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Post by Kahn on May 31, 2017 21:18:21 GMT -6
I've been on the phone with a wide variety of Motorcycle dealers and repair shops lately trying to get my new Avons put on and get my leaking fork seals replaced Here is how I feel after all those conversations: ---------------------> For a tire swap this last one quoted me $200. TWO HUNDRED FARGHING DOLLARS TO CHANGE TIRES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So my Ellie and I have decided to punish ourselves and save money at the same time. We're going to DIY but we need help from you folks so we have at least a partial idea of what we're doing. Who has changed their own tires in here? What do we need for equipment and how do we proceed? The shops around here are ridiculous for labor. Fork Seals? Who's done this and (besides fork seals obviously) what else will we need and does anyone have any tips or suggestions on Fork Oil, rebuild kits (since we're in there already) and anything other "gotchas" you might have run into? Thanks, in advance, Guys. Based on what these Highwaymen wanted to charge me, these two repairs should save us close $500 if we can pull it off ourselves.
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Post by Lagger on May 31, 2017 23:04:06 GMT -6
Blimey! The prices they're quoting you sound ridiculous, I assume they're trying to tell you to go away.
On the tyre swap front, maybe the prices included wheel removal and refit? Front tyre should be quite straight forward, rear less so. I recently tried to do my own but due to a knackered knee I just couldn't get enough pressure on the tyre to do it and gave up in the end. If you're planning to do it yourself I recommend getting decent tyre levers with a bit of good leverage and some rim protectors. I think the ones in this video look pretty good, much better than I could find anywhere over here in the UK:
On the Front Seal replacement I haven't had to do this as my seals are still perfect but here's a really good "how to" video I found and watched recently:
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Post by lee on Jun 1, 2017 9:08:51 GMT -6
That's a bit high, but not as high as you might think. I think the quote I got some time ago was $80 for the rear and maybe $50 for the front, $130 total. That was for me bringing the bike & tires to them. That works out to about an hour to do the rear start to finish and 1/2 hour for the front.
If I just bring them the wheel they do it for $20 each.
Likewise, the $300 for fork seals (I assume, since you said $500 total) seems like a lot, especially since more than 1/2 the parts removal is done with changing the tire (front wheel removal). You might see what they charge if you bring the forks in, if that would work. I got progressives installed for about $25 by handing them my forks and picking them up later.
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B46
New Member
Posts: 22
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Post by B46 on Jun 1, 2017 11:21:57 GMT -6
If I just bring them the wheel they do it for $20 each. That's what my local shop used to charge - then about a year ago they told me it would be $45/tire. That's with the wheel off the bike - just the rim with the old tire on it and my new tire in hand. They said something about insurance and liability and higher overhead costs (which I'm sure is true), but I couldn't help but feel like I was being punished for buying my tires on the internet.
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Post by lee on Jun 1, 2017 15:21:08 GMT -6
Yeah, and that does seem high. Cycle Gear quoted me different prices once, I don't remember if it was off the bike or on, but they charged less if I bought the tire there.
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Post by Kahn on Jun 1, 2017 15:57:40 GMT -6
If I just bring them the wheel they do it for $20 each. That's what my local shop used to charge - then about a year ago they told me it would be $45/tire. That's with the wheel off the bike - just the rim with the old tire on it and my new tire in hand. They said something about insurance and liability and higher overhead costs (which I'm sure is true), but I couldn't help but feel like I was being punished for buying my tires on the internet. B46, I got the same shit from every dealer and my instant response was do you even carry Avon tires for cruisers? The answer was no every time. So it wouldn't have done me any good in any case. I may take this to FB and try to get some people riled up but my main reason is to shake a decent mechanic out of the tree. Speed did a very good job last night convincing me that Ellie and I did NOT want to change our tires and most definitely did NOT want to change the fork seals thinking we don't have the required tools and likely would end up never speaking to each other again.
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Post by hagger on Jun 1, 2017 16:24:48 GMT -6
If you have a Performance Cycle near you they mount and balance tires for $20 no matter where you buy the tire. That's what they charge here in Denver anyway.
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Post by Kahn on Jun 1, 2017 16:57:22 GMT -6
If you have a Performance Cycle near you they mount and balance tires for $20 no matter where you buy the tire. That's what they charge here in Denver anyway. I don't think we do but ima check that right now
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Post by sikotic on Jun 1, 2017 17:04:05 GMT -6
Changed mine last summer. Did it in the driveway with limited tools, consisting of a couple crowbars and some 4x4 lumber.
It whooped my ass... Definitely not a recommended task for anyone not ready for some serious physical labor. Though for me it was rewarding to know I could do it.
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Post by Kahn on Jun 1, 2017 17:54:30 GMT -6
Changed mine last summer. Did it in the driveway with limited tools, consisting of a couple crowbars and some 4x4 lumber. It whooped my ass... Definitely not a recommended task for anyone not ready for some serious physical labor. Though for me it was rewarding to know I could do it. Sikotic, you're a better Man than I. What sounded like a great idea on paper has become a task I will leave to those with the proper tools and skillset.
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Post by sikotic on Jun 1, 2017 18:02:45 GMT -6
I wouldn't say better... Maybe a bit more determined to do it myself. A trait that usually gets me into some kind of trouble.
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Post by Lagger on Jun 1, 2017 23:53:26 GMT -6
That's what my local shop used to charge - then about a year ago they told me it would be $45/tire. That's with the wheel off the bike - just the rim with the old tire on it and my new tire in hand. They said something about insurance and liability and higher overhead costs (which I'm sure is true), but I couldn't help but feel like I was being punished for buying my tires on the internet. B46, I got the same shit from every dealer and my instant response was do you even carry Avon tires for cruisers? The answer was no every time. So it wouldn't have done me any good in any case. I may take this to FB and try to get some people riled up but my main reason is to shake a decent mechanic out of the tree. Speed did a very good job last night convincing me that Ellie and I did NOT want to change our tires and most definitely did NOT want to change the fork seals thinking we don't have the required tools and likely would end up never speaking to each other again. Wise words from The Quick One. Without the right tools (eg seal driver) fork seals could go badly wrong. On the tyres, watching the guy do them in five minutes with his machine after I failed after a few hours of trying convinced me not to ever try it myself again.
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Post by Streak07 on Jun 2, 2017 8:27:13 GMT -6
I recommend independent shops versus stealerships. It's much cheaper if you dismount and bring them the wheels/tires plus independent shop labor rates aren't insane. I use an aluminum craftsman jack although the brand may not be around much longer due to Sears selling off their one last item of value. If you do change them yourself you can find DIY balance setups but also look into Dynabeads or similar products. Some people swear by them but I've never used them. Honestly I think most bike shops throw the tire on and don't do shit for balancing. Some will spin the tire on the rim until it balances, most do nothing. Have you ever seen a balancing weight on a motorcycle rim? I sure haven't. www.amazon.com/Dyna-Beads-Motorcycle-Ceramic-Balancing/dp/B01M26W3J4/ref=sr_1_5?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1496413434&sr=1-5&keywords=Motorcycle+Tire+Balancing+Beads+Kit
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Post by sikotic on Jun 2, 2017 11:17:32 GMT -6
I recommend independent shops versus stealerships. It's much cheaper if you dismount and bring them the wheels/tires plus independent shop labor rates aren't insane. I use an aluminum craftsman jack although the brand may not be around much longer due to Sears selling off their one last item of value. If you do change them yourself you can find DIY balance setups but also look into Dynabeads or similar products. Some people swear by them but I've never used them. Honestly I think most bike shops throw the tire on and don't do shit for balancing. Some will spin the tire on the rim until it balances, most do nothing. Have you ever seen a balancing weight on a motorcycle rim? I sure haven't. www.amazon.com/Dyna-Beads-Motorcycle-Ceramic-Balancing/dp/B01M26W3J4/ref=sr_1_5?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1496413434&sr=1-5&keywords=Motorcycle+Tire+Balancing+Beads+KitAs for weights on the wheels I had to scrape them off both mine. Went to the Dynabeads when I changed tires. Not a hint of vibration, aside from the crappy Indiana roads.
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Post by MeanDawg on Jun 2, 2017 12:26:23 GMT -6
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Post by Texas on Jun 3, 2017 8:17:58 GMT -6
Since you have a 2008 you will need to get OEM Kawasaki oil and dust seals for your fork tubes, the 'All Balls' part number: 56-133-1 kit will NOT work on the 2006-2008 Meanies even though it is listed to work on all years of Mean Streaks. More info with part numbers... www.riderforums.com/mean-streak-maintenance/81156-fork-seal-dust-seal-part-numbers.htmlNeed to order 2 of each... 2006 thru 2008...92049-0064 SEAL-OIL $11.86 2006 thru 2008... 92093-0042 SEAL,DUST $11.862002 thru 2005...92049-1590 SEAL-OIL $12.15 2002 thru 2005... 92093-1551 SEAL,DUST $12.15 The All Balls kit part number: 56-133-1 only works on 2002 -2005 Mean Streaks.
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