Question is, can I trust a car shop that purports to do motorcycle tires, or another motorcycle shop to do the job correctly and not bend my front rotors?Given how easy the rotors flex, bending them is a valid concern. Just transporting the wheels to and from the dealer could get you a bent rotor. However, you could just remove them if you're really worried.
I do not own a tire changing and balancing machine, so that is not presently an option.Neither do I, but that hasn't stopped me yet.
I have a local car tire shop down the street from me and have been using them for several or more years. I bring them the wheel and they mount and balance for $20. So far so good. I do warn them each time about the sensors though.
I think I have the front wheel removal covered (pull the brake calipers, loosen the right side clamp bolts, unscrew the axle with a special tool that I fabricated from a 14 mm bolt and some nuts locked together and slide it out) but what about the rear wheel?
I think it's just remove the rear brake caliper, pull the cotter key, unscrew the nut, slide the shaft out to the left and the wheel drop out. Any tricks and traps to this?
I think I have the front wheel removal covered (pull the brake calipers, loosen the right side clamp bolts, unscrew the axle with a special tool that I fabricated from a 14 mm bolt and some nuts locked together and slide it out) but what about the rear wheel?
I think it's just remove the rear brake caliper, pull the cotter key, unscrew the nut, slide the shaft out to the left and the wheel drop out. Any tricks and traps to this?
I've been doing it for years on my bikes and ATV's and I just finished doing it for the second time on the connie. I use a home made bead breaker using 2X4's and it also keeps the rotors off the floor. I use spoons and just very careful not to put any force on the TPS sensors. I use a Marc Parns static balancer. It takes about 1 hour start to finish for each wheel. About 20 minutes of that is getting the balance perfect. I use a ratchet strap around the outside of the tire to force the beads on. One thing to make sure of is to have some moly grease for the rear spline when you reinstall the rear tire. A Craftsman 13/16 spark plug socket used backwards with an extension fits the hex axle for removing the front tire. Once you get the hang of it, much faster then going to a dealer and allows you to buy tires off the internet at the best price you can find. It is well worth the time and effort to learn to do it yourself.
This is the 2X4 bead breaker using a 5 inch bolt and strapping:
The rotors go between the bottom 2X4's and if your careful never touch anything.
In addition to all the other comments, you also need to remove the ABS sensor, if you have ABS.
Both front and rear, or just rear?
Both front and rear, or just rear?