FJRiders.com

Posted: **Thu Nov 19, 2020 9:19 pm**

My tire changer is getting up there in years (father-in-law) and a good chance he is going to sell all of this equipment in the next few years. So I am starting to look a little bit for tire changers and this one caught my eye because of the height, it can be broken down into a bag and not take up a permanent spot in my garage. With this one, I am curious to know if this will scratch up easily scratchable rims. Has anyone used this one and your thoughts? Is this changer strictly for dirt/adventure spoked rims? https://us.rabaconda.com/

I am aware of the Habor Freight changer and that is still an option right now. Just doing my homework before making a purchase. Also adding another bike is in the future and spending a little extra for something easier to use would be worth it to me as well as a quicker return on investment.

Posted: **Thu Nov 19, 2020 9:29 pm**

I wouldn't say that a Harbor Freight is in the upper echelon at all. If im not gonna spoon it on, best to get a nomar. No modifications necessary.

Posted: **Thu Nov 19, 2020 9:31 pm**

I'm sure you could buy enough stuff to make road bike tire changes easier than doing it on the floor, but in the end you're gonna spend more money and have more hassle. This changer is meant for dirtbike/enduro/dual sport tires.

My NoMar takes up very little space when it is not set up for working with. I'm betting the HF changer is just as easy to put away and will work much better for road bike tires.

Posted: **Thu Nov 19, 2020 11:56 pm**

Trailer hitch connector for the tire changer for the win. Best modification to any tire changer.

Posted: **Fri Nov 20, 2020 12:07 am**

Cycle Hill (made by NoMar), if I were comparing to Rabaconda. It has the optional NoMar clamps. Unless you like the NoMar version better, but you'll pay more for that. Can make trailer mount or build up a base (or not) as I did.

Posted: **Fri Nov 20, 2020 10:22 am**

I got the HF a long time ago because I was broke. If I was shopping today for a tire changer, I’d go with the NoMar without hesitation and probably with the hitch mount.

Posted: **Fri Nov 20, 2020 10:54 am**

The original HF was $100 and you modified it to clamp your wheels better/protect them. I used mine for years, the niggle was it is 6" too tall. I have used NoMar and the Cycle Hill (which was too short til I fixed it). All better but at a cost. I only got it because I was doing more volume with friends tires. Nuthin' wrong with an HF if you can cut 4-6" out of the middle. I was almost there until the sale came for the CH.... $340 delivered.

Posted: **Fri Nov 20, 2020 2:36 pm**

Not to knock Cycle Hill, but it is a "baby brother" that is now owned by NoMar...and doesn't appear to have what I like from NoMar. It's a step down IMO. Look at them both and see what you like. I have just seen Smitty use his NoMar... back in 2006, and thought that was pretty slick. I have also thought so since I bought mine in 2014. I think it's a better system, just me.

Posted: **Fri Nov 20, 2020 3:08 pm**

Steel_Gin wrote: ↑Thu Nov 19, 2020 9:19 pm My tire changer is getting up there in years (father-in-law) and a good chance he is going to sell all of this equipment in the next few years. So I am starting to look a little bit for tire changers and this one caught my eye because of the height, it can be broken down into a bag and not take up a permanent spot in my garage. With this one, I am curious to know if this will scratch up easily scratchable rims. Has anyone used this one and your thoughts? Is this changer strictly for dirt/adventure spoked rims? https://us.rabaconda.com/

He is scratching the hell out of that rim. Also note he is mounting a tire with a mousse, not a tube, he is mounting the tire "fully inflated."

For ISDE 6-day completion riders get something like 10 minutes to service their bikes per day. If you want new tires you have to mount them in that time, or lose time on the race course. The rider may be handed tools, and the tire, but no other help.

Posted: **Fri Nov 20, 2020 4:18 pm**

N4HHE wrote: ↑Fri Nov 20, 2020 3:08 pm
Steel_Gin wrote: ↑Thu Nov 19, 2020 9:19 pm My tire changer is getting up there in years (father-in-law) and a good chance he is going to sell all of this equipment in the next few years. So I am starting to look a little bit for tire changers and this one caught my eye because of the height, it can be broken down into a bag and not take up a permanent spot in my garage. With this one, I am curious to know if this will scratch up easily scratchable rims. Has anyone used this one and your thoughts? Is this changer strictly for dirt/adventure spoked rims? https://us.rabaconda.com/
He is scratching the hell out of that rim. Also note he is mounting a tire with a mousse, not a tube, he is mounting the tire "fully inflated."

For ISDE 6-day completion riders get something like 10 minutes to service their bikes per day. If you want new tires you have to mount them in that time, or lose time on the race course. The rider may be handed tools, and the tire, but no other help.

How in the Hell does someone swap tires in 10 minutes? I'd be better off with a spare set of rims with tires mounted. I'd figure unless something went wrong there wouldn't be any reason to swap a front. Maybe just a rear if absolutely necessary.

I wonder if I could do an oil change in 10 minutes. Lol.

Posted: **Fri Nov 20, 2020 5:26 pm**

wheatonFJR wrote: ↑Fri Nov 20, 2020 2:36 pm Not to knock Cycle Hill, but it is a "baby brother" that is now owned by NoMar...and doesn't appear to have what I like from NoMar. It's a step down IMO. Look at them both and see what you like. I have just seen Smitty use his NoMar... back in 2006, and thought that was pretty slick. I have also thought so since I bought mine in 2014. I think it's a better system, just me.

I have used both, both have their advantages and disadvantages, the one you think has the edge is the one you want. They both get the job done in the same amount of time. You can keep the mounting bar though, but I'm nit picking.
The real one I want WAS the one made in Dallas, and before I could pull the trigger, they were out of business. Less than NoMar, and it would beat both above hands down IMHO, but alas, not available.

Posted: **Fri Nov 20, 2020 5:46 pm**

I love me the mounting bar.

Posted: **Fri Nov 20, 2020 6:10 pm**

I sure like my Atlas power machine. Just ordered the strong arm kit for it to make life even easier.

Posted: **Sat Nov 21, 2020 12:32 pm**

HotRodZilla wrote: ↑Fri Nov 20, 2020 4:18 pm How in the Hell does someone swap tires in 10 minutes? I'd be better off with a spare set of rims with tires mounted. I'd figure unless something went wrong there wouldn't be any reason to swap a front. Maybe just a rear if absolutely necessary.

For ISDE they are not allowed spare rims. And generally have to change tires after racing all day. This guy says he can do it in 7 minutes but is happy to complete in 10. No doubt there are many YouTube videos. https://www.dirtrider.com/bike-maintena ... ys-enduro/

As for me, I can take the FJR front wheel off in 8 minutes. I think just under 35 minutes was my all time record time front wheel off, tire on, balanced, wheel back on and tools put away. But I've also taken 90 minutes on a bad day.

Posted: **Sat Nov 21, 2020 1:14 pm**

I just take 90 minutes anyway, fer fun as a retarded old fart. Current rear tire change is taking me over two days, wheel was already off, LOL. It's an extra spare wheel. Got the old one off and the wheel cleaned up. This afternoon will be tar warmer and spoonin' it on and balance. Life is rough.....

Posted: **Sun Nov 22, 2020 10:34 am**

My rear is due within 1000 miles.

When I changed final drive oil a few months ago my bottle of Mobil-1 was emptied so I made up the difference with Valvoline or Castrol. And heard final drive gear whine for the first time.

At stores and online all I could find was the limited slip version of Mobil-1, so I bought Amsoil GL-5 and ended the whine. Then the pinion seal started leaking. Sometimes it leaks, sometimes not. Checked it hot after a ride and didn't see anything unusual, no foam. So I have a new oil seal to install when I change the tire.

In ancient times the admonition was to select one oil when the engine is new and use nothing else until the engine is rebuilt so as not to leak. Then the claim morphed into, "synthetic will make seals leak." Modern SAE/API oil specs stipulate compatible seal swelling properties, but I seem to have run into this old issue with gear oil. Or then again is just the old mechanic's curse, touch one thing and other unrelated things break.

Posted: **Sun Nov 22, 2020 5:30 pm**

N4HHE wrote: ↑Sun Nov 22, 2020 10:34 am My rear is due within 1000 miles.

When I changed final drive oil a few months ago my bottle of Mobil-1 was emptied so I made up the difference with Valvoline or Castrol. And heard final drive gear whine for the first time.

At stores and online all I could find was the limited slip version of Mobil-1, so I bought Amsoil GL-5 and ended the whine. Then the pinion seal started leaking. Sometimes it leaks, sometimes not. Checked it hot after a ride and didn't see anything unusual, no foam. So I have a new oil seal to install when I change the tire.

In ancient times the admonition was to select one oil when the engine is new and use nothing else until the engine is rebuilt so as not to leak. Then the claim morphed into, "synthetic will make seals leak." Modern SAE/API oil specs stipulate compatible seal swelling properties, but I seem to have run into this old issue with gear oil. Or then again is just the old mechanic's curse, touch one thing and other unrelated things break.

With all the whining I see about other bikes and people crying, "Oooh, woe is me. I could never own a bike with a chain and all that maintenance," there sure are a lot of instances of our perfect maintenance free drive shafts being a pain in the ass. I would say modern bikes with modern chains are just as easy if not easier to deal with than dirveshafts, u-joints, gear boxes and gear oil. They sure a Hellavua lot easier to work on.

Posted: **Sun Nov 22, 2020 6:00 pm**

HotRodZilla wrote: ↑Sun Nov 22, 2020 5:30 pm there sure are a lot of instances of our perfect maintenance free drive shafts being a pain in the ass.

I don't think there's so many instances of our drive shafts being a pain in the ass. Just seems some people like to make them a pain in the ass. I'm pretty sure there's been plenty of high mileage drive shafts that the owner just left alone and worked fine till something else happened to take the bike off the road.

That said, I'd say that those who think chains are a pain in the ass are probably the same ones doing maintenance on their perfect maintenance free drive shafts.

Posted: **Sun Nov 22, 2020 8:46 pm**

All of my street bikes have had
shaft drive since 1982.
For dual-sport or off-road,
chains make sense.
But for a road bike, shafts
are my choice. Ain’t going back.

Posted: **Sun Nov 22, 2020 9:33 pm**

I love chains! I love shafties!
Leather and handcuffs too.

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