Tyre levers

[Udders]

Any one recommend the best sizes to get? I neally bought a set of 3 buzzetti ones (2x350mm + 1x240mm) but stopped cos I thought they may be a bit on the long size. They also do a set of 3 at 240mm. Which ones are the best to get? I intend to carry them on the bike somewhere at all times too. Any advice would be great ta.

 

[Bobster]

Tyre Levers

Too long, too heavy and too bulky. Why not just buy a tyre plugger?

 

[Timolgra]

Too long, too heavy and too bulky. Why not just buy a tyre plugger?

Don't think that was the question

On long trips with the 1150, I'll carry one longer tyre lever as well as a short one in case I have to fit a tube or heaven forbid, need to get the rear wheel bearing off in the middle of nowhere

 

[stephen.stallebrass]

DRC Pro Tyre Levers. They come in a range of sizes for about £15 each.

I have two: 1x17mm (front) & 1x 24mm (rear)

Not used them yet but they seem to be of excellent quality.

I put them in a bit of old innertube to stop them rattling around and put them in a tool tube with the rest of my pucture reapir kit.

Bit of scale next to a TT catalogue...

BTW that's the tube I store them in... not got round to taking the yellow stuff off yet and I only put it on the bike when I'm touring.

 

[rc mad]

After the absolute arse of a job i had getting the rear tkc off the bike i'd say go for the longest ones you can fit on the bike, more leverage makes the job easier

 

[MickDB1]

Dont know if it helps but my buzzetti levers fit up the centre frame tube of my airhead GSs - So they are out of the way they are more than capable of fetching off and replacing any tyres that I have fitted to the bikes

 

[Dave Ett]

After the absolute arse of a job i had getting the rear tkc off the bike i'd say go for the longest ones you can fit on the bike, more leverage makes the job easier

Wrong!

The right technique makes the job easier. I bought some levers about two feet long after failing miserably with the stubby ones I had. Then I went to the Horizons Unlimited meeting last summer and learned how to do it properly!

It's all about lube, and the getting the tyre into the valley of the rim. Get those right and the little levers are just fine.

Oh, and bits of cut-up milk bottle to protect the rims...

 

[rc mad]

Fitting the tire was no issue at all, I've removed and fitted truck tires using only a couple of tire levers and some cheap dish soap so your correct about it being down to technique.

The tkc bead simply did not want to shift. Ended up having to stand on the tire to get it to shift, once it shifted removing the tire was easy. Standing on the wheel to unseat the bead is not an issue if you've got the means to support the wheel and protect the hub / disc from damage but out on the road there isn't always that option, hence a longer lever may help to get a bit more leverage to remove the tire. Next time i remove a tire i'm going to try unseating the bead with it still on the bike.

 

[Timpo]

+1 Technique and soap lube.

I have two 150mm spooned end levers in my pack. Ample for trail side repairs.

T.

 

[Ceri JC]

DRC Pro Tyre Levers. They come in a range of sizes for about £15 each.

I have two: 1x17mm (front) & 1x 24mm (rear)

Not used them yet but they seem to be of excellent quality.

I use Motion Pros with a 24mm 6-sided O-spanner on the end for my rear axle. They also do a handy 3/8' drive adaptor for it, so they also do the job of a wrench. Similar size/concept as the DRCs, but made of aluminium and insanely light (as in, about half the weight of a much smaller "normal" steel tyre iron). Mine live under the rear seat of my F8. Far from being the compromise that "jack of all trades" tools so often are, they are also far and away the best tyre irons I have ever used. If you can't change tyres with a pair of these, you're doing it wrong. My others sit unused in the tool drawer in the garage, even when changing tyres at home. I've never needed a "third lever" since getting these.

Spendy though; about £30. Adventure Spec sell 'em.

 

[Toyo]

+1 Motion Pros - technique and lube -
and they weigh so little it would be a crime not to!
Tip whichever you chose, make sure you get the 12mm/ 13mm combo as that one has a VERY useful lip on the end which other sizes do not.

 

[(RIP) andrewgsadv]

Tyre Levers

Any one recommend the best sizes to get? I neally bought a set of 3 buzzetti ones (2x350mm + 1x240mm) but stopped cos I thought they may be a bit on the long size. They also do a set of 3 at 240mm. Which ones are the best to get? I intend to carry them on the bike somewhere at all times too. Any advice would be great ta.

Hello.

Thomas Meldrum Ltd Sheffield have made tyre levers for a little under 100 years. Only zinc plated and i think they may stock buzzeti levers.
There part numbers are Tl32 small flat and TL90 12mm round and TL95 16mm round
Others in catalogue

Good prices british made and do the job

http://thomasmeldrumltd.co.uk/TyreBayToolsandGarageEquipment.aspx

Hope this helps. All the advise from others is spot on.

Andrew

 

[Ceri JC]

+1 Motion Pros - technique and lube -
and they weigh so little it would be a crime not to!
Tip whichever you chose, make sure you get the 12mm/ 13mm combo as that one has a VERY useful lip on the end which other sizes do not.

Cool, thanks for the tip. Might get one of those and cut the head down to make a C-spanner out of it to allow it to be used on my chain adjuster. Then will be able to get rid of a spanner from my toolkit and replace one of my existing 24 motion pros.

 

[Chrizm]

I was in our local Poundland yesterday and they have some for, guess wot.....£1

I nearly bought a couple but know i have some in garage.

 

[stephen.stallebrass]

Not used them yet but they seem to be of excellent quality.

So I fitted some TKC80s today (first time I'd changed my own tyres before) so I used my DRC Pro Tyre Levers. They were pretty good, not much else to say really! Might get a couple of rim protectors though?

 

[aspiring]

drc pro levers

does anybody know of a cheaper version of the drc pro levers? thanks

 

[doyle]

After the absolute arse of a job i had getting the rear tkc off the bike i'd say go for the longest ones you can fit on the bike, more leverage makes the job easier

I would agree,I have no problem with the front tyre but find getting the last part of the rear on the rim a complete bas**rd.

But noticing the other comments about technique,there must be room for improvement,I do use plenty of soap/lube but still find the tyre going very very tight at the last part.
Whats the secret?? I was going to get long levers -about 3ft fekin long after my last attempt at a rear tyre.

 

[Ceri JC]

I would agree,I have no problem with the front tyre but find getting the last part of the rear on the rim a complete bas**rd.

But noticing the other comments about technique,there must be room for improvement,I do use plenty of soap/lube but still find the tyre going very very tight at the last part.
Whats the secret?? I was going to get long levers -about 3ft fekin long after my last attempt at a rear tyre.

I'm far from an expert, but when struggling with the last bit, I've sometimes found a bit of inflation/deflation helps get the tyre into the right place for the final push.

Good luck!

 

[Beemerman59]

I would agree,I have no problem with the front tyre but find getting the last part of the rear on the rim a complete bas**rd.

But noticing the other comments about technique,there must be room for improvement,I do use plenty of soap/lube but still find the tyre going very very tight at the last part.
Whats the secret?? I was going to get long levers -about 3ft fekin long after my last attempt at a rear tyre.

You need to make sure the opposite part of the tyre from where you're working to get the last part of the tyre on the rim is well down into the wheel well. Plenty of lube on that part of the tyre and put your knee on it while you use the levers to get the last part on. You can put a strap around that part of the tyre if you're still having trouble to keep the sides of the tyre together and in the well.

 

[Dansin]

You need to make sure the opposite part of the tyre from where you're working to get the last part of the tyre on the rim is well down into the wheel well. Plenty of lube on that part of the tyre and put your knee on it while you use the levers to get the last part on. You can put a strap around that part of the tyre if you're still having trouble to keep the sides of the tyre together and in the well.

+1. Also only try to work a small section from the part of the tyre that you've already levered on/off. Couple of inches at a time does the trick. I only carry two 8" levers and can get the rear off and on without a problem. Hardest part is breaking the bead.