Hey All -- newcomer to this site and a one-year owner of a 1977 xs650 in pretty great, original condition. I picked up a nail in my rear tire and, since tires are OME, think this is a good time to change them out. If I order a tire online, is it super difficult to change by myself?
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Changing Rear Tire
- Thread starter ms4griff
- Start date
… got a manual.. stock pipes ? Manual doesn't mention you have a open swing arm... which means.. the rear wheel will slide out the back of the awing arm..w/o pulling the axle... just remove the bolt at the end and on top of the s/arm and remove the block.... if you pull the axle.. use a towel.. and place each item in order of removal….this will aid in reassembly... prior to inserting the axle.. a light coat of grease is recommended... the master link can be removed.. just insure it's installed properly afterwards. Ck U tube... sometimes the procedure is posted.
Yes, wheel removal at home in the very least is best.
Carry the wheel to a shop if that’s your plan?
Actually changing the tires on the high shoulder aluminum rims should be done by experienced tire changers.
Those wheels are a bit easy to damage.
Are you a tire changer in the past ?
Carry the wheel to a shop if that’s your plan?
Actually changing the tires on the high shoulder aluminum rims should be done by experienced tire changers.
Those wheels are a bit easy to damage.
Are you a tire changer in the past ?
ms4griff,
Agree, agree, agree!!! with those who say "...take the wheel to a shop". I had OEM tires on "The Basketcase" (a '75), and this bike had sat outside for years! Suffice to say, they were hard as a rock, and I damned near wrecked
the front rim trying to remove the tire with "spoons". Since I'm going to replace them with all new everything (the last parts I order, in the hopes I have the newest tires possible), I cut the sidewalls with a utility knife, removed the carcasses (carcii?), and hack-sawed the beads to remove said sidewalls. You might get away with saving the tubes, but why? Clean house, and be secure knowing everything is as good as it can be. In the long run, it's cheap insurance. 
Agree, agree, agree!!! with those who say "...take the wheel to a shop". I had OEM tires on "The Basketcase" (a '75), and this bike had sat outside for years! Suffice to say, they were hard as a rock, and I damned near wrecked
the front rim trying to remove the tire with "spoons". Since I'm going to replace them with all new everything (the last parts I order, in the hopes I have the newest tires possible), I cut the sidewalls with a utility knife, removed the carcasses (carcii?), and hack-sawed the beads to remove said sidewalls. You might get away with saving the tubes, but why? Clean house, and be secure knowing everything is as good as it can be. In the long run, it's cheap insurance. 
