The recession has finally bitten me, and I'm planning to save �20 by taking loose wheels in to get my tyres fitted. First time in 25 years!

I've never had either wheel off the XTR, let alone both at once. Luckily I do have a centre stand fitted, but if anyone has any words of wisdom I'd be very grateful. I have the Haynes manual which will detail each wheel, but probably not which order, how to support the bike as each wheel comes off, and how to avoid being pinned to the garage wall by a falling motorcycle.

If you are unsure of how to do this it may just be worth the �20 to be safe and not flatten yourself under the XT.

But if your garage has open trusses and you have long enough straps or rope this be a solution.......

I have heard of people supporting the front or back of a bike from the garage roof trusses using ratchet straps or rope. You may be able to do this for both ends using your centre stand as the main support and the straps supporting each end of the bike allowing you to remove both wheels.

If you have the trusses and straps/rope and a mate to help you - this is best done with more hands than two:

1. Put your bike on centre stand position where you can get straps/rope around handlebars and rear frame and then straight up to the trusses. You do not want the straps to be going of at angles left or right as this could pull the bike to the side.

2. Put a strap through the feet of the centre stand and forwards around a part of the frame and pull tight. This should prevent your bike rolling off the centre stand as the strap will pull tighter if the centre stand tries to fold backwards. I put the strap over the frame oil drain on my Ten and through the feet of the centre stand.

3. I'd remove the rear wheel first as it will now be up in the air Follow your manual for this procedure.

4. Install straps from the trusses to support the rear of the bike but leave enough slack to allow the back end to drop slightly as you raise the front end. Not too much slack that the bike drops uncontrollably.

5. Loosen all the bolts/nuts following the manual procedure before you raise the front end.

6. When you are ready to remove the wheel spindle install straps from the trusses to support the front of the bike. Around the headstock will give you a nice single point of lift rather than around the bars. This will still let you move the bars if needed.

7. Slowly raise the front of the bike with the straps just enough for the front wheel to clear the ground. Continually check that the centre stand is ok and that the back end is still securely held by the straps.

8. Once the front wheel is clear, tie off the front straps so they cannot slip, take up any slack in the rear straps and tie them off too.

9. Once you are completely satisfied that the bike is secure at both ends, remove the front wheel.

The bike is now balanced on the center stand and supported by straps front and rear. This is a delicate balancing act and you may want to add further support using car axle stands or chock with wood to prevent unwanted movement.

Installation should be front wheel first then drop front back onto ground and do the rear.

I wouldnt try to do any other work on the bike when it is supported in this way. Also dont let anyone/kids play around it.

My "get-out clause" is to say that you use this method at your own risk and I accept no responsibility for damage to motorcyle or injury to persons when using this method. It is just my solution to your problem.

But it may help you to formulate your own method or adapt it to your needs.

REMEMBER...SAFETY FIRST!!!!

.....and if in doubt spend that twenty quid.


All the best,

Sandman.

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2011 XT660Z, in BLACK of course!
Mods done:
Lost the will to keep track!

Crikey!

Thanks for that Sandman. I think you've convinced me to spend the �20. I don't have any roof trusses or anything like that. I thought someone would say to stick a bit of wood on a jack under the sump guard, balance it up and then whip the wheels off, which is more or less what they do at the tyre place. But I guess they have insurance at least!

If you have seen it done in the tyre shop and you think it will work, go for it, twenty quid saved.

Mine really is "belt and braces" overkill and some would just jack it up and remove the wheels.

Thinking about it some more, I would certainly still do a strap to prevent the centre stand from folding back on you but then you could remove rear and then jack up front just enough to remove the front wheel spindle. Just be aware the bike may become imbalanced when the front is removed so support the swingarm to prevent the bike tipping backwards.

Make sure it is secure and go get new knobblies. I guess for the short time it will be like this it would be fine.

I think my mind is set on doing things to "doubly" make sure nothing falls on top of me when working on my bikes. Brainwashed by working in aircraft engineering!!

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2011 XT660Z, in BLACK of course!
Mods done:
Lost the will to keep track!

Thanks mate. I think I'll take it in tomorrow, but stand by and watch and question the fitter and get it straight in my head what needs to be supported where. Going to knobblies and taking the bike off road, at least it will have fallen over a few times by the time I try it myself and it falls over again

TKC80s ??

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2011 XT660Z, in BLACK of course!
Mods done:
Lost the will to keep track!

Yep! See my paranoia here. http://www.xt660.com/showthread.php?t=21955