Tyre levers

[Turbofurball]

I used a set of tyre levers that belongs to a friend and came to the realisation that the reason I keep pinching inner tubes is because my set is just crap.

So, can anyone recommend ones that work, don't weigh loads, and that won't break the bank?

[ibahabs]

I have three on my trip. I use the motion pro BeadPro. Its a set whith which you can also break the bead and a motion pro leaver whith a 24 nut on the other and to loosen my rear axle. Not that cheap but sturdy and lightweight and the second one has two functions (three if you get the wrench adapter too).

[Tomkat]

Not the cheapest, but excellent quality and super light. Specify the sizes of you front and rear axle nuts to get the right size hexagons.

https://eastbound.shop/product/motor...v=796834e7a283

Note something like a Motion Pro Bead Buddy and bead lube will make a massive difference to ease of fitting tyres, as will plenty of practice Make sure there is a bit of air in the tube as you fit it, so it doesn't go flat against your lever so easily.

[Grant Johnson]

Both above recommendations are excellent, I have both. Two different methods of breaking the bead, both work, and both sets of levers are very good.
Having said that, it's really not all tools - it's 90% technique. There are a ton of videos on youtube, some are good most are bad.

I have to recommend my "definitive tire changing tutorial" at
https://vimeo.com/horizonsunlimited/vod_pages (#5)

If you still pinch tubes with the info there, I'll give you a full refund! And at US$7.00 its a bargain anyway! Download it and take it with you.

One rider wrote that he was sitting at the side of the road in the middle of nowhere, looking at his flat tire, when another travellers came along and stopped! Quick discussion, and the new arrival pulled out his laptop, and they watched my video at the side of the road, and fixed it right there, no problem. Guess who quickly bought his own copy?

[Turbofurball]

Thanks, I guess it's time to invest!

[backofbeyond]

I have a pair of the Michelin style levers that go with me and they've been fine the half a dozen times I've had roadside punctures since I bought them. I'm not sure how I'd cope with some seriously tricky tyres like Michelin Deserts but for everything else they been great. They are a bit heavy though and for last summer's trip I did try to replace them with the Motion Pro type that have a ring spanner at one end. Unfortunately they didn't do one for the size of wheel nut on my ancient Yamaha and it was only when we came to adjust the chain for the first time we discovered the tool kit didn't have one either. The way round it was with a bigger spanner and the tyre lever -

As Grant says, a lot of the 'secret' to puncture repairs isn't so much in the equipment as in your technique / expertise. It's the sort of thing where it's worth wrecking a few tubes practicing taking tyres off in your garage before you leave. Make your errors / climb the learning curve there rather than at the side of the road. The second picture is from a few years back - a tube change stop under a bridge on the autobahn at the end of January. Just over 30 mins from start to finish by someone who knew what they were doing - quicker than I've seen it completed in a dealer's workshop. (I'm sure the person concerned will recognise themselves!!!)

[Grant Johnson]

Great bodge BOB!
Note that I DO NOT RECOMMEND those large levers - they are for MOUSSE installation, and far too often beginners use the extra leverage to destroy tires and pinch tubes. They are for experts, not beginners - beginners should use short levers, max 8 inches, so they don't use too much "lever powered muscle" and are forced to improve their technique. I have never used levers longer than the MP levers and generally find even them unnecessary, and a 6" lever is enough for all but modern super-stiff tires.