Thursday, Nov 9 2017 [6,147 miles]
![New tire time](./t-173131300-3115.jpg)
New tire time
![6K miles](./t-173131300-3116.jpg)
6K miles
![New 705](./t-173131300-3117.jpg)
New 705
I could get some more miles out of the stock Bridgestone rear on my DR650. Winter rains have started. I’ve had a replacement Shinko 705 waiting for a couple of months. The weather is nice this afternoon. Time to change tires.
![Strap down the front end](./t-173131304-3118.jpg)
Strap down the front end
![Raise the rear end](./t-173131308-3119.jpg)
Raise the rear end
I moved the DR to the lift and strapped the front wheel down to the wheel chock to keep it in place when I use a scissor jack to raise the rear end of the bike. I used an impact wrench to loosen the rear axle nut because why else would I own an impact wrench :)
The wheel comes off the bike pretty easy. Next time I’ll remember to gently place the sprocket and cush rubbers on the lift before they fall there on their own.
![Ready to break the bead](./t-173131314-3121.jpg)
Ready to break the bead
![Beads broken](./t-173131319-3122.jpg)
Beads broken
![Dirty wheel](./t-173131334-3123.jpg)
Dirty wheel
I removed the valve core from the tube before breaking the bead on one side and flipping the wheel to break the bead on the other side. With the bead broken I removed the tube before removing the tire from the wheel.
![As clean as it is going to get](./t-173131346-3124.jpg)
As clean as it is going to get
![Balance](./t-173131425-3125.jpg)
Balance
![Ready to ride](./t-173131509-3126.jpg)
Ready to ride
About the only time I clean wheels is when changing tires. The rim is mostly clean, the hub not so much. I checked wheel balance before mounting the tire. The heavy spot was the where the valve stem hole is located. After mounting the tire the heavy spot stayed the same. I added an ounce of weight opposite the valve stem to make things a bit better.
I use baby powder to let the tube slide around in the tire when mounting and airing up. The cap on the 20+ year old baby powder container broke. I think more powder wound up on the garage floor than in the tire.
The bike is ready to ride. Maybe I’ll take it to breakfast Sunday – if it isn’t too cold. I much prefer the GS with heated grips and a larger alternator to power my heated gear for riding in the cold.