front tire change

changed front tire yesterday when OEM IRC still had some miles left---@ 23,500, because I had time and a new tire in stock.

Modern scooters are poor design, including SilverWing!!

Required for getting wheel out in my garage---22mmSocket, Allen wrench, TorxT30, FLOOR JACK and large piece of plywood. Guess nobody thought of roadside repair/tire change in remote places.

Tire comes off rim ok, but bead breaker needed, in my case long tire irons, rim protectors if you are fussy-----some patience and experience getting tire free from rim------I use a little dish soap and water as lube-----going back on rim easy, bead lubed---then getting bead to seat, a min. of air tank to give blast of air to seat bead-----bead failing to seat, cargo strap wrapped around tire tread(pulled tight....and then some ) can help bead to seat.


My scooter now has matched pair of Michlin SC in proper sizes.
They work fine---go down road ok.

Balancing new tires----I have Balance stand----last 3 years or so I have not been using it, Instead I use "Ride ON" @ about 15 dollars a bottle-----it balances tire and wheel fine and also seals small leaks. Wheel/tire staying in balance may increase tire miles.

I come from an era when scooters and some bikes had inter-changeable wheels--bikes even having lower front fork braces that served as front jacks (BMW R51/3, Triumphs) =nice. Most scooters had provisions for spare---motorcycles spares were usually limited to sidecar outfits---where at least HD and BMW would furnish same wheels all around.


Besides providing plenty of exercise, doing own tire work lets you get to know your bike......look at brake pads (my fronts will go the 50,000 miles I plan to keep bike.) On front getting front axle in right and set up right so there is no fork leg stiction.

Some money I saved,too-----AND if anything done wrong a look in the bathroom mirror will tell me who did it!

Well done John! I am glad it all worked out for you with the tire change. I do not have the tools, jack or the patience for this so I pay my dealer 30 bucks to get irritated!!! Actually the ONLY two times the scoot has been back to Honda is to have them install new rubber!!!