dark side

[larue]

i just received the michelin primacy today and it freaked me out, this thing looks huge and wide 
next step is to look for a place to mount it for me.

[flsix]

Larue, mine has been in the shed for two weeks now and I thought the same thing when I bought it. Bike's going on the jack this weekend for the tire change and some other things. Hope it goes well for both of us.

[John Schmidt]

Yes, they all look huge....like they would never fit under the fender. But they do, although it can try your patience. Don't pump them up all the way, that has a tendency to expand the sides a bit. Leave just enough air in them to keep their shape and on the rim. Leave the final drive as loose as possible on the swingarm, roll the tire in and slightly tilted to the left. Helps clear the final drive. I slide the axle in just far enough to be seen in the final, and when I get the wheel up in place before engaging the splines I slip the axle most of the way through the wheel. It helps you align the splines. Good luck! 

[gwise]

I'm in the same boat. Bought the tire a couple months ago and still haven't mounted it. It does look huge, but Thunderbolt (Terry) gave me the size to buy. I've been waiting for the mc tire to wear out, but can't seem to do it. I think I found a guy to mount it on the rim, said he would charge me $20. Not too bad. Very nice riding weather here now, so I guess I should put it on the top of my to do list.
  Gregg

[Thunderbolt]

Larue etc.  Don't forget to remove the nut cage inside the fender especially if you are going to do two up or your shocks are not cranked up like to 4 or 5.  I used a carriage bolt installed from the inside.  You don't have to use metric, but I used stainless steel.  Just take one of the rear bolts out and take it with you to the hardware store like ACE or your favorite one and get one that is the same diameter.  Get a couple long enough to go from the inside and protrude far enough to install a lock washer and nut from the outside.  While you are at it if you have hard bags go ahead and buy some stainless studs for the front or bolts long enough to cut the heads off.  That way you can make a bag drop kit so that you can remove the bags and hanger hardware and the fender doesn't drop down onto the tire.  It is a good idea to remove the bags and hardware once a year or so and clean and wax the chrome rails.  One of the bolts has 1.25 pitch the other has 1.5.  I don't remember which is 1.25, but it is hard to find.  You need to use the correct pitch stud on the front bolt.
If the tire is going to rub it will usually do it on the right side if the nut cage is not removed.  Some have not removed it and it worked o.k. but while you are there with the tire off, just go ahead and do it.

[Tundra]

 +1 on the nutcage mod. Do it right the first time (ask me how I know)
Hit with a some black spray paint when done to prevent rust. I had to shim my fender rails also,  my fender was off center 3/4".
  I found all the carriage bolts in stainless at my local Ace Hardware. The Home Depot didn't have them.
 

[larue]

Thank you guys for the heads up

[FloridaValkRyder]

+1 on the nutcage mod. Do it right the first time (ask me how I know)
Hit with a some black spray paint when done to prevent rust. I had to shim my fender rails also,  my fender was off center 3/4".
  I found all the carriage bolts in stainless at my local Ace Hardware. The Home Depot didn't have them.
 

I'm looking forward to the DS transition myself. I was hoping to do it before the mountain trip in October, but I still have too much tread on the rear now to just chunk it. It's only 3 years old with about 5K miles on it..Wow..I need to ride more. And don't believe Doug's lies...remember...Home Depot has "everything"!! 

[flsix]

I recommend that you don't use SS nuts on SS bolts. They have a nasty tendency to gall when you try to loosen them and you may end up having to break the bolt to get it apart. Just use a steel nut on the SS bolt.

[Flrider]

I called a couple of motorcycle shops in Kissimmee and none of them did the CTs.

One of them tried to lecture me on WHY NOT and how dangerous it was, I did not want to get into a discussion so I said thank you and hung up.

My motorcycle tire has plenty of life left so I am wondering if I am going to have a hard time finding someone willing to do the mounting.

[flsix]

The bike shop down here that will do it for me is a small two man shop.
You may have to find a very small shop that is not a dealer for any particular brand of bike. May be less assumed liability.

[Thunderbolt]

Or if you are mechanically inclined do it yourself.  I bought a Harbor Freight tire changer with the motorcycle adapter.  Also bought some tire irons from Harbor Freight.  It is best to use plastic pieces that conform to the rim where you use the irons.  The HF tire changer has a good bead breaker.   It is not really that easy, but I am just cheap.  If you can get a small shop that will do it for you for $20 bucks or so I would recommend that first.  Tell them it is for your trike if that makes them feel better.

[larue]

Hey Flrider...I called cycle one on OBT and washington and they said they had done them before, they told me the could take BOTH tires off and put the front and the CT IN THE BACK FOR $52 MOUNTED AND BALANCED and no lecturing or questions asked

[IamGCW]

Larue

You might consider Dyna beads for balance.  Also some tire shops will mount the CT if you claim it is for a trike.

Gil

[flsix]

The Dyna Beads site recommends three oz. for the Michelin we are using.

[FloridaValkRyder]

The Dyna Beads site recommends three oz. for the Michelin we are using.

+1 on the Dynabeads. My front wheel had a vibration since I have owned it. Had a balance done when I first got it home, still vibrated. When I had the new front tire mounted they put Dynabeads in, 2 oz, no vibration any more!