Bead breaking on your own without tools - Horizons Unlimited

**nick_horley** · #1 22 Dec 2001

Here's a tip from John at Bracken MW - he says it works with the GS 1100 and 1150, and saves you from having to pack any special bead-breaking tools. I've no idea if it would work with other bikes.

You put the bike on its centre stand and remove the wheel in question. (These bikes are 50/50 balanced around the stand, so they don't tip over when you do this.) Then you flip the sidestand down, and place the wheel under it. Then you lean the bike over so it is pivoting on one wheel and one leg of the centre stand, until the end of the side stand is resting on the bead. The weight of the bike should then be enough to finish the job.

Anyone tried this? How did you get on?

**A.B.** · #2 24 Dec 2001

seems like a last resort to me... I would still take plugs, CO2 and bed breakers.

------------------
A.B.
www.ShortWheelbase.com

**nick_horley** · #3 24 Dec 2001

Have we started imbibing the Christmas spirit already?

I'm not proposing to mend punctures with my magic sidestand! I just want to know how well it performs as a bead-breaker. My bike doesn't have quite the same tool-carrying capacity as your jeep...

**DE mark** · #4 25 Dec 2001

A great idea. I'm going to try it in the garage first, if it works I gonna leave that 3lbs bead breaker at home.

**Chris of Japan** · #5 25 Dec 2001

I think I heard a story of Helge Pedersen doing the same thing on BMW F650 in South America.
Does anyone have experience with the "Tire Wizard"? It is 1.5 kg (3 pounds), and (supposedly) does the work of bead breaker and tire levers all in one. http://www.ctm-design.com/prolevr/