Who here mounts there own tires?  Do you just use spoons or is there something else I need?  What about balancing?  Most every bike I see has the weights by the valve stem so I'm wondering If a balance issue would be noticeable.

I mount my own with spoons on my 620. Wrapped a little tape around them to protect the black paint. Didn't worry about the balance, at the speed I travel it was no issue. Have also spooned them on my DRZ400SM. I assume from your log on you are a porschephile, my winter beater 951 turboS just came out of hypernation yesterday. Had been commuting every day since late april in my bikes but when it hit freezing that was below my limit. bill

If you can wait a little, ill be throwing up a video how to (first time video!) of how to do it.

Do note, ive never done it before. I just bought a new tire (Pilot Road 2ct), 3 tire irons, rim proctectors, and im gonna use the ghetto 2x4 technique to break the bead!

Hey CobraJet, yes I am a bit of a Porschephile.  I am a Master tech in San Antonio.  Welcome to the forum.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=34542
This inexpensive tool (with the motorcycle attachment) has been invaluable. I usually use it with the rim clamp and not the post, but it comes with a large bar that feeds under the bead. You lever under the bead, and spin it around the post while prying up. I can usually pop the tire off without even touching the rim. Also, it has a built in bead breaker at the base of the stand. Or if you like, just use the rim clamp to hold the wheel, and whip out the spoons.
I got pretty good changing slicks on my supermoto, and it works good with dirt bike tires too. Trust me, a whole lot eaiser than the 2x6 method.

Or if you have the bucks, I've always wanted on of these...http://www.nomartirechanger.com/

I mounted and balanced my last set of Pirellis using a set of motion pro spoons and a homemade wheel holder/bead breaker.

I can’t find the website of the guy whose design I copied, but my setup consists of an old 14" car wheel mounted upside down with a 2' length of 5/8" all thread to a half sheet of 3/4" plywood. One end of the all thread is mounted to the plywood so that it passes through the center of the car wheel with enough left over that it will also pass through the axel of the motorcycle wheel as it’s placed on top of the old car wheel. (I used a length of automotive heater hose to wrap the edge of the car wheel to protect the motorcycle rim from scratches) After the MC wheel is placed on top of the car rim, bolt it down with the all thread using a small piece of wood as a washer between the 5/8ths nut and the MC wheel. I break the beads using a floor jack positioned between the plywood and the MC tire.

Rim protectors were made using some scraps of plastic I cut from an empty windshield washer bottle.

Quote from: Roscoe on October 24, 2008, 11:48:15 AM
Or if you have the bucks, I've always wanted on of these...http://www.nomartirechanger.com/

I have one of those and it rules! 

I can put my bike on the rear stand, pull the wheel (don't have to loosen chain adjusters - Triumph 6750, unmount the tire, remount a new rear, put it all back together in 30 minutes.

I can do the front start to finish in 30 as well, and that's taking it easy and not rushing.

I don't bother balancing my wheels unless the bike feels like it's trying to self destruct at 100+

Quote from: cobrajet on October 24, 2008, 08:34:10 AM
I mount my own with spoons on my 620. Wrapped a little tape around them to protect the black paint. Didn't worry about the balance, at the speed I travel it was no issue. Have also spooned them on my DRZ400SM. I assume from your log on you are a porschephile, my winter beater 951 turboS just came out of hypernation yesterday. Had been commuting every day since late april in my bikes but when it hit freezing that was below my limit. bill

Funny, lots of Porsche folks just happen to have Ducs. I don't have one at the moment, but I have had a Boxster and an 82 SC. Loved both.

Quote from: Monsterlover on October 27, 2008, 07:17:36 PM
I have one of those and it rules! 

I can put my bike on the rear stand, pull the wheel (don't have to loosen chain adjusters - Triumph 6750, unmount the tire, remount a new rear, put it all back together in 30 minutes.

I can do the front start to finish in 30 as well, and that's taking it easy and not rushing.

I don't bother balancing my wheels unless the bike feels like it's trying to self destruct at 100+

I did the same thing on my S4R without a changer in 25
I would like a proper changer some day, but it's real easy to do with spoons.

I bought one of these, and in a few years it's paid for itself.  I have two bikes, each of which go through a set of tires once per year, so to me it made sense.  The local shop has about a 20-30% markup on tires, and they'll only mount 'em (for $50 I believe) if you buy them there.  Cycle Gear will mount tires for $15, but you have to take the wheel(s) to the store.

I use NoMar's balancer as well.

The NoMar makes you popular with your riding buddies too. 

Quote from: Roscoe on October 24, 2008, 11:48:15 AM
Or if you have the bucks, I've always wanted on of these...http://www.nomartirechanger.com/

Quote from: pompetta on October 28, 2008, 04:17:37 AM
I bought one of these, and in a few years it's paid for itself.  I have two bikes, each of which go through a set of tires once per year, so to me it made sense.  The local shop has about a 20-30% markup on tires, and they'll only mount 'em (for $50 I believe) if you buy them there.  Cycle Gear will mount tires for $15, but you have to take the wheel(s) to the store.

I use NoMar's balancer as well.

The NoMar makes you popular with your riding buddies too. 

Yea, that lube that comes with it is awesome.   

Works great with number 8 on your whiteboard   

I use spoons with a car rim as a base as well.  For balancing, I have been using DynaBeads from Innovative Balancing for a couple of years.  The tire stays balanced throughout it's entire life as it wears down.  Smooth as glass when riding.  I use 1lb 1oz in the front and 2lbs 2oz in the back.  Easiest balancing ever, just dump the dynabeads in before mounting the tire bead.

http://www.innovativebalancing.com/motorcycle.htm

Quote from: Roscoe on October 24, 2008, 11:46:25 AM
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=34542
This inexpensive tool (with the motorcycle attachment) has been invaluable. I usually use it with the rim clamp and not the post, but it comes with a large bar that feeds under the bead. You lever under the bead, and spin it around the post while prying up. I can usually pop the tire off without even touching the rim. Also, it has a built in bead breaker at the base of the stand. Or if you like, just use the rim clamp to hold the wheel, and whip out the spoons.
I got pretty good changing slicks on my supermoto, and it works good with dirt bike tires too. Trust me, a whole lot eaiser than the 2x6 method.

I think I'm gonna try this for my new tires! Thanks for info and lead.
Question, what about balancer?

I dont bother balancing them. I just line up the painted dot, which is the lightest point of the tire, with the valve stem, and call it good. My speeds were never much above 80 or 90 on a fast track (supermoto) and I never noticed an imbalance. As far as my street tires, same applies. I'm pretty sane and don't usually exceed 80, even when "the man" isn't looking.
But if you want to balance them, look at the NoMar web site. they have a pretty nifty setup, or you can just buy the rod and cones that hold the wheel, and build your own stand out of simple materials. It's a pretty simple concept, support the wheel in a way that it can rotate freely, letting the heavy end drop to the bottom. Add small lead tape weights on the opposite end until its even.