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Rear wheel removal on the road.

4K views 28 replies 17 participants last post by  chrisbre 
#1 · (Edited)
Went out for a little ride at the weekend and picked up a nail in the sidewall of the rear tyre. This meant roadside removal for repair which turned out to be a pain in the butt, involving beefy guys, bits of timber and lots of swearing.

Has anyone come up with a cunning little device to make this easier? I could sort of picture some sort of prop on the right hand side of the bike working in conjunction with the side stand. Ideas anyone?

I guess I should ask for front wheel removal ideas too.

No, I dont have a centre stand, at home I just lift the bike on a chain lift when it's time to change tyres etc.
 
#2 ·
Do a Google search on here for trail stand, there are commercial ones for sale or some of us have made out own.
 
#3 ·
when i didn't have a center stand, i carried around a 2x3 piece of lumber in my tool tube, to be used in conjunction with the side stand. It was very easy to use and, despite what you may think, quite secure - as long you tied the front brake lever. Get a swing arm spool or even just any old bolt to fit in that hole, and put a v-notch in the top end of the 2x3 for the spool/bolt to fit into. Also, slightly angle cut the bottom, so it sits flush with the ground as it angled over toward the bike. To use, first put the bike on the side stand and tie the front brake. Put the 2x3 into position, with the spool into the notch. THen, as you push the bike over onto the side stand and the rear tire starts to lift off the ground, give the 2x3 a few kicks at the bottom to wedge it in there. You only need to lift like an inch or so - enough to freely spin the wheel. I used it all the time to lube my chain. We called it the "poor-man's center stand".
 
#5 ·
You could just get a cunning little device known as a center stand. There are commercial and cobbled together devices that can be used in conjunction with the side stand that have been mentioned on this site but I don't have them memorized or bookmarked. Every road bike I've ever owned has had a center stand.
 
#7 ·
Economics. It's more expensive to provide stock and many riders who ride locally and take the bike in for service will not need one. The costs involved with making, stocking and marketing add on parts is higher than providing them stock. Aftermarket stands are probably a better choice.
 
#8 ·
"The real question is why Suzuki doesn't install one from the factory or at least sell it at a reasonable price when buying the bikes"

Because they can charge for it after the fact. One could negotiate with the dealer at purchase time. PITA.
After market units are available and so are used ones.
Harleys are famous for not having center stands.
 
#14 ·
I kind of agree with the centre stand thing.

My V2 came with a stand, I planned on removing it but I found it convenient to have the bike in a upright position when I'm working on it or packing it for a trip, I rarely oil my chains I just change them when worn.

This is a link to the trail stand I built for my Wee.
http://www.stromtrooper.com/general-v-strom-discussion/282962-trail-stand.html
 
#18 ·
LINK>>>>http://www.stromtrooper.com/general-v-strom-discussion/282962-trail-stand.html





I did look at that before posting and yes it's along the lines of what I was thinking. He shows it lifting the the front wheel as well but it's attached to to the right hand fork leg so I do wonder what will happen once the axle bolt is removed, at this point all the weight will be on just one fork allowing the other to extend fully. I'd imagine reassembly would be a pita.

I think I will have a go at making a single extendable support which can be used on either wheel, probably using the hole throught the front/underside of the engine casing for the front and the bolt hole next to the rear axle for the rear.
 
#21 ·
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#24 ·
#25 ·
I think dropping the bike once from this lifter would be enough to convince anyone to get a center stand, especially if it dented your tank, or landed on top of you.

Maybe just run the bike up on a log, or you could lean the bike to the right, someone slides a piece of wood under side stand then you roll it over to the left and someone slides a stump under the belly of the bike. Both of these assume there is a solid skid guard on the bike, and not a Givi one.
 
#26 ·
Yup....and to those who say the extra weight of the stand and the remote possibility of it dragging or scraping, I shall say I have NEVER so much as dragged or scraped my centerstand on 3 Stroms. Sounds like an improper sag setting or suspension for rider is not adequate if that is happening, a centerstand is pretty much always the first farkle I add to a bike which can have one mounted. I would still attempt a sidewall plug depending on where I was, just to get to a dealer for a tire swap. Get a centerstand guys, make your life so so much easier. I also wonder if rubber cement and gorilla tape might also get us out of a sidewall puncture jam?
 
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