Updated first post to tell everyone what I did.
Tire changing: How much is too much?
- Thread starter jeero
- Start date
Back yard mechanic at it's best. 2 screwdrivers!!!
So I got my bike off a friend of mine and he was very nice to buy me a new set of very good tires.
He didn't have the time to have them put on for me but that's fine because I have to do a safety inspection on the bike anyways, I'll just get them to put the tires on at the same time.
(both my friend and I agreed that without a new rear tire, it most likely will not pass safety because it's pretty slick in the middle lol)
What price should I be looking at paying?
I strapped my 2 new tires to the backseat and rode my bike to a nearby shop (i can walk home from there).
He then said it would be 70$ for the safety (sounds about right), and then 100$ to change EACH tire.
...
Is it just me or is that a ridiculous price?
Now about this shop:
I went in there 2 summers ago and the bikes he had for sale then are still there today.
Behind the counter is a huge mess of unorganized stuff that's been there for a while; you can tell by the layer of dust on everything.
Every time I call to ask questions he's the "yeah yeah we can do it don't worry" kind of guy.
It took a month and a half to get a part ordered through him for my other bike (93 Katana) direct from Suzuki.
I'm all up for supporting the little guys, but I shouldn't be raped while helping someone.
I honestly don't like the vibe at his shop and probably will not visit there anymore.
Back to my question:
How much should I be looking to pay to have 2 new tires put on my bike?
@ anyone in Niagara Region: which shop do you use to buy parts/have your bike serviced?
**EDIT**
I ended up doing the rear tire myself with the tools I already had in the garage.
The front tire still has a good amount of life left so I will just leave it until it needs to be changed.
For those who are curious:
- 2 flathead screwdrivers.
- a couple rags to use as rim protectors.
- plyers to remove old weights.
- aaand a car to use as a bead breaker.
Here's the video reference I used: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0s2NzImDhA
It worked quite well actually!
To balance I simply used the rear axle on top of two boxes and did the same thing that a harmonic balancer does. Piece of cake.
Thought I'd share with everyone.
Cheerios!
nice job.
next time don't waste your time balancing the rear tire
as soon as you put the sprocket/cush drive and chain on, it becomes unbalanced again.
so, $50 per rim after you've paid hst.
Awesome, at least you actually went ahead and did it yourself instead of just complaining about it like most people do.
The sport will be much more enjoyable if you wrench yourself and learn the basic maintenance and things like chains/brakes etc... you will save a lot of money and time doing things yourself
For future reference, by some spoons and rim protectors, it will be the best $30 you ever spend.
My biggest beef with talking to someone/people over the internet is that the message being read is to be taken in whatever context the reader chooses. You can't hear my tone of voice and we don't know each other's personality (some people sound ****** off 24/7 lol).
I am not upset, although I can see how it would seem like I was.
In fact, I couldn't be a happier man! I've been riding everyday since monday and I am recently single so I don't have to deal with the nagging or the obligations to even come home. Besides work and living expenses, I am a free man!
I do understand that if I lived in nowhereland and there was only one mechanic to work on my car, it would be pricier than in a area like the GTA, where there's a mechanic every other block.
There's a lot of bikers in the Niagara region. I am simply looking for shared information on what other places I can go and ask how much it would be.
I'm new-ish to St Catharines and even newer to owning my own bike.
I only know about SCMC (the shop i described in op) and Clare's in Fenwick, and also a Honda dealership just off the QEW closer to hamilton but I've never been inside that store, jsut seen it as I drive by.
He's your friend and it's up to you if you want to share his details.
As I said, I am all up for supporting the little guys. Clare's is a big store and they have plenty of work/customers to keep them afloat.
And by the way, thanks for all the info.
I will be making some phone calls on my lunch break.
He's just jerking your chain for his own amusement. I didn't feel that you were being angry. That guy was ripping you off.
It is tough to find somewhere in the Niagara Falls area to work on a bike. I don't recommend Clares, unless you can get their chief mechanic to work on your bike. The rest of their so called mechanics are just incompetent, and I have had experience of their "work." I have a fairly new Gixxer, and I'd rather trailer it to the GTA to a shop I trust than have Clares work on it.
:lmao:
I usually pay $20 a set off the bike , A Beer and a Sammich.
She's a mouthy thing, Kinda Short and chubby but rumour has it she'll put out for Sammiches and Snacks.
:agave:
lol, brilliant mate!For those who are curious:
- 2 flathead screwdrivers.
- a couple rags to use as rim protectors.
- plyers to remove old weights.
- aaand a car to use as a bead breaker.
Here's the video reference I used: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0s2NzImDhA
It worked quite well actually!
Thought I'd share with everyone.
Cheerios!
silverbullet132
Well-known member
Lol i just bought some dyna-beads, after I install them ill post a review
Complaining on the internet is too easy. I was legitimately looking for help/info from fellow riders so that I could have my tires changed.
I wasn't that afraid to do it myself because taking the tire off the rim is almost the same on a mountain bike, and I have gone through my fair share of those.
It's just a little bit more difficult and also removing/installing the rear wheel of a motorcycle needs careful attention.
It's all good. Hayne's helped me through it.
Yep. Definitely will do! It was tricky trying not to scratch the rim with flat screwdrivers.
Young-bike-nut
Well-known member
I go to Pro 6 Cycle for my tire changes. It is $15 cash to take the tire off the rim and is $30 a tire to mount and balance. Very reasonable prices.
Buy a set of spoons one time and then mount your own tires for free, when you want, where you want. It's not very hard. Youtube has several videos showing you how to break the bead, pull the old tire and put on the new, no special tools required.
R1Guy
Well-known member
If your in Niagara get a hold of Rossi46 on the other forum, can I say this here? BeaverDams Racing... there I said it. He charges $25 per tire/balanced
