New Rear Tire

These are the latch/cams used to hold the panniers to the upper part of the pannier frame. The existing latches were bent (along with the pannier frame) during a minor mishap a couple of years ago. I brazed the latches back together and they’v e been holding, but because of the bends the pannier was slightly rattling on the rack.

It only took a few minutes to replace the existing latches. The left pannier doesn’t have the free play it had. Now I won’t have to remember to replace the tape I’ve been wrapping around the old latches due to pannier play.

I removed the rear wheel and put it on the stand to remove the tire. I must be getting better at this job – it didn’t take that long. With the tire off I cleaned the rim.

I didn’t remember if I’d balanced this wheel before. I had. The wheel stayed in place whereever I stopped it on the balance stand. Because the wheel is balanced it really doesn’t make any difference where the red dot on the tire is placed. I still placed it next to the valve stem.

The wheel is back on the bike. It’s ready to ride. Tomorrow will be the first time in a long while since I’ve ridden the GS with new rubber front and rear. I’m looking forward to it.