorified wheel holder, but it does what it is supposed to do. You don't really need it. I do have the lower part of the tire changer. I bought it just for the bead breaker. I mount my own motorcyle and small trailer tires by hand using a couple of tire spoons and rim protectors laying the wheel on a piece of thick carpet to do my work. As far as balancing goes...I don't...I just match the valve stem up with the dot on the sidewall. I have been riding on hand mounted tires like this for 20 years and have never had an issue. My bikes ride just as smooth as the next guys and the tires last a good long life.

 

I've used the Harbor Freight bead breaker (the long handled one) for years, it's around $50 and works just fine. I never had a tire machine, I invested in four nice 16" motorcycle tire irons and 4 rim protectors. I would strongly recommend investing in a stand-axle balancer (something like the Marc Parnes one), and a sheet of weights. Grand total may be $200. It won't take much room either.

 

Like others here, I do my own also. I use my bench vise to break beads!!!! If it's big enough to fit around the tire, drop in two of the rim protectors and pinch the tire down with the vise! Then twist the wheel side to side to break both sides! Like others, I just use 2 tire irons, rim protectors, and some dishsoap and water. Like someone commented, lay the wheel down on the floor on a piece of carpet or old blanket. To install, lube the wheel up with the soapy water, pop it on, line up the red dot with the valve. Then throw in 2oz of dynabeads to handle the balance issue, and inflate!! Good to go!!!
Don't misunderstand, it takes some elbow grease, but if you don't mind a small workout and it taking up an hour or so of your time, you can save $80.
Jason

 

The workout's get easier with practice. I have a buddy that owns a very successful indy shop. He does it by hand. He can dismount and mount a tire in about 5 minutes.