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Post by dirkgently on Oct 16, 2013 12:58:43 GMT -5
I'm happy, well willing anyway, to do some work on my scooter myself. It doesn't seem too complicated and I figure I can usually work it out. However, I've never changed tires on anything before and I'm not really interested in fighting through that battle on my own.
I ordered some new tires and called the dealer my scooter originally came from and asked how much they charge to change front and rear tires. I told them they were 10 inch wheels and tubeless tires. I already have the tires so I just need to get them installed. They asked what kind of scooter it was and I told them "It's a Hammerhead La Vita, It actually came from you guys." and the guy on the phone said "Oh....Um..... $200 or so probably".
To me, that seems significantly north of crazy money to change some tires. I would guess it's French for "we don't want to work on something Chinese". But, I don't have much experience in the scooter department so I thought I would check with the experts here to figure out if that quote was as much madness I thought it was.
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Post by trailheadmike on Oct 16, 2013 13:25:37 GMT -5
Ridiculous. Go to motocyclesuperstore.com and take a look at their list of "preferred tire installers." If there's one close by check out their posted prices and when you go to one tell them you heard about them through that site. I paid one of thier listed guys $20 once and another guy $35. The only caveat is that they want you to bring in the wheel, not the scooter. Good luck.
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Post by dirkgently on Oct 16, 2013 13:36:39 GMT -5
Yeah, I figured that was their "leave me alone" price I was quoted. Which is pretty shifty considering they sold this very scooter.
I'l shop around on the preferred installers page. Motorcycle Super Store is where I bought the tires any way. Thanks!
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Post by scootnwinn on Oct 16, 2013 13:39:47 GMT -5
For removal and replacement on the bike that sounds right. That is about 3 hours plus shop fees. Like he said take em off yourself and you'll save about $150. The dudes shouldn't have to do it for nothing. You may find someon that thinks it's a 2 hour job but I bet flat rate is closer to 3...
Oh average shop rates are a bit higher than the $60/hr I assumed
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Post by dirkgently on Oct 16, 2013 13:47:08 GMT -5
Oh, I wouldn't want anyone to work for free! I wouldn't expect to find someone who would do it for 25 bucks or anything. Just thought that 200 seemed a might bit spendy - especially considering that a cursory glance at other shop rates for motorcycle tries seems to have a max cost of ~100, and that includes them doing the wheel removal work.
I'm sure I can take the wheels off and carry them somewhere. I can't imagine they can be TOO tricky to remove. Famous last words of course...
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Post by scootnwinn on Oct 16, 2013 13:55:39 GMT -5
When I priced removal and replacement on my Burgman $200 was about the lowest price I got. Its usually isn't too hard to remove them
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Post by tvnacman on Oct 16, 2013 14:56:33 GMT -5
scooter tires are a real Pia to do . and once you get the new tires on the rim you still have to get the bead to seal . I still had to go to a tire place to get the bead to seal . The small compressor I have was not enough to get the bead to seal . If you have to remove the exhaust you will need a new exhaust gasket .
John
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Post by spandi on Oct 16, 2013 14:57:31 GMT -5
Ah yes, scooter sweat equity. (got a nice set of tire irons and rim protectors, and saved even more.)
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Post by PCBGY6 on Oct 16, 2013 15:42:05 GMT -5
If you ever changed a bicycle tire when you were a kid then you can do a scooter tire. Nothing to it really. The tire will slide on the rim just the same.
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Post by pgs on Oct 16, 2013 15:53:59 GMT -5
i have done my own tires before, it was difficult but not that hard to do you will need the tire irons to do it and a compressor that puts out a lot of pressure to seal the bead, you could use one at a gas station that would be plenty
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Post by scootnwinn on Oct 16, 2013 16:03:51 GMT -5
i have done my own tires before, it was difficult but not that hard to do you will need the tire irons and blood, possibly a c-clamp or other improvised devices to do it and a compressor that puts out a lot of pressure to seal the bead, you could use one at a gas station that would be might be (likely not) plenty FIXED it for you pgs Don't want to discourage you much but they can stink depending on the type of tires. Also it isn't really hard necessarily but unless you had a bicycle with a CVT transmission and dual shocks it is not similar except for the round part and the fact that it has an axle... |
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Post by pgs on Oct 16, 2013 16:30:35 GMT -5
i have done my own tires before, it was difficult but not that hard to do you will need the tire irons and blood, possibly a c-clamp or other improvised devices to do it and a compressor that puts out a lot of pressure to seal the bead, you could use one at a gas station that would be might be (likely not) plenty FIXED it for you pgs Don't want to discourage you much but they can stink depending on the type of tires. Also it isn't really hard necessarily but unless you had a bicycle with a CVT transmission and dual shocks it is not similar except for the round part and the fact that it has an axle... he only has ten inch rims shouldn't be that hard, i have done both ten and twelve inch rims and aside from removing the exhaust and unbolting the rim from the scooter maybe an hour each tire took me 10-15 minutes to break the bead and remove the tire from the rim, and putting the new one on took longer, the last bit was the hardest and sealing the bead with my friends compressor went fine the twelve inch rims were harder than the tens but definitely something that could be done i would recommend longer tire irons for more leverage getting the last of the tire on |
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Post by PCBGY6 on Oct 16, 2013 16:36:57 GMT -5
Well if he is taking the rims and tired off anyway to save money then the rest is simple.
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Post by dirkgently on Oct 16, 2013 16:42:27 GMT -5
While I appreciate the value in adding new tools to my set (who doesn't love to do that?) I found a small local scooter shop that said they do it for 60 bucks and I could still pick it back up tonight if I wanted it. So, not going to bother with the tire irons. However, I promise to change the belt and whatnot myself. =)
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Post by pmatulew on Oct 16, 2013 17:33:00 GMT -5
Honestly, even with the wheels already off the bike, without the correct tools, changing tires is a pain in the behind. I bought a bead breaker, and a set of tire irons, and built my own rim clamp and you know what? It's still a pain in the behind.  If you've got someone locally that will swap them for what you consider a reasonable price. Just let them do it. If not, then you'll have to muster up some genuine determination. |
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