Hi all, I recently bought another Sprint RS to use as a donor and, today I was going to change the wheels over as my rear tyre was worn out but the donor has almost new tyres. A bit of wrestling and I got the rear tyres swapped over but I then went to look at the front end and was confronted by this huge hex/allen head. Not got any keys that big. Any ideas on something I can use in place of the correct tool or a workaround for the moment?
Undo the pinch bolt on the bolt side then undo the bolt, then undo the pinch bolt on the hex side. Leave the bolt screwed into the axle a few threads then tap the bolt head with a hide mallet or similar to push the axle out the other side until you can pull the axle out by hand. You shouldn’t need to hold the hex side at all. When you put the wheel back, slide the axle in and just nip the pinch bolt on the hex side while you torque up the bolt then undo it again, put the weight back onto the wheel and torque up the pinch bolts.
Thanks @Duckadiledundee I have ordered the correct tool (a stepped hex jobbie for various axles) and, hopefully it will be here Saturday or Monday but I want to go out now!!! Well not right now but soon. It's been drizzly/rainy ever since this afternoon. That fine stuff that coats your visor and blinds you unless you get up to around 110mph where it bounces off but, unfortunately those sort of speeds don't feel too safe in the wet. The tyre on the front is OK but it's a totally different pattern so not sure how the two would work together. Front is a Michelin Pilot road 2 where the tyre on the back is now a Pirelli Angel ST.
Got my 'Motorcycle Spindle tool' on Saturday morning and got straight down to swapping the front wheels over. Once it was done I took the old girl for a spin. Jeez what a difference! I don't know if it was my imagination but when I was still on the old Michelin Pilot Road 2's, even when they had a legal amount of tread, I felt as if the rear wheel sometimes wanted to come out from under in tight corners even at very moderate speeds and I just didn't feel that well planted on the road but, from the minute I rolled out on the Pirelli Angels the bike felt like a different animal. I simply didn't get the feeling I had had previously that she wasn't stuck firmly to the road in the twisties and I was going much farther over and much faster without even the slightest sense of insecurity. I am wondering if the old tyres (Am I right in thinking that Michelin Pilot Road 2's are quite an old tyre?) had somehow gone off or simply weren't that good in the first place.
sorry I seem to be late on this... I have Pirelli Diablos on my 01 RS .. about the best i've found to suit me and my style of riding... had Battle-axes on when I got it - atrocious handling... didn't like the Pilots when I tried them after the battle axes.. the worst was a Maxxis...... haven't tried the Angels but if they are on offer at some time I may well do
Have Road 5 on my 1050 ST. They suit the bike very well and I have a lot of confidence in them. Had Road 4 before and they were excellent too. I'd say the Road 2 had probably gone off with age. They must have been 10+ years old. Prior to the Michelins, I'd had 3 sets of Roadsmart after the factory Bridgestone 021. The Dunlops were brilliant and I would have stayed with them but my tyre guy convinced me to try the Pilots. I used to love Bridgestones but I think they've fallen behind.
I had Road 3s on my Falco - great. Got Road 4s on my Sprint - not very good. Going to try Avons next.
Nearly bought a Falco once. Loved it but it seemed a little fragile so kept the Bandit 12 a bit longer
As I said in another post, the Italians know how to combine form and function. Look at Campagnolo bicycle kit. I had a 2000 Aprillia Falco - the design of the parts was incredible. Makes my Sprint look a bit agricultural.
