Today I did the easiest tyre change I have ever done.

I strapped the main stand to the front wheel to stop the bike falling forward. I then took the rear wheel off and deflated it.

I sprayed WD40 around the rim and then just placed the tyre under the side stand and pulled the bike towards me. The bead just popped. I turned it over and popped the other side and levered the tyre off.

I lubed up the new one and it went on like it was a pushbike tyre. One side of the bead had seated on its own and I just connected the Slime pump and 5 minutes later I had 42 psi in the tyre. No pushing or pulling of the tyre or anything, I just connected the air line and it inflated.

When I did the same thing on my old GSA it was a real pain to pop the bead and to get a sufficient seal to inflate it. I used a ratchet strap in the end to force the tyre edges out onto the rims.

What I do not know is, if this time I was just lucky or Yamaha have made the beads less proud to make life easier for bikers away from a garage. Either way I was pretty chuffed.

Nice to see someone get to retire and actually enjoy themselves good on you

If I remember, the tyre on the GS was new, and this one is worn ? Are you still using TKC's ? when they are worn, I have noticed they come off really easy - almost as if they are designed that way.....

Yep, new TCK on.
I just could not believe how easy it was, however there may be some truth in what you say about the new/old thing. When I took this same tyre off my GS it had only done 1000 miles and most of that was in snow and rain so very little wear or heat.

Either way I am chuffed that it is easy to do without a bead breaker. Thats another tool I do not need to take with me.

SW-Motech bash plate damage
 

Guys and Gals,

Previously posted on ADV....

Pictures of the SW-Motech bash plate that I have seriously damaged recently in the Pyrenees.

Many inmates on here will be aware of the the HUMM, an orienteering type ride out on rough mountain roads. Well, I took the Super Ten and it got some serious abuse and came out of it very well.

These are what the roads/tracks were like:
http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k..._1221-Copy.jpg
http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k..._1227-Copy.jpg
The bike performed very well with the brakes being completely amazing on steep downhill loose surfaces. I only used the front brake and it behaved like it was on tarmac bar the final couple of MPH where it would finally lock up if I had the brake fully on.

Now on to the SWM bash plate. This started out flat.

http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...d_IMG_1260.jpg

http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...d_IMG_1261.jpg
http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...d_IMG_1266.jpg
Above shows the biggest of the two main underside dents.

http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...d_IMG_1262.jpg
Above shows the plate pushed back onto the oil filter, about 10mm back and about 20mm off to the left of the bike with the corresponding bent front fixings.

http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...d_IMG_1264.jpg
Above shows the oil seep with the "wettest" area in the region of the upper left fixing. I initially put this down to trauma stressing the seal in the area of the Allen bolt. Whether this is compounded by the over-sized dowel, I do not know. (A possible minor problem identified by ADV inmates)

Overall, I am very impressed with the bash plate and when I get it off I will be sending clean pictures back to SWM to show them. It has done its job admirably and taken the force of the trauma instead of the bike. If I had still had the Yamaha one one on I would still be there.

You managed to prise the bike back out of Grant's hands then?

You saw that ???

He took it for a test ride and on his return we noticed the rear tyre was flat. We had a devil of a job fixing it and when we eventually did the plug (worm) came out on the way back to Bilbao.....:107:.

I fixed it on the side of the motorway and then again halfway around the M25 in the rain and in a contraflow....:107::107::107:

They go flat real quick with a 6mm hole in them.

Anyway, the bike has just been soaked in preservative and laid up for at least a year. I have just bought a Land Rover in safari trim for a trip to Durban from Nordcapp in the Arctic circle. I set off tomorrow via the bike racing at Donnington.

Hi Ray, been some time since you posted anything on here! How's the USA mate? Long time no speak! Take it staeady and see you out n about when your back on UK shores.

All the best Ray (Wandering Walton's)