Two tire questions. What tire do you recommend for an R100R? Who in MD or Southern Pa installs ? Thanks
See this thread right here...
https://www.airheads.org/forum/wrenching/735-tire-recommendations
Any motorcycle shop will install tires, but you should learn to do this for yourself in case you have a flat on the road. Assuming you already have a compressor, a 5 gallon plastic bucket, 2 tire tools, and a can of silicone spray will pretty much get you there.
If you don't have a compressor, then nothing adds to your riding safety and increased tire life more than checking your tire pressures every time before you ride. You can get a compressor, hose, and a professional fill handle with a built-in pressure gauge all for under $100.
Owning an old Airhead is easy.
Keeping an old Airhead running great is the true test.
Scot -
That has not been my experience with silicone. I mount multiple tires on a weekly basis using whatever is handy in the shop... which includes a lot of silicone sprays and silicone greases. The wheels are mostly on my bosses vintage AHRMA dirt racers, and some of those tires are run at 15 psi. If any tire was going to slip it would be one with low tire pressure, but we haven't seen that.
The boss (an AMA and AHRMA expert) completed almost 400 AHRMA races last year, and tires just aren't a problem. The list of tire uses includes flat track, motocross, TT, road racing, and trials, and I mount all those tires for him using the same tools and methods. Being vintage class, most of these are 19" front and 18" rear just like our BMWs.
The silicone seems to be absorbed by the rubber compounds and not stick around.
I'm glad you were able to recommend a more conventional lube, but I don't think silicone rates the bad PR.
All the best.
Owning an old Airhead is easy.
Keeping an old Airhead running great is the true test.
When mounting tires, I always lube with NON pumice hand cleaner. It slips when wet, yet sticks the bead pretty well when it dries. And it makes cleanup easier!
Marlin
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