Yeah, same over here, prices like doubled...
seems I was lucky nicking mine for € 980,- incl shipment...
Has anyone tried the Rabaconda tire changer?
- Thread starter tnman
- Start date
seems I was lucky nicking mine for € 980,- incl shipment...
I was like you and always removed my wheels and took them to the local Honda dealer along with my new mail order tires for a swap. The service writer gave me a hard time occasionally and I could tell they didn't want my business. Sometimes the dots wouldn't be lined up properly on the wheels and sometimes the balancing weights weren't attached really well, and new scratches on the rims were visible on occasion. Started at $15.00 then went to $30.00 per wheel. Combined with a 30 minute drive each way, I said enough.
Bought a Rabaconda a little while after they came out. Can't remember the exact price, maybe $525.00 or so. It's pretty nice but I don't really change tires often enough to remember all the little tricks and shortcuts when changing one. It's a process and takes a while to do but the convenience makes up for it and I would probably buy one again.
Bought a Rabaconda a little while after they came out. Can't remember the exact price, maybe $525.00 or so. It's pretty nice but I don't really change tires often enough to remember all the little tricks and shortcuts when changing one. It's a process and takes a while to do but the convenience makes up for it and I would probably buy one again.
OP
OP
I think the biggest benefit of having the ability to change your tires yourself is the cost savings of used tires. I know many times I end up throwing away a tire because it only has 1,000-1,500 miles left on it, and I have a trip coming up. I put a new tire on for the trip and threw out the old one because I think it is not worth the $40 to put it back on. If changing the tires were free, I could take advantage of keeping tires until they are completely worn out. It is hard to calculate this number. I think I need to just suck it up and get one.
I'm the same way. The process is simple, but I don't remember the tips and tricks that make it easy. So I go back to this YT University video.
That's where I was. I'd be at 9000 miles on a tire that would go 11-12,000 miles...but I had a trip that would be 2500 miles. Changing tires 2-3000 miles early doesn't sound like a big deal, but when you only get 12,000 miles total, it is a big deal.
Chris
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Bulitt
Flori-Duh-Man
I have one and a Marc Parnes balancer. Wonderful tool that sits on a shelf when not being used.
I have wondered how well the strap works on spokes, seems like the potential for a lot of force pulling against one. Any troubles with that?
@Bulitt will give you a more full answer, but from what I've seen, it'll take the pressure off the spokes. The street version like I have has a rod(?) that sticks up and hits against the metal portion of the wheel connecting the rim to the hub. (I'm sure there's a nice technical name for it, but I don't know what to call it.) If that were to hit against something as thin as the spokes, it would bend them.
I can only assume it works because the street version like I have came out after the version Bulitt has.
I'd love to see a closeup of what that strap attaches to. There's people I know at church that have spoked wheels and I could help them out perhaps.
Chris
I can only assume it works because the street version like I have came out after the version Bulitt has.
I'd love to see a closeup of what that strap attaches to. There's people I know at church that have spoked wheels and I could help them out perhaps.
Chris
I use the hub, not spokes for the GS
Bulitt
Flori-Duh-Man
No, the spokes on a GS wheel are really strong and the rotation force is really pretty minimal anyway. The strap just holds it in place and keeps it from spinning. I don’t think it is an issue at all…..
Bulitt
Flori-Duh-Man
I have the street version too, but bought the BMW adapter because of the large hole in the wheel where the axle goes. My version came with a strap for spoked wheels. It works fine.