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Yeah, that's not too bad.....I guess.....What's the shop rate? $50/hr? $75/hr? $95/hr?

After four tire changes, my Harbor Freight tire changer was paid for, so by tire #5 the tire change was FREE and I didn't have to drive anywhere and waste my time and gas to have someone else change my tire (yet, alone PAY them to do it). I also can move my tire changer into the living room and change tires while I watch TV.....not to mention I can change a tire on a Saturday evening when every other place is closed and I want to ride first-thing Sunday morning. 

I figure in the last year, I've saved at least $300 at $20 per wheel carried into the local dealer....not counting the time to drive there and back and the time I had to wait to let them do it......and let's not forget $4/gallon gas for most of the summer. I've even gotten a few free dinners and cases of beer for changing tires from some of my buddies.   

Seattle Ducati - $85/hr.  It was in for a modified 6k service.

Holy cow!!  If you're changing tires in front of the TV and (if my math is right..) doing 15 changes per year, you are a COMPLETELY different rider than I am.  A bunch of avid riders like you should get together, rent some warehouse space and buy some big tools, communally.  You'd prob all save a fortune at the rate you're servicing your rides.

I have a No-Mar setup and it's paid for itself in the first year.  I ran different rubber on the track than on the street, so that meant 4 tire changes for every track day I did that year (about 3 per year is my normal schedule)

Quote from: Speeddog on November 12, 2008, 09:15:12 AM
DD, did you put the dynabeads in along with mounting a new tire, or just put the dynabeads in?

Just the dynabeads. I removed all previous balancing weights and dropped the Dynabeads in. Since the tires were alreayd mounted, I tried to install them through the valve stem, but it was such a PITA that I broke one of the tire beads loose from the rim, used a tire iron to pull the tire form the rim, and used a funnel to pour the Dynabeads into the wheel.

Quote from: bonnucati on November 12, 2008, 11:25:02 AMDoes this tire changer have to be bolted down to use it?
Also, I can picture how it helps get the old tire off, but does it also assist in putting on the new tire?

The HF would work easier if it was bolted down, but I usually get my wife to help me hold it when we are using it (usually in the living room). The HF makes removing the tire a breeze, and the only issue that we may have is getting the last 8"-14" of the second bead of the new tire to go over the lip of the rim. This probably would not be a problem if I had the unit mounted somewhere. For the last stubborn few inches, I just flip the bead over with a couple of tire irons.

My next purchase will be the No-Mar unit becuase it is more refined, a better product, and is much less likely to scratch your wheels. Most people with the HF changer spend the extra $100 for the No-Mar bar or the Mojo bar.

Quote from: tangueroHondo on November 12, 2008, 02:39:15 PM
Holy cow!!  If you're changing tires in front of the TV and (if my math is right..) doing 15 changes per year, you are a COMPLETELY different rider than I am.  A bunch of avid riders like you should get together, rent some warehouse space and buy some big tools, communally.  You'd prob all save a fortune at the rate you're servicing your rides.

In 2006, my wife and I went through 14 tires.....18 tires in 2007, and I don't have a tally for 2008, yet, but we've gone through 7 on the R1, at least 4 on the ST2, and at least two with the 748......I think only one on the GSXR, though.....I'll probably toast another one on the ST2 and the wife will probably kill at least one more with the R1 by the end of the year.

As for tools.....I used to work for Cooper Industries, manufacturers of brands such as Crescent, Xcelite, Plumb, Wiss, Micholson, HK Porter, and many other hand tools. I've got two tool boxes slammed full, and some of the tools I haven't ever used. I've also pretty much done all my own maintenace on my vehicles since I was a teenager......some 20+ years ago, so I've bought a few specialty tools along the way, also. I believe this year, I've changed out at least six tires for friends, installed a Pingel electric shifter, and some other things that have escaped my mind. I have no problems helping out my riding buddies and "payments" of pizza and beer is always appreciated. I normally don't like working on other people's bikes because of the liability, but I did assist a friend of mine, last year, do the valves on both of his 998 motorcycles and I let him use my shim kit for the replacement shims. In return, he gave me the fork assembly, wheels, brakes, full-floating rotors, and a few other things from an old '94 Ducati SS900 that he used to have.

I spent almost two years getting a non-running '87 Paso 750 back on the road, again.... http://www.desmodemon.com/vicks_paso.html


For the things I cannot do, I have a pretty good network of friends. My best friend is a mechanical engineer and owns a metal supply company, another friend is a terrific welder, another does plasma cutting/sand-casting/small machining work, and I also know a pretty good fabricator in the area.