Changing tyres by hand
 

I'm removing the Trailwings on my 1150 GS with the Pro Lev'R bead-breaking tool, bought mail order from www.ctm-design.com/prolevr.

Although I'm mechanically dyslexic I found it fairly easy to break the bead on the front, so I reckon I'll be packing the Pro Lev'R when I go travelling. But levering the tyre off was a f***ing long sweaty pain in the a**e. I used the Pro Lev'R for this too - it disassembles into a pair of levers. Other Pro Lev'R users say it's inferior to real levers - I don't find this hard to believe, although I can't make any comparisons as I've never changed the tyre on anything bigger than a bicycle before.

Still to do - remove the rear tyre, and fit a pair of TKC 80s. Is anyone in a position to reassure me that the worst is over? And can anyone recommend the very best levers out there?

Thanks.

Levering the tires off is RELATIVELY easy if you do it right, a major pain if you don't - and there is a trick or three to it.

See the links pages for several links to tire changing info, well worth a read. Everything you need to know should be there.

I recommend 8" levers and no longer. I use the BMW 6" levers myself, but I've changed a few thousand tires.

Three levers, one with a hook on the end to hook into the spokes and be a third hand works well.

If the levers are too long, like some of the 14" or so levers advertised, imho you are too likely to be doing it wrong - in other words, using the leverage instead of proper technique and possibly damaging the tire or rim.

You will have to work hard with short levers, but you are also going to be very sure you are doing it right!

read the articles and get some good irons. The prolevr seems to work very well for breaking the bead, less well as levers. May only need one or two more to work with it.

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Grant Johnson

Seek, and ye shall find.
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One world, Two wheels.
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

Thanks Grant. Have you got tubeless tyres these days? (I think you said somewhere you were getting new wheels in order to go tubeless?) If so, what's your bead-breaking technique when on the road?

I've found that it can go smooth or go roughly. I practice. I've yet had to do it away from my garage.

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