Online: Hilly

How long to change front and rear tyres.

  • conmore
    conmore
    5 years ago
    Hi there
    A good mate has just ridden to Victoria from NT and needed to change out both his front and rear tyres on his 11/12 FXST Softail. They also needed to be removed and replaced on the bike as well as the tyre changeover. 

    Can anyone with the same model or a tech that reads these posts give me a fair indication on the time it takes hourwise to complete this job?
    He was charged 3 hours labour on top of the cost of the rubber. Is that a fair amount of time or excessive?

    Cheers
  • Ken in Cairns
    Ken in Cairns
    5 years ago
    Sounds a little bit excessive, two hrs might be more plausible, getting the wheels off is quick, refitting the rear is a little more time consuming as you have to do the alignment. Some issue could have chewed up a bit of time I guess.
  • tussuck
    tussuck
    5 years ago
    Sounds VERY excessive.  I alsways ask for an up front estuimate when riding the bike in vs. just bringing in the wheel.  Its normally (in my case) an extra $50-$100 if its both wheels on the bike and about $30 flat if i bring in the wheel.
  • mickle
    mickle
    5 years ago
    Harley Heaven Melb fit all tyres for nothing if bought from them, bit late for your mate now though.
  • conmore
    conmore
    5 years ago
    Hi there
    Thanks for the replies folks. I’m pretty disappointed in the dealership then. Even I thought 3 hours was excessive but never having done the exercise I thought I’d ask here. 

    Cheers. 
  • WideglidingNZ
    WideglidingNZ
    5 years ago
    Quoting conmore on 12 Nov 2019 12:16 PM

    Hi there

    Thanks for the replies folks. I’m pretty disappointed in the dealership then. Even I thought 3 hours was excessive but never having done the exercise I thought I’d ask here. 

    Cheers. 

    it should only take 1 hr, I never get tyres done at the dealers, tyres and fitting are way more exy than most other bike shops
  • Krash Kinkade
    Krash Kinkade
    5 years ago
    I don't think I've ever been charged to fit tyre's to a MC or car, the price they quote me is for fitting & balancing. I take wheels off the bike take to have tyres fitted. sounds like a Harley dealer thing. 
    In USA they all buy tyres online as cheap as they can, but normally pay to have fitted. But Australia, it's always been free fitting & sometimes buy three get fourth free ( can't do that ) .
    well if job is done it's a bit late, why didn't you take the wheels off for him?

  • conmore
    conmore
    5 years ago
    Quoting Krash Kinkade on 12 Nov 2019 08:36 PM

    I don't think I've ever been charged to fit tyre's to a MC or car, the price they quote me is for fitting & balancing. I take wheels off the bike take to have tyres fitted. sounds like a Harley dealer thing. 

    In USA they all buy tyres online as cheap as they can, but normally pay to have fitted. But Australia, it's always been free fitting & sometimes buy three get fourth free ( can't do that ) .
    well if job is done it's a bit late, why didn't you take the wheels off for him?

    Hi there
    No time. I was full on at work and he and his buddies were on a tight timeline as well to be on the boat by 5.00pm to Tassie, otherwise I would have. 

    Cheers
  • robnicko
    robnicko
    5 years ago

    when getting tyres i take wheels off and this pretty much sums up the time it takes me

    front wheel is relatively quick to remove and reinstall - say 15Min
    -unbolt caliper first
    -remove axle etc

    Rear is more work / time especially if the std exhaust still fitted. For example on my 08 Fatboy with std exhaust & S&S slip ons
    -remove mufflers and right side footpeg / muffler mount
    -remove belt guards
    -remove caliper
    - make note of belt adjustment and loosen
    remove wheel, spacers , axle and caliper mounting arm

    the re installation is the reverse with particular attention to ensuring the spacers installed correct and caliper mount arm is installed correctly or else when applying rear brake when facing uphill can pull the caliper out of whack and stretch the hose
    when putting the caliper back on the disc, the little spring in the caliper needs particular attention as the pad backing plate could end up in the wrong spot and you end up chewing brake pads and have an overheating disc
    reset belt tension / alignment
    reinstall belt covers
    reinstall footpeg mount, muffers
    clean chrome!

    all up, the rear takes me about half an hour at home to remove and the same again to re install. 

    rob

     


  • wello
    wello
    5 years ago
    Just had front and rear tyres fitted to my ultra limited ,  commander ll  at a small repair shop  $$650.. called Harley shop where I just also bought a brand new bike and they wanted $878 ????
  • Krash Kinkade
    Krash Kinkade
    5 years ago
    Wello those prices a bit savage! if you have the room, you could buy a good work bench lift. 
  • wello
    wello
    5 years ago
    Quoting Krash Kinkade on 14 Nov 2019 04:48 AMedited: 14 Nov 2019 04:49 AM

    Wello those prices a bit savage! if you have the room, you could buy a good work bench lift. 

    I barely got room for the two bikes and 2 cars .. have to juggle around when I get one of the bikes out . Don’t like leaving cars on the driveway at night .. plus the fact I’m a lazy twat and would rather pay to get them done ... properly !!  Lolol
  • robots
    robots
    5 years ago
    That’s not unreasonable.
    1hr front (remove, tyre change, balance, refit)

    2hr rear (same)

    I guess if its on top of very expensive tyre cost then the total bill could be high.
  • Krash Kinkade
    Krash Kinkade
    5 years ago
    Quoting Krash Kinkade on 14 Nov 2019 04:48 AMedited: 14 Nov 2019 04:49 AM

    Wello those prices a bit savage! if you have the room, you could buy a good work bench lift. 

    Quoting wello on 14 Nov 2019 06:38 AMedited: 14 Nov 2019 06:38 AM

    I barely got room for the two bikes and 2 cars .. have to juggle around when I get one of the bikes out . Don’t like leaving cars on the driveway at night .. plus the fact I’m a lazy twat and would rather pay to get them done ... properly !!  Lolol

    no worries.