Ok so i got a little dilemma, am short on cash just after buying brand new Dunlop Roadsmart and a 30 dollar kit to change them myself. Since here in south florida they'll charge an arm and a leg and i dont mind doing this myself anyways id figure i can do it, but then i figured i was missing the bike stands. So i though well i have to wait to save up some money which wont be for a while and buy sum 80 dollar front and rear bike stands i saw on ebay.

Well heres the thing, i was looking thru the owners manual and on page 174 and on it talks about flat tires and emergency replacement, well i was surprised when the owners manual mentioned to place a block (as in a cylinder block) under the engine to have the bike lifted and be able to remove the tire/wheel. My question is has anybody here tried that out of desperate needs to change there wheels w/o a bike stand? or have a better technique to changing tires?

 

I use jack stands

 

I used concrete blocks under my forks to change my front. I'll be changing the rear this weekend, and I'll probably do something similar. Just make sure you have some help to make sure the bike stays steady as you're working on it. Once it starts to get wobbly, it's hard to get it well-balanced again.

 

The "cinder block" method is REALLY sketch. I've seen it being done ONCE, and I had NO clue what was actually going on (Before I started riding).

Really anything that will lift and hold the bike off the ground and is stable enough for your liking will work fine.

Personally, I'd say shell out for someone to do it versus risk damage, and just save up for stands. I don't use mine that often but when I do, they're a life saver.

 

i have a stand the goes over the top and i just hoist the bike up

 

You could either use rafters or go under a large tree branch and then use ratchet straps to lift it. I did that with my old bike to pull the front end apart. Worked great.


oh and I would remove fairings for sure just incase you manage to drop it or knock it over. Minimize a lot of damage.

 

For the rear you can use 2 jack stands and run a board under the swing arm. I've also heard of people using milk crates.

 

mines currently sittin on its header... i obv. set her down very gently and dont add any extra weight on her... but the tubing from the header is plenty strong



seems to be doing just find... she was on one wheel and that board i have under her back... im going to make some front and rear stands outa 2X4 just havent gotten around to it yet.. plus no swing arm on there right now to use for the stands...

 

That's me, I'm the milk crate guy, which I just upgraded from. I made my own rear stand at work the other night.
Dam Z, I thought you were exaggerating, but it really is in 100000000000000 pieces

 

lol ya... and not to jack but coolest part is everything not on the bike is all the stuff im workin on ha so the bikell def be one off... alot of its already done just not put back on...

anyway... ya