Changing the tire

[CheapBike]

I was without a bike for a while, my last motorcycle had no chain. Never changed a bike tire with a chain.

I've been searching for something on the net and on these forums but I can't find it...

Anyone got tips on changing the rear tire on a katana 600 year 2000? My tire arrives tomorrow and I wanna make sure it's on the bike for the weekend.

I can probably wing it but putting a tire on correctly is obvious not something you want to mess up. Thanks.

[Clint]

Motorcycle tires can be a pain. You'll need some means of breaking the bead without mangling your rim. Most who do their own use one of the specialized setups. If the tire has a light spot marker, align it with the stem. Make sure the bead is seated before riding.

[themeatmanlandry]

A tire's a tire, right? What difference would a chain make? Do you have spoons? Soapy water? Air? Wheel weights? That's all I use (plus a cheapo tire changer I bought at Harbor Freight for $100 or so).

Hope this helps.

[CheapBike]

Allow me to clarify. Someone's putting the rubber on the rim for me, I just wanna take it off and put it back on correctly.

[themeatmanlandry]

Originally Posted by CheapBike

Allow me to clarify. Someone's putting the rubber on the rim for me, I just wanna take it off and put it back on correctly.

Oh, now I see. Getting the tire on and off the rim's a piece of cake, but getting that chain to let go of the rear sprocket without cracking it is a real task!




































I kid.
-Loosen rear axle
-Loosen chain tensioners
-Remove rear sprocket (prop up wheel assembly, it's all yours at this point)
-Slide wheel assembly forward
-Slide chain off rear sprocket
-Remove rear wheel assembly

To re-install, reverse the above and:
-Adjust chain to proper tension
-Check rear wheel alignment (do a search)
-Check air pressure

I'm sure I forgot something . . .

[palanon]

Oh, just remove the cotter pin, axle nut and remove the axle. In some cases you may need to back off the chain adjusters a bit. You dan use a wooden dowel or a socket extention as a drift to push the axle out.

Slide the tire forward and remove the chain. Hand over tire...drink a beer.

[inspiron]

Landry, you forgot the steps in between.

-Loosen rear axle
-Drink a beer, complaining about how tight that axle nut was.
-Loosen chain tensioners
-Drink another beer.
-Remove rear sprocket (prop up wheel assembly, it's all yours at this point)
-Drink another beer.
-Slide wheel assembly forward
-Drink another beer.
-Slide chain off rear sprocket
-Drink another beer. Rub fingers where you ripped them open on the sprocket teeth.
-Remove rear wheel assembly
-Drink the last beer.

[themeatmanlandry]

Thnx buddy!

[palanon]

Originally Posted by inspiron

Landry, you forgot the steps in between.

-Loosen rear axle
-Drink a beer, complaining about how tight that axle nut was.
-Loosen chain tensioners
-Drink another beer.
Remove rear sprocket (prop up wheel assembly, it's all yours at this point) never needed to do on any bike I've owned.
-Drink another beer.
-Slide wheel assembly forward
-Drink another beer.
-Slide chain off rear sprocket
-Drink another beer. Rub fingers where you ripped them open on the sprocket teeth.
-Remove rear wheel assembly
-Drink the last beer.

Have you been spying through my windows???

Oh, wait, I usually don't run out of beer....never mind.

[CheapBike]

You buggers almost jinxed me into losing knuckle skin. I came close.

I was successful in removing the tire and keeping said skin and only got through half a beer.

Now the test will be ups getting the tire there on time and me assembling it without the damn thing losing a chain.

Once the axle was out there was no need for a chain tensioner, I assume it was that thing with the bolt on the right hand side that didn't contain the chain.

I saw the screw on the end and I will assume the tire will be harder to get on than it was to get off. Stay tuned to more noobie questions. Something tells me I shoulda bought the grease and machine to install it myself...

[themeatmanlandry]

Knuckle skin? You still got some left after dragging them things on the pavement for all these years??

The chain tensioners are adjustments at the ass-end of the swingarm. If you look at the mechanics of it you'll see them. They are simply bolts that you tighten to move the whole rear wheel assembly forwards/backwards to loosen/tighten the chain.

I bought my own el-cheapo machine just because I hate getting overcharged for stuff. It's a definite PITA to change a MC tire, but I really hate feeling ripped off, so it's worth it to me.

[CheapBike]

Heh, I was owned on the knuckle comment.

The idiots a motox here in Ut forgot to order the tire. How the f do you forget to order something?

I couldn't wait I went and bought a continental. Mismatched, yeah but it's new rubber. Can'twait to get it on the bike.

[themeatmanlandry]

Let us know what you think. Not only about the new tire, but also about the rideability of the combination.

<sorry about the knuckle comment, I couldn't resist >

[CheapBike]

Originally Posted by themeatmanlandry

Let us know what you think. Not only about the new tire, but also about the rideability of the combination.

<sorry about the knuckle comment, I couldn't resist >

I didn't take any canyon trips but around the city it seems to ride fine. It's a big tire, turns awesome, can't wait to get it's mate on the front.

I tried to put the original sprocket back on and the turkey apparently pulled some links so I was unable to get back to stock but oh well.

Here's the tire, seems like it'll be a good one.

Continental Motorcycle TyresÂ%-ContiSportAttack