| Author | Message | ||
     Flyingpenguin86 |
So, I'm needing to replace the rear tire on my lightning. Problem is, for the stock tire from Harley, it's gonna cost me around $300. Checked at the other store I know of in the area that does bike tires, and it was even worse (when I called for a quote, the guy on the phone had to get me to spell "Pirelli" for him!!!!!) My question is, is there a better/cheaper place to get them from or do I just need to bite the bullet on this one? Is there a cheaper brand that would still deliver comparable performance? Please help!!!!!!!!!!! | ||
| Bombardier |
Bridgestone 021 Sports Touring. 10000km so far with more to go. | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
Changing tires is a constant for the Buell owner who is addicted to sport tire rubber, as many of us are. Here are three good ways to save money on tires. 1. Order the tires well before you need them on the internet. Expect to pay around $250 per PAIR. Then mount them yourself, or have a local independent shop do it. Expect to pay $25 to $50 per tire. 2. Start using sport touring tires like the Pirelli Stradas, Michelin Pilot Roads or Dunlop Road Smarts. These tires give all the traction you can reasonably use on the road, and last twice as long. Not ideal for track days, but they will work if you are not an expert. 3. Do 1 and 2. PS: You won't save any money, but changing tires as a pair, even though the front appears to have some life left will greatly improve the handling of your bike, and when looked at the total cost of the mission, is not all that expensive. | ||
| Mnbueller |
I just put 2 new Pirelli Scorpion Syncs on my bike in the spring. I internet price compared with shipping included and found the motorcycle super store to be the cheapest. I think I paid around $260 for the pair. and I had my local harley dealer put them on for me. They only charged $50 tire on the bike, $25 or $30 a tire off the bike. | ||
| Sfinton |
I bought a used metzeler M3 (90% tread) off ebay for 90 bucks shipped. Took it to a local motorcycle shop and got it mounted and balanced for 50.00 bucks. Check out these on ebay: http://shop.ebay.com/items/?_nkw=180%2F55%2F17+&_f romfsb=&_trksid=m270 | ||
| Etennuly |
I bought my current rear tire from a local Suzuki dealer, it is the correct size, the price was less than most of the places I would have had to order it from, and they mounted and balanced it for $22.00 with the wheel off the bike. The whole deal took twenty minutes. Try "other" dealers in your area. If they know nothing about Buell tires and mounting it puts them on par with a lot of HD dealers anyway. By the way the Michelin Road Pilot II is an awesome tire wet or dry. | ||
| Wantxbr |
+1 Etennuly Michelin Pilot Road II is a great tire, It's on my Bolt now and my friends Aprilia Falco. With over 1200 miles on the tire you can't hardly see any ware if at all. Grips extremely well, never slipped once even when it started to rain on me on Sunrise Hwy. This will be my choice from now on. A bit pricey but they will last a few thousand miles. Unlike the 208 I had which I barely got 2500 miles on. http://www.cyclegear.com/spgm.cfm?L1=129&L2=&L3=&L 4=&item=WES_87-9675_G&tier2=218 | ||
| Jonzin |
I put a pair of Michelin Pilot Power 2CTs on my XB12Scg two weeks ago and love them. The bike feels lighter, more agile and turns in quicker. Now I will just have to see how long they last. | ||
| Skinstains |
I split the cost of a "No-Mar" tire machine and balancer with two friends ($200.00 each). I buy my tires from a trackday club or racing organizer and usually pick them up at the track when I'm there anyway, it eliminates all shipping. If you don't frequent racetracks you can still shop the cheapest internet guy and save all the mounting & ballancing costs. Buying tires before you need them is a must. Paying $300.00 for "a" tire is insane, unless it's a racing tire/slick. When I do buy rubber through the mail I buy more than one set or tire to lower the shipping. See if one of your pals wants to buy at the same time you do, that will half the shipping. They don't last forever but I run Pirelli Diablos on the street. They're awesome. | ||
| Fresnobuell |
+1 on doing the tires yourself. I ride with a small group and one every couple months we get together for a "tire changing party." It doesn't even seem like work when you are with your friends and working on your own bikes.... | ||
| Firebolt32 |
If you have to have it done at the dealer like I did, you have to do a burn out just outside service to get the new off...get it sticky. The looks on those services guys faces were priceless. If your mom works there don't do it, you'll have a lengthy voice mail to listen to when you get home.  | ||
| Irideabuell |
I was taught by a fellow BWBer how to change tires. It's amazingly easy. I've found that Cycle Gear now has tire prices in line with what you can get from most on-line shops. Also, I always bring the wheel(s) with me as if they aren't busy they will put it on for you for $20 if you don't feel like doing it yourself. I use Pirelli Daiblo Corsa III's and have gotten good mileage from them. I went overboard on the last front to the point where the bike handled horribly, but I got 16,000 miles out of it. My last rear was swapped at 10,000 miles. | ||
| 05mxdiesel |
I can't get 10k out of a corsa front on my uly, how in the heck are u getting 10k out of a corsa III rear? | ||
| Irideabuell |
05mx, That's a good question. I don't foresee getting 10K out of this Corsa III rear. I'm at just over 6K miles and might be lucky to get 8K. That first rear 10K also included a 2500 mile trip to Deal's Gap, so I have no good explanation. When that tire was first released I put a set on my 12S at 14,000 miles with the help of Hammer71. Rear replaced at 24,000 and front at just over 30,000. Paul | ||
| 05mxdiesel |
Thats is still incredible. I had a corsa III last 3600 miles and the whole tire was basically bald except for a little on the far edges. My corsa front only lasted 7k until it was down to the wear bars and handling was starting to suffer. I currently have a strada on the rear with 2500 miles and it only shows a little wear in the center. I am hoping to get 5-6k out of it. So whatever you are doing keep doing it. | ||
| Djkaplan |
I get the tire of my choice from whoever is selling them for the cheapest on the internet. Sorry, but paying 50% more at local independent shop over what I can get the tires for myself is highway robbery. I could understand a 15 or 20% margin, anything higher than that is for suckers. Ironically, it's the local Harley dealer that has the best rates for installing and balancing the tires I bring in myself... just a half hour of labor per tire. | ||
| Motohead1125r |
Just changed the stock rear on my 07 bolt at 9160 miles. It was DONE, with cord showing in the middle. I went with a Strada this time to see if it will hold up better in the middle due to my 100 mile a day commute. $185.00 mounted and balanced at Cycle Rider Montclair. | ||
| Borrowedbike |
I've noticed the Corsa III is sensitive to tire pressure. Bump it up for commuting, and drop it again for playing. Seems to last quite a bit longer. I left my first set at 26 - 28 PSI rear and only got 4K out of them. | ||
| Hexangler |
Hate to say this, but CycleGear gets my tire business. | ||
| Rah7777777 |
+1 CYCLE GEAR! | ||
| Viper9885 |
DennisKirk.com gets all my tire business +1 for Diablo Corsa's (except i think i am going to try a set of Continental Conti-sport attacks.....i hear very good things....and the tread pattern looks sweet) | ||
| Not_purple_s2 |
+1 on the Conti Attacks they're great tires. I have a set of Road Attacks on the S2 and a Sport Attack Front/Road Attack Rear on the XB9S. I love this combo on the XB9S, great grip and longevity. I noticed that you have an '03. You might want to check the belt and replace it with the an upgrade belt if you have any concerns. This also means that you need to be extra careful who you let work on the rear wheel. It seems one big cause of '03 belt failures is mishandling during wheel removals. I suggest getting a jack/stand and removing the rear wheel yourself, then take it to an independent shop to have the tire mounted and balanced. The stand will pay for itself the first time you use it plus it's always handy for doing maintenance and cleaning. | ||
| 07xb12scg |
$300 for a rear tire. That's hilarious! Don't ever get your tires from a dealer unless you bring lube and knee pads. Order them online and save yourself a bundle. You missed out. A couple of months ago I think it was Cycle Gear offering a set of Pirellis - like the ones that come stock on the S and Rs - for $180. I basically bought a new front tire for $120 which I needed at the time and got the rear for $60 extra. You can't beat that. | ||
| Ghost_rider33 |
Cycle gear put on a Pirelli Rosso rear for 175. The tire was 135, then the other charges. 10% military discount on the rubber. They have my business. The rear wheel was easier to r&r than my dirtbike. | ||
| Aj06bolt12r2 |
Id suggest that you replace both tires at the same time... Id also suggest metzler m3s... you can find em for a pretty good price and good sweet Jesus do they feel and grip better than the junk stock tires... it will be like a whole new bike! |
