changing tyres in Morocco ???

[(RIP) drillam]

I've bought a pair of Heidenau K60's off eBay and found a local mobile dealer who'll come and fit them for me.
However I got to thinking - I'd guess I have a coupla thousand miles left in my Tourances, so why not keep them on until I get down to Morocco in April and swap them over once I get there.
That way I get close to another thousand miles from them as I ride across to Plymouth for the ferry, then down through spain to Algeciras for the Morocco ferry.

Who's used tyre places in Morocco? anywhere you know off close to Ceuta ?
What type of place do you go for? just any old motorcycle shop? are they few and far between?

Cheers
Millard

 

[david a hall]

If you cant do them yourself then do it before you go.

 

[Fanum]

Every village in Morocco has a tyre changing place.

(and unless you are going to do some pistes up north, you might as well keep your street tyres on for the longish haul down to the area you are aiming for anyway)

They will all do it for you, and with the donation of your old set, they will charge you pennies
(they'll keep your 'old set and sell them on to someone in dire need, but wtf....if it helps someone get home, it's all good)

Just take rim protectors (which you should have with you anyway) and keep an eye on them.......if you have a larger than normal Torx bolt to undo (EG on a 1200) then take one with you (but again, you ought to have one anyway) and you'll be fine.

If you want a slightly more professional service (no different in the end though, just 20 times more money) then there are dozens of places within half an hour's ride of any port in Southern Spain, including several within half a mile of Algeciras and Tarifa, plus another dozen in Ceuta.

Don't stress about it

EDIT.....I totally disagree with David about doing it before you go, but he's right in one way...you really OUGHT to know how to do it yourself, even if you only do it as a total practice.......then you'll have a lot more confidence about the whole thing of changing tyres, and even repairing them. It's simple and once you know how, you'll probably never pay for someone else to do it again unless it's for a sports bike that needs a balance machine.

TKCs and K60's don't. (normally)

 

[Two wheels good]

It was easy to find a tyre shop to replace tyres. I looked for a large garage with a tyre machine to avoid the possibility of any oaf (me included) wielding tyre levers.
I was as far south as Er Rachidia, close to my first piste, before I changed them. Maximum value from my road tyres!

It was v. cheap - and one of those pleasant interactions that make good trip memories. I remember the tyre wallah said he wasn't used to doing motos so he sent off for his mate who was a motorcycle mechanic. I looked after the wheel removal though.

 

[(RIP) DitchWater]

If I was doing what I think your crew are going to do then just fit the Heidenau's before you leave.

I have them on my spare wheels and I reckon they're good for well over 6K miles. They are a lot more durable than TKCs but if you want to use the Continental tyres from new they will get you there to tour Morocco and get you home just in time to replace them.

The Heidi's are good tyres for most surfaces but don't push it too much in the sand...

You guys will be fine. Just make sure you have enough cash between you all to deal with unexpected problems

PS. As Fanum has stated, it's worth knowing a bit about your bikes and how to fix them: Puncture repairs are usually top of the list.

PPS. I take a small netbook with a PDF of my bike's service manual to help with problem finding and method.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

As Fanum says, ride down with them on and change when yours wear out. There are 2 downsides to this in my mind:

Carrying spare tyres is a right royal pain in the arse even for a few days and Heidenau's have very tough side walls so rim protectors are a must if you value your rims.

However, I always like to start any trip with new rubber and the Heidenau's will do your trip with loads of tread to spare. When they are worn you will then have your part worn Tourances for when the Heidenaus wear out

 

[Tim Cullis]

As someone else wrote, look for a big tyre shop with car/truck tyres outside. Should cost 30-50 dirhams max if you get the wheels out. Moped shops are a waste of time.

 

[(RIP) drillam]

up until now I always have done my own tyre changes on all my bikes. Just don't know if I can arsed doing it when I hit Morocco when I'd guess (as Fanum said) I can get it done for a pittance. Also I won't be charged for disposing of the old ones.
I'd read that Heidenaus are tuff to do as they have very hard carcasses. I've changed TKC's before, but as I said, why the hell bother when I can get it done for next to bugger all?
I have a puncture repair kit, never had to use it on this bike but did on my 1200.
As to balancing them- I never have done.