My Tale of Tires

[PAValk]

So, who knew it would be so hard to find a shop that would mount tires if you didn't buy them from them?

After being turned down at literally half a dozen places I finally found a guy not too far away that would do it. I had bought a set of Avon Venoms when I adopted the Valk back in September and had actually been toying with the idea of mounting them myself. I do enjoy doing the work on the bike myself and figured this would add to my knowledge base. That was until I found this guy.

He has a little bike shop on the edge of town and when I got there I was pleased to see it was impeccably clean and orderly. He also had all the right gear including a computer balancer. Took him about an hour, he removed each rim, went around it with a wire wheel, cleaned them up, mounted and balanced them. When he went to balance the front one the weight was just a tad high so he ground a little off on the grinding wheel so it would be "exact". Then he took the time to tell me how to "properly" break them in and to be careful because the "release agent" they use makes them a little slick until they get scuffed.

Total charge...$36! Hell I gave the guy an extra $20 and when it comes time for the VTX to need tires I'll buy them from him even if they cost a little more then getting them on the internet. He carries all the major brands.

Sometimes it's refreshing to find someone who is so customer oriented especially when the $$ is not all that much.

[plz2mtu]

my dealer quoted me $85 to mount the rear if I bought it there for about $80 more than I found it for! Called around and found a little shop and was quoted $169 for a rear Metzeler and $30 labor! I believe I made my last visit to Honda of Winston-Salem.

[Bob E.]

I have mounted them myself with just a set of tire spoons.  It's not impossible, but certainly not easy.  If I am in a pinch, I found a local independent (99.99% Harley though) shop here that will mount tires for $25 each if I bring the rim and tire in.  He won't balance them though.  He claims it isn't necessary.  So I just balance them myself.

['KC']

Those of us who have purchased tires over the net; i.e. from Hal or some other place. Have found it difficult, if not nearly impossible to find a place that will mount and balance them, if you didn't buy it from them, and they want a recipt to prove that you did.
I have found a couple of places here that will do it for me reasonably, and a few who will do it but are really expensive. One is an independent shop, and they are pretty reasonable, I forget how much. I also found a Honda dealership that will do it for me for $20+tax. if I bring them the tire and wheel.
That is less expensive than the independent dealer, which I why I don't remember just how much that they charge.
This Honda dealer is only about 3 miles farther away than the closest one who wants about $80 for the same thing, when I bring it in.
Glad that you found such a reputable and reasonably priced place, that is a real find. Congratulations.

[jim oneill]

PAValk,  who is this guy you went to?  I,m in north Jersey and am looking for someone to mount Avons on my 03

[PAValk]

Originally posted by jim oneill
PAValk,  who is this guy you went to?  I,m in north Jersey and am looking for someone to mount Avons on my 03

Jim:

The shop is in Nazareth PA. It's AJ Enterprises, 138 Phoenix Street, Nazareth PA 18064 610-759-7894. The owner is AJ (go figure).

I am told that his prices are pretty good but did not compare them to HDLs but like I said in my post for that kind of price for mounting and for the service he gave me I'll not be looking to save a few dollars and go through the aggravation again of trying to find someone to mount them. My VTX will need them by summer so I'll be going to him as well.

He told me that he doesn't make a "habit" out of mounting tires bought somewhere else but since a mutual friend recommended him he would do it for me. He had Metzlers, Dunlops and Avons as well as Continentals there. Looked like a pretty good supply.

Tell him that Bill with the Valkyrie wheels sent you.

Good luck and ride safe!
Bill

[jds]

I thought I'd put my experience I had getting my tire mounted. The Honda Dealers here won't touch a car tire. There are four of them in my vicinity.I had to drive to an independent motorcycle parts place that also mounts tires.  The place is 30 minuets drive time from where I live. They won't take the wheel off, you have to bring it in to them.  When I had the wheel in they also came up with a valve stem that was a 45 degree angle for me. As a side note. I had my bike in to my friendly honda dealer last week to have the carbs syc'd and adjusted. They seen the car tire on the rear and said words to the effect don't bring my bike to them for an inspection because it is against state law to have a car tire on my bike. I'm retired law enforcement and have never heard of that law in Utah. But I am going to research. Another day dealing with dealers.

[MrBones]

JDS
What kind of inspection does that state have? Calif. and AZ don't really require an inspection to mount tires. And I must have missed it, what state is that?

[mark p.]

I just had my rear tire replaced and I took in to my honda dealer , I bought the tire off the net at almost 100 bucks cheaper than they wanted for it a venom of course . I took the bike in and had them do the whole thing ,they didn't even ask me where I got the tire. Originally they said it would take about an hour this included changing the brake pads as well but when I picked it up I was told they spent over 2 hours on the job partly because they had to take the whole muffler system off right up to the engine on both sides to be able to remove the axle , this being my first tire replacement on a valk I did not know what was involved . Is it true that this has to be done to replace the rear tire ?.........thanks......Mark

[PAValk]

Yes, if you go by the shop manual you do have to take off the exhausts to get at the rear wheel. I have read where some just loosen most of the header nuts and can swing them out of the way but I took both of mine completely off too as this was my first time and I didn't want to scratch anything up.

[Valker]

..and all without touching the exhaust. Try a search on here-I have written the whole procedure out before. Let me know if you can't find it.

[jds]

In reply to Mr. Bones. We in Utah have a yearly motorcycle inspection just like our vehicles. They check your lights, horn, turn signals etc
(safety check they call it), and they do look at your tires for tread depth etc. On vehichles they pull your rear wheel and check your brake shoes. But as I said I have never heard about there being a section in the law here about specific tires for a motorcyle. But one never knows when the state is involved.

[Pistolchamp]

We have an annual state inspection in Texas also.

They could care less what kind of tire you have, but, there is a requirement for a minimum amount of tread.

I've had mine inspected twice with a car tire, no big deal.