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Changing a Harley-Davidson tyre Changing a Harley-Davidson tyre
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Travellers' questions that don't fit anywhere else This is an opportunity to ask any question, and post any notice you wish that doesn't fit into one of the other sections.
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Photo by Ellen Delis,
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  #1  
Old 12 Jul 2001
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Changing a Harley-Davidson tyre
I have travelled many thousands of on-road and off-road km's on a BMW with tubeless tyres and suffered my fair share of punctures. Where necessary the offending wheels were fairly easily removed and, other than in one instance (where the tyre was badly holed by a stake ),the punctures fixed with plugs from BMW tool kit. This time I'm staying in my own country and plan to travel right around Australia, mainly on the black top, but on a Harley-Davidson Heritage with wire spoked wheels and tubed tyres. Harleys are b...dy heavy, sure don't balance on a centre stand like my old BM and I would like to hear from any one who has had a flat tyre out in the middle of the outback on one of these beauties and somehow got the wheel off, removed the offending tyre, replaced the tube and got the show on the road again.
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Old 13 Jul 2001
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Last flat tyre I remember on a Harley was in Death Valley. We just left the bike where it was and went to Las Vegas to get the support van to pick it up! Catch my drift? But seriously: the other time I just put the bike on a big stone to get the back wheel off the road I have to admit I didn´t lift it on my own and then took the wheel out. The rest is wellknown. Dirty and ugly job bur can be done. I wish you luck and no punctures on your trip, Jordi
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Old 13 Jul 2001
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G'Day,
bring a couple of "Fix A Flat" cans, should get you going for a while to a gas station or next town.
there are very small lifts available from Easyriders magazine , J&P Cycles, etc.
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Old 18 Jul 2001
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Last year in Utah at a small gas station/motel there were two couples from New York on rented Harleys. It was very hot out and one of them heard a "pop" come from one of the bikes. They checked, one of the "Fix A Flats" had exploded in the saddle bag. Big mess!
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Old 20 Jul 2001
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From personal experience, Fix A Flat is a waste of money.

I think your best bet is to make sure you have really good tires and tubes to start out with - new tires are a lot more puncture-resistant.

Take a couple of spare tubes (they pack small...), an air pump, and some kind of tire irons - I have found that old tablespoons work reasonably well.

If you've never changed a tube before, you maybe want to practice on one first... it's actually not too hard for most bikes.
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Old 20 Jul 2001
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Something I just remembered: If you have engine/crash bars, it makes it a lot easier to prop your bike tilted over on its side for tire changing. Maybe you can fit a bar before you leave...?

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Old 21 Jul 2001
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The biggest problem of changing a tire on a harley is not the act of getting the wheel off the bike but breaking the tire bead from the rim. Once you get the bead broken then its pretty easy to change one as long as you have a couple of good tire irons and some dish soap(a must have)for lube to get it on. I always took my wheels to a tire place to get them to break the bead then do the rest myself. now if you were stuck in the middle of nowhere I dont know how you'd do it. maybe a couple of you standing on the tire may break it but I have never succeeded and I have done quite a few harley tires.
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Old 25 Jul 2001
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on a heritage you can fit the crash bars front and rear which as posted make it a little easier... Failing that if you can get a tree stump or some rocks to place at he corresponding end of the frame, then by pushing against the jiffy stand you can support either end off the ground. Alos as posted breaking the bead is the tricky bit ... On the heritage with tube type tyres its a little easier than the tubeless ones!!
Two pieces of wood about 200 by 25 and a medium G clamp. Said tubes and soap and youre away... Dont forget that there are more Harleys than Hondas in OZ so most people will stop!! good luck mate.
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Old 19 Aug 2001
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Thanks guys for your suggestions. I tried the g-glamp and 200 x 25 mm timber mentioned by Yan on my trail bike and it works just fine. I have crash bars fitted to the Harley,spare tubes, a small high pressure pump and a truck tube repair kit so things are now looking pretty good for the tour. Thanks again. Duffa
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