Just went over 5000 miles!

[John Colarusso aka stickyfrog]

Rolled over 5000 miles yesterday! Everythings still runs great and I hope it keeps up. Only had to change the rear wheel once so far...just passed 1500 on the Heidenau K58 I put on at 3500 miles and it still looks good. I also bought another K58 as well as a K61 for drier weather. ufo from MV likes the K61. I will post pics of the K58 when it is time to change.

Guess I need to start thinking about getting into the shop for the 6000 mile service soon!

[Jerry Waters]

Congratulations! I'm hanging around 3,000 now and the weather has turned bad enough that I probably won't get much further until summer. In the meantime I'm getting my seat cut down so I can take off on a one month trip when it does warm up. Maybe I'll catch up with you then.

Ride safe.

[John Colarusso aka stickyfrog]

Jerry Waters said:

Congratulations! I'm hanging around 3,000 now and the weather has turned bad enough that I probably won't get much further until summer. In the meantime I'm getting my seat cut down so I can take off on a one month trip when it does warm up. Maybe I'll catch up with you then.

Ride safe.

Yes I have heard from family that are travelling to TX that it has been pretty cold there. Hope it warms up soon!

[Smrf]

Congrats!!

[Dale Walker]

The Michelin Gold Standards (the 12 inch rear tire) are here in the US now. Though they are hard to find. I am hoping that my rear tire will last long enough for me to find one. If I cannot then I am going to get the Heidenau K61. Though it rains a lot here in California for the winter I won't ride that much in it so getting the K58 doesn't make much sense for me. I don't think I would be changing my rear tire myself. If I had someone around who could show me then I would make the attempt. Maybe one of the guys at the dealer will show me how. If I could get the tire off then it would only cost me $20 to get it changed and balanced.

Dale

[John Colarusso aka stickyfrog]

Dale Walker said:

The Michelin Gold Standards (the 12 inch rear tire) are here in the US now. Though they are hard to find. I am hoping that my rear tire will last long enough for me to find one. If I cannot then I am going to get the Heidenau K61. Though it rains a lot here in California for the winter I won't ride that much in it so getting the K58 doesn't make much sense for me. I don't think I would be changing my rear tire myself. If I had someone around who could show me then I would make the attempt. Maybe one of the guys at the dealer will show me how. If I could get the tire off then it would only cost me $20 to get it changed and balanced.

Dale

Would like to try a gold standard one day...

Here is a link to a series I did on putting the wheel and new tire back on. http://www.modernvespa.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=477605#477605 Maybe I will redo it here when I have time.

And you are right...it is way cheaper to remove it yourself and let someone simply swap the tires out.

[Smrf]

Do you have a how-to on how to remove the tire to begin with?? Also, removing the tire and reinstalling does it require pneumatic tools?? Like getting the shocks and lug nuts on/off the rim? Just wondering what tools are needed to do this? I only have basic tools like screwdrivers, wrench, a socket set.

[John Colarusso aka stickyfrog]

Smrf said:

Do you have a how-to on how to remove the tire to begin with?? Also, removing the tire and reinstalling does it require pneumatic tools?? Like getting the shocks and lug nuts on/off the rim? Just wondering what tools are needed to do this? I only have basic tools like screwdrivers, wrench, a socket set.

No I don't have the how to on removing it...I think there are probably some on MV. My angle was to show how to put it back together. You can reverse the sequence though.

In addition to a standard set of metric sockets and your other tools (pliers for the cotter pin and a flathead screwdriver to help align the shock when you put it back on)
You will need:
24 mm socket for the wheel nut, and a Torque wrench to apply 120 newton/meters of torque to the wheel nut.

When I took mine off I put all the nuts and bolts back where they go so I wouldn't forget while the new tire was being put on the wheel. Also, don't forget to get a new cotter pin. Work slow an methodically and don't force anything...be especially careful when you take the muffler off since there is a sleeve inside that you don't want to ruin (but if you do it is not expensive to replace).

Maybe your service guys will let you watch one. And maybe on my next tire change I will do the how to and post them both here. Good luck if you try it! Oh, someone on my post in MV also added that it is a good idea to put a clamp of some kind on the front hand brake lever to lock the front wheels to keep it from moving forward off the center stand.