Posted by Dean Hoffman on December 30, 2006, 9:37 am
> After doing much looking around, I can't find a motorcycle shop
> within ten miles that's willing to work on my bike (Honda Rebel 250).
> I am seriously thinking about working on this bike myself as I don't
> seem to have much alternative. How hard would it be for me to change
> the tires and tubes? What sort of equipment would I need? I am
> thinking of ordering Pirelli Route 66's, but I'm not sure what size
> tubes to get. The front tire is 3.0- 18 and the rear is 130/90-15, but
> I can't find a tube in that size for the rear tire at any of the local
> "motorcycle gear shops". There must be an equivalent size.
>
> My experience so far on motorcycles is pretty limited. I know how to
> check and change oil, change the air filters, etc. But I've never done
> something like take off a wheel. I've got some experience on cars
> doing simple things like changing fuel filters and oil, but not much
> beyond that. I do have the Clymer's manual for the bike, though.
It's usually not too bad if your bike has a center stand.
You can change the rear tire with the bike up on it. A few blocks to
hold up the front end will let you change the front tire. Your manual
should tell you the process for getting the wheels off. The bike tool
kit should have the tools to get you that far. I usually change one
tire at a time.
I had real problems one time when I was changing the rear tire.
The bolt going through the hub wouldn't come out due to rust. That
happened only once on that one bike. Anti seize compound available at
your local parts store is good stuff.
Tire spoons, pry bars or big screwdrivers will pry the tires off.
This will get you started: http://tinyurl.com/b532p The first
paragraph has some links with instructions. Check the link on the right
for a super cheap bead breaker.
I've gotten tires from these places:
http://www.cruisercustomizing.com/
http://www.shadetreemotorcycle.com/
http://tinyurl.com/5yuxg
Dean
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Posted by Ken Abrams on December 30, 2006, 10:49 am
> Magnulus wrote:
> > After doing much looking around, I can't find a motorcycle shop
> > within ten miles that's willing to work on my bike (Honda Rebel 250).
> > I am seriously thinking about working on this bike myself as I don't
> > seem to have much alternative.
Actually there are several alternatives.
> > My experience so far on motorcycles is pretty limited. I know how to
> > check and change oil, change the air filters, etc. But I've never done
> > something like take off a wheel.
Taking into account your level of expertise, I think that doing it yourself
is probably the worst of those choices.
> I decided that for me at this point it wasn't worth the time/effort
> because the local shop charged $20./wheel for mount and balance.
> Getting the wheels off is a matter of a few minutes, but my concern was
> seating the bead correctly, *not* puncturing an inner tube, and the
> balancing. Good luck.
These concerns are very valid, along with other possible outcomes, which
might include ordering tires only to find they are wrong when you get them
or having the bike fall over (on somebody) when it is "blocked up" with no
wheels. The worst would be getting it apart and then not being able to get
it back together again.
Given that, I think you have three "practical" alternatives.
For all 3, step one is finding a respected full-service Honda dealer.
Surely there is at least one in your metro area.
1) Have them come get the bike, do the tires and bring it back. Most $$$
but easiest.
2) Find a (more) experienced rider to take it there and bring back when
done.
3) Suck it up and ride it there yourself. With a little forethought and
planning you should be OK.
Pick a time when traffic will be lighter (Saturday). Pre-drive the route in
your car.
If you don't consider this an available alternative, maybe you should be
thinking about whether you REALLY should have the bike at all (or maybe you
should just wait a few months until you have a little more experience and
confidence).
I think it would be a BIG mistake to try changing the tires yourself, or
even removing the wheels.
Posted by BryanUT on December 30, 2006, 11:27 am
> The area I'd have to go to, to get my bike worked on, I also don't know
> well. With my car I can use a GPS to find anything, but with my bike
> I'm out of luck. It's also in Orlando and the traffic here can be bad,
I swear it is posts like this that have me convinced that a.) Parents are
failures, b.) people are getting dumber c.) our educational system has
totally collapsed or d.) all of the above.
Are you honestly saying you can't find your way around the the town you live
in without a GPS? Seriously, what is wrong with taking a few moments to
read a MAP?
I used to travel alot on business, foreign countries even, before GPS or
even cell phones. I would often find myself in a new city at night. I'd
just grab a rental car and map from the counter and head for my hotel.
Never got lost. I guess map reading skills are going the way of the slide
rule (not that I can use a slide rule, hehe).
Taking the wheels off a Rebel 250 is EASY. Just take off one wheel and get
the tire changed, repeat for other tire.
But why would I expect you to listen to me? You've asked this question
before and I've already told you the best/easiest/cheapest solution.
Bryan
Posted by Don Fearn on December 30, 2006, 5:56 pm
>> The area I'd have to go to, to get my bike worked on, I also don't know
>> well. With my car I can use a GPS to find anything, but with my bike
>> I'm out of luck. It's also in Orlando and the traffic here can be bad,
>I swear it is posts like this that have me convinced that a.) Parents are
>failures, b.) people are getting dumber c.) our educational system has
>totally collapsed or d.) all of the above.
>Are you honestly saying you can't find your way around the the town you live
>in without a GPS? Seriously, what is wrong with taking a few moments to
>read a MAP?
I know that GPS means Global Positioning System, but what kind of
thing is a MAP?
What technology does it use? Will it fit on my motorcycle? Can I use
it in my car? How about my bicycle? What are its power requirements?
How much does it cost? Do I need an owner's manual? Can I read about
it online? How many other Reekyites use it? Would it help me get home
from the bars if I've had a few too many?
pooder was here needing an explanation
--
He who laughs last thinks slowest
Posted by Shep© on December 30, 2006, 9:25 pm
On Sat, 30 Dec 2006 09:27:47 -0700 Too Much Ying and you will Pay With
>> The area I'd have to go to, to get my bike worked on, I also don't know
>> well. With my car I can use a GPS to find anything, but with my bike
>> I'm out of luck. It's also in Orlando and the traffic here can be bad,
>I swear it is posts like this that have me convinced that a.) Parents are
>failures, b.) people are getting dumber c.) our educational system has
>totally collapsed or d.) all of the above.
>Are you honestly saying you can't find your way around the the town you live
>in without a GPS? Seriously, what is wrong with taking a few moments to
>read a MAP?
>I used to travel alot on business, foreign countries even, before GPS or
>even cell phones. I would often find myself in a new city at night. I'd
>just grab a rental car and map from the counter and head for my hotel.
>Never got lost. I guess map reading skills are going the way of the slide
>rule (not that I can use a slide rule, hehe).
>Taking the wheels off a Rebel 250 is EASY. Just take off one wheel and get
>the tire changed, repeat for other tire.
>But why would I expect you to listen to me? You've asked this question
>before and I've already told you the best/easiest/cheapest solution.
>Bryan
Ditto:
The only destination you should care about when you go out on a bike
is getting home.I must be lucky as I know where I live<grin> ;-)
--
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> within ten miles that's willing to work on my bike (Honda Rebel 250).
> I am seriously thinking about working on this bike myself as I don't
> seem to have much alternative. How hard would it be for me to change
> the tires and tubes? What sort of equipment would I need? I am
> thinking of ordering Pirelli Route 66's, but I'm not sure what size
> tubes to get. The front tire is 3.0- 18 and the rear is 130/90-15, but
> I can't find a tube in that size for the rear tire at any of the local
> "motorcycle gear shops". There must be an equivalent size.
>
> My experience so far on motorcycles is pretty limited. I know how to
> check and change oil, change the air filters, etc. But I've never done
> something like take off a wheel. I've got some experience on cars
> doing simple things like changing fuel filters and oil, but not much
> beyond that. I do have the Clymer's manual for the bike, though.