Replacing the front tires the factory puts on Spyders with quality car tires improves the handling dramatically, in every way. Changing those front tires was very easy, as it is with car wheels. Changing a Spyder's rear tire is muuch more arduous and involved. As my two Portland grandkids and a 12 year old great grandson discovered.
Yesterday, Saturday, those three came to our house to get a hands on lesson on one of the toughest - if not THE toughest - maintenance tasks a Spyder has to offer up. Changing the rear tire. Instruction involved proper use of tools (hand and power), lifting the bike, and the how-to of rear wheel removal and replacement. Since the drive belt needed to be removed, removal and inspecton for wear of the front drive belt pulley was tossed in there too. Also shown them, was the organizing of the pieces as they are removed, so that they go back on in proper order and on the correct side of the wheel.
The removed wheel and the new tire were placed in the grandson's van and we went off to have a tire shop do the exchange. There are two major tire stores near us and neither wanted anything to do with it. A search on a cell phone found an independent auto repir shop nearby. On the phone, he admitted he has never done a motorcycle wheel, but he'd give it a try for $20. That's super cheap! He tried, he succeeded, he didn't want any money. He got money and more than he quoted. Any Spyder owner who has a wheel and furnished tire to bring into a shop will tell you how difficult to impossible it is to find a shop that will mount it. Extremely few Spyder dealer shops will not do it, unless you are buying an OEM tire from them. This exercise was to get away from the insufficient OEM tire, even though it has only 8,000 miles on it and lots of tread remaining. I'll be giving it to some local Spyder owner in exchange for a bag of one of Portland's better coffees.
The old tire and the wheel with a new tire were back in the van. Lunch time! 24 Taco Bell tacos sated the appetites of the four workers and their den mother - my wife - and it was back to the garage to reverse the process and put my new Harbor Freight ICON Split Beam torque wrench to work for the first time. And oh, how sweet is that wrench. It wasn't cheap, but when you consider what I'd pay the dealer's shop to do the job, the cost of the wrench is a mere fraction of that. And it's mine for the rest of my life.
And that's why I had the kids so involved. Our Spyder is to bcome their Spyder when the time comes. It will remain in the family and they are solidly for that. Inasmuch as a Spyder is very unique to any vehicle extant, they need to know how to do the maintenance and and a lot more. A legacy, a legend, a memorial and a helluva fun bike all in one. With all I've have done to make it better, there is more of me in that Spyder than any jar can hold. Makes me happy.
The day was capped with dinner at the groups' favorite Italian restaurant. It doesn't get any better. In my book anyway.
Ours is a red, black and chrome 2017 F3 Limited. Bought new in 2/2019. The avatar is my first bike back in 1952, a Simplex Servi-Cycle. Photo taken at the Barber Museum.
Ric, they'll remember that day forever! What a great gift -- I'm looking at my Spyder (and other stuff) differently now...
There will be many more garage sessions as there is a lot to cover. For exampl: brake bleeding and minding the level in the reservoir; swapping out three windshields; installing a new battery - I'm still on the original; the electics in the frunk; oil changes; tire air pressures and much more.
Ours is a red, black and chrome 2017 F3 Limited. Bought new in 2/2019. The avatar is my first bike back in 1952, a Simplex Servi-Cycle. Photo taken at the Barber Museum.
Great story Ricz. The Family apprenticeship program. If we don't pass on what know and build those family relationships our society becomes even more fragmented then it is.
Happy TRAils/NSD
Paul
2012 RT L
AMA 25 years Life Member
TRA
PGR
Rhino Riders Plate #83
Venturers #78
TOI
Replacing the front tires the factory puts on Spyders with quality car tires improves the handling dramatically, in every way. Changing those front tires was very easy, as it is with car wheels. Changing a Spyder's rear tire is muuch more arduous and involved. As my two Portland grandkids and a 12 year old great grandson discovered.
Yesterday, Saturday, those three came to our house to get a hands on lesson on one of the toughest - if not THE toughest - maintenance tasks a Spyder has to offer up. Changing the rear tire. Instruction involved proper use of tools (hand and power), lifting the bike, and the how-to of rear wheel removal and replacement. Since the drive belt needed to be removed, removal and inspecton for wear of the front drive belt pulley was tossed in there too. Also shown them, was the organizing of the pieces as they are removed, so that they go back on in proper order and on the correct side of the wheel.
The removed wheel and the new tire were placed in the grandson's van and we went off to have a tire shop do the exchange. There are two major tire stores near us and neither wanted anything to do with it. A search on a cell phone found an independent auto repir shop nearby. On the phone, he admitted he has never done a motorcycle wheel, but he'd give it a try for $20. That's super cheap! He tried, he succeeded, he didn't want any money. He got money and more than he quoted. Any Spyder owner who has a wheel and furnished tire to bring into a shop will tell you how difficult to impossible it is to find a shop that will mount it. Extremely few Spyder dealer shops will not do it, unless you are buying an OEM tire from them. This exercise was to get away from the insufficient OEM tire, even though it has only 8,000 miles on it and lots of tread remaining. I'll be giving it to some local Spyder owner in exchange for a bag of one of Portland's better coffees.
The old tire and the wheel with a new tire were back in the van. Lunch time! 24 Taco Bell tacos sated the appetites of the four workers and their den mother - my wife - and it was back to the garage to reverse the process and put my new Harbor Freight ICON Split Beam torque wrench to work for the first time. And oh, how sweet is that wrench. It wasn't cheap, but when you consider what I'd pay the dealer's shop to do the job, the cost of the wrench is a mere fraction of that. And it's mine for the rest of my life.
And that's why I had the kids so involved. Our Spyder is to bcome their Spyder when the time comes. It will remain in the family and they are solidly for that. Inasmuch as a Spyder is very unique to any vehicle extant, they need to know how to do the maintenance and and a lot more. A legacy, a legend, a memorial and a helluva fun bike all in one. With all I've have done to make it better, there is more of me in that Spyder than any jar can hold. Makes me happy.
The day was capped with dinner at the groups' favorite Italian restaurant. It doesn't get any better. In my book anyway.
I applaud you for making this a " TEACHING " moment .... Kids and some folks in general are " clueless " to life's ordinary challenges ..... I will point out one mis-take .... asking a shop person to work on a " Motorcycle " wheel / tire was mis-leading .... Only BRP identifies the Spyder wheel as being for a Mtc..... It is NOT ... any wheel with a " J " type rim BEAD is an Auto wheel - period .... you are fortunate that they accepted the challenge ..... To all others reading this .... never tell a shop person that it is a Mtc. wheel.... JMHO ... Mike
I applaud you for making this a " TEACHING " moment .... Kids and some folks in general are " clueless " to life's ordinary challenges ..... I will point out one mis-take .... asking a shop person to work on a " Motorcycle " wheel / tire was mis-leading .... Only BRP identifies the Spyder wheel as being for a Mtc..... It is NOT ... any wheel with a " J " type rim BEAD is an Auto wheel - period .... you are fortunate that they accepted the challenge ..... To all others reading this .... never tell a shop person that it is a Mtc. wheel.... JMHO ... Mike
Les Schwab's (western tire store chain) has my Spyder listed as a 'custom vehicle'. They do all the mounting, road force balancing and needed repairs. They will NOT work on motorcycles, but 'custom vehicles' are just fine. They occasionally see me ride in on the Spyder, so they 'know', but choose 'not to know' what's going on. Corporate rules and all that...
Head in the game, eyes down the road... 2020RT
Spyder Tryke Pylot
Replacing the front tires the factory puts on Spyders with quality car tires improves the handling dramatically, in every way. Changing those front tires was very easy, as it is with car wheels. Changing a Spyder's rear tire is muuch more arduous and involved. As my two Portland grandkids and a 12 year old great grandson discovered.
Yesterday, Saturday, those three came to our house to get a hands on lesson on one of the toughest - if not THE toughest - maintenance tasks a Spyder has to offer up. Changing the rear tire. Instruction involved proper use of tools (hand and power), lifting the bike, and the how-to of rear wheel removal and replacement. Since the drive belt needed to be removed, removal and inspecton for wear of the front drive belt pulley was tossed in there too. Also shown them, was the organizing of the pieces as they are removed, so that they go back on in proper order and on the correct side of the wheel.
The removed wheel and the new tire were placed in the grandson's van and we went off to have a tire shop do the exchange. There are two major tire stores near us and neither wanted anything to do with it. A search on a cell phone found an independent auto repir shop nearby. On the phone, he admitted he has never done a motorcycle wheel, but he'd give it a try for $20. That's super cheap! He tried, he succeeded, he didn't want any money. He got money and more than he quoted. Any Spyder owner who has a wheel and furnished tire to bring into a shop will tell you how difficult to impossible it is to find a shop that will mount it. Extremely few Spyder dealer shops will not do it, unless you are buying an OEM tire from them. This exercise was to get away from the insufficient OEM tire, even though it has only 8,000 miles on it and lots of tread remaining. I'll be giving it to some local Spyder owner in exchange for a bag of one of Portland's better coffees.
The old tire and the wheel with a new tire were back in the van. Lunch time! 24 Taco Bell tacos sated the appetites of the four workers and their den mother - my wife - and it was back to the garage to reverse the process and put my new Harbor Freight ICON Split Beam torque wrench to work for the first time. And oh, how sweet is that wrench. It wasn't cheap, but when you consider what I'd pay the dealer's shop to do the job, the cost of the wrench is a mere fraction of that. And it's mine for the rest of my life.
And that's why I had the kids so involved. Our Spyder is to bcome their Spyder when the time comes. It will remain in the family and they are solidly for that. Inasmuch as a Spyder is very unique to any vehicle extant, they need to know how to do the maintenance and and a lot more. A legacy, a legend, a memorial and a helluva fun bike all in one. With all I've have done to make it better, there is more of me in that Spyder than any jar can hold. Makes me happy.
The day was capped with dinner at the groups' favorite Italian restaurant. It doesn't get any better. In my book anyway.
long post, maybe i missed it, did you mention what size and brand of tire you installed ,tks
The new tire is a Yokhama Avid Touring S -- 215/60-15. I bought it at Discount Tire for $78. Had I known it then, it would have cost $10 less if I showed my AAA membership card. Disount Tire shaves $10 off of each higher quality tire.
The tire is slightly larger in diameter and that will correct speedometer error.
Ours is a red, black and chrome 2017 F3 Limited. Bought new in 2/2019. The avatar is my first bike back in 1952, a Simplex Servi-Cycle. Photo taken at the Barber Museum.
I applaud you for making this a " TEACHING " moment .... Kids and some folks in general are " clueless " to life's ordinary challenges ..... I will point out one mis-take .... asking a shop person to work on a " Motorcycle " wheel / tire was mis-leading .... Only BRP identifies the Spyder wheel as being for a Mtc..... It is NOT ... any wheel with a " J " type rim BEAD is an Auto wheel - period .... you are fortunate that they accepted the challenge ..... To all others reading this .... never tell a shop person that it is a Mtc. wheel.... JMHO ... Mike
My "new" F3S came with an almost new stock rear, so it will be awhile before replacemen is needed. I've seen the mention of the rims being an automotive J type before, but is there a "J" stamp or other tell on the rim
that would validate that claim to a tire store? Just installed Yokohana Avid fronts and will probably go for the Avid Touring on the rear from the local Discout Tire. Good guys, so maybe I can convine them
it's an auto rim and have them at least mount it..
Spyder daily driver - 2015 F3S magnesium - grocery getter
BajaRon swaybar, Shad sidecases and Givi top case with Admore kits, adjustable brake rod, LaMonster LED headlights, Stebel Nautilus, Zumo 396, FOBO TPMS, F4 Customs windscreen and bump skid
Front Tires - 175/55R-15 Yokohama AVID S34FA SL
Rear - General Altima RT45
Spyder touring buddy (White-Whale) - 2018 RTL pearlescent white - set up for touring and local dates with SWMBO.
LaMonster LED headlights, Stebel Nautilus, Zumo 396, Spyder cuff, FOBO TPMS, driver adjustable backrest, rear view mirror LED turn signals, and Eastern Beaver PC-8R fuse box. Baja Ron Ultra Sway Bar on the way.
Front Tires - Stock Kendas
Rear - General Altima RT45
Other motorcycle transport - 2010 Honda NT700VA Deauville and assorted vintage Japanese bikes
My "new" F3S came with an almost new stock rear, so it will be awhile before replacemen is needed. I've seen the mention of the rims being an automotive J type before, but is there a "J" stamp or other tell on the rim
that would validate that claim to a tire store? Just installed Yokohama Avid fronts and will probably go for the Avid Touring on the rear from the local Discount Tire. Good guys, so maybe I can convince them
it's an auto rim and have them at least mount it..
I believe there actually is a " J " stamped on the wheel ie. J-6 indicating it's a 6in width with an automotive Rim Bead .... I know that other auto wheels I have looked at ( for width size ) have this stamping Mike
Great job in getting the kids involved and managing to keep them engaged the whole time. I just had my rear (new Kanine) done at dealer, looked like too big a job for me. Family ran shop just put Hankook V4's on front, haven't ridden yet, sub zero here. Can't wait.
A nice benefit of having the chopped fender/side mount plate is I have much easier access to remove the tire
I will hide this from my grandkids.
Ours is a red, black and chrome 2017 F3 Limited. Bought new in 2/2019. The avatar is my first bike back in 1952, a Simplex Servi-Cycle. Photo taken at the Barber Museum.
5 people and 24 tacos got 'er done
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Originally Posted by ButterSmooth
....Let the good times roll. Good job and thanks.
