As my trust in "bike mechanics" here in Aus is thin, I wanted to remove and install the wheels myself and just have the technician remove and install the tyres on the rims.
The ST1300 center stand is very well balanced to support the bike with BOTH wheels off! it makes it easy to work on, well relatively that is...
it?s common to do 1 wheel at a time by jacking the front "high in the sky" remove the wheel, replace the worn tyre and re-install. Then repeat the process for the other side...
Due to fact that I wanted to take both rims for tyre replacement, I had to devise a method to get both wheels off safely, w/o killing myself or the bike...
By removing the rear AND front fenders (front fender slides forward off the top, before removing front wheel)
I gained more than enough clearance to allow easy removal, without having to jack the bike up much, :weights1: only using the centre stand and a support jack under the sump. I then put the axles back in and blocked the front axle with a car stand.
Only when taking the wheels off the bike can you really appreciate how scalloped (worn and irregular) the tyres look and feel (sorry poor night time photos)
I took my time, re-assembling the wheels incl. inspection and cleaning of all related components incl brakes, callipers exhaust.
I removed the giant circlip from the inside of the rear wheel hub, cleaned and shimmed the rubber cush-drive rubber components as they were slightly worn and had some excess play. (sorry no photo)
...and if this hasn't bored you to death, I also discovered that those very irritating black tar dot like marks, that stick to the rims, chassis and everything else, DO come off after soaking in WD40 and mild application of a heat gun with persistent scrubbing using a nylon brush and rag.
Even after 12,500 km the Michelin Pilot 3?s still have tread and I could probably squeeze another 2-3 k out of them but I don?t feel the $$$ savings is worth the risk.
These tyres were fantastic for this bike and the new generation Michelin Pilot 4, which have been installed are even better!
The ST1300 center stand is very well balanced to support the bike with BOTH wheels off! it makes it easy to work on, well relatively that is...
it?s common to do 1 wheel at a time by jacking the front "high in the sky" remove the wheel, replace the worn tyre and re-install. Then repeat the process for the other side...
Due to fact that I wanted to take both rims for tyre replacement, I had to devise a method to get both wheels off safely, w/o killing myself or the bike...
By removing the rear AND front fenders (front fender slides forward off the top, before removing front wheel)
I gained more than enough clearance to allow easy removal, without having to jack the bike up much, :weights1: only using the centre stand and a support jack under the sump. I then put the axles back in and blocked the front axle with a car stand.
Only when taking the wheels off the bike can you really appreciate how scalloped (worn and irregular) the tyres look and feel (sorry poor night time photos)
I took my time, re-assembling the wheels incl. inspection and cleaning of all related components incl brakes, callipers exhaust.
I removed the giant circlip from the inside of the rear wheel hub, cleaned and shimmed the rubber cush-drive rubber components as they were slightly worn and had some excess play. (sorry no photo)
...and if this hasn't bored you to death, I also discovered that those very irritating black tar dot like marks, that stick to the rims, chassis and everything else, DO come off after soaking in WD40 and mild application of a heat gun with persistent scrubbing using a nylon brush and rag.
Even after 12,500 km the Michelin Pilot 3?s still have tread and I could probably squeeze another 2-3 k out of them but I don?t feel the $$$ savings is worth the risk.
These tyres were fantastic for this bike and the new generation Michelin Pilot 4, which have been installed are even better!
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