Wheel removal

[GLA55Y]

Today I took out my rear wheel, ready to have the Pirelli Angel GT2 tyre fitted. It was much easier than I expected even though I have fitted a rear mudguard extender. Plenty of room to get the wheel out. The whole procedure was much easier than on my last two previous bikes, R1100RT and ST1100. I've also found the torque settings from the manual for the re-fit.

I was going to remove the front wheel but I had to go out and buy a 22mm Hex key, (not very well prepared!) so once I'd got my garage overalls off and washed up it was getting late so I've decided to remove it tomorrow.

Tyres are on the way from Oponeo, weights removed, then I'll take the lot down to the fitters and get em changed.

Anyone else been tinkering on in the garage over these holidays?

[Lonewolf]

I tried to dig up a ground anchor I sunk into concrete a year ago in the garage. I get the feeling it's going to be a work in progress as it doesn't want to come up! I will not be beaten though. 

[Rusty]

Going slightly off topic ... sorry ... but that just reminds me about 15 yrs ago when "my builder" was laying the concrete in the back of the garden for the childrens playhouse ... "pity the poor bastard who tries to dig this lot up .. chuckle chuckle ... " ... you guessed it .. 15 yrs later with a kango drill hammer thingy ... no chance .. just left it and put decking over the top !!

[Rusty]

PS .... glad your wheel came off easily !!

[BigAlan]

When I used to have my rear wheel off I also removed the diff and lubricated the driveshaft splines both ends, had it down to an hour for the whole job, it's not difficult if you have a trolley jack.

[Rusty]

Getting wheels off ... at least on my car (a BM by the way !)... is a pleasure .. exposes so many nooks and crannies to clean polish and wax ... I mean why would you NOT wax the inside part of your wheels that no one is ever going to see ???

[Lonewolf]

Do you honestly take your own wheels off, I would have expected you to have staff for such manual work.

Please do be careful. 

[GLA55Y]

When I used to have my rear wheel off I also removed the diff and lubricated the driveshaft splines both ends, had it down to an hour for the whole job, it's not difficult if you have a trolley jack.

That's a good shout, might aswell do that while I'm on. Also spun the bobbins on the front rotors this morning, very satisfying. Sad isn't it ?

[BigAlan]

That's a good shout, might aswell do that while I'm on. Also spun the bobbins on the front rotors this morning, very satisfying. Sad isn't it ?

It's not sad at all, it's satisfying all round, rotation of the bobbins is a must, or it was for me on mine.

[O.C.]

It's not sad at all, it's satisfying all round, rotation of the bobbins is a must, or it was for me on mine.

I still make sure that the front wheel rotor bobbins are not stuck ..... I also find the process mildly therapeutic 

[Rusty]

Now you boys are talking .... if I knew what a bobbin was I would be spinning it ! I love all that sort of stuff .... not sad, just being thorough !   

[O.C.]

Now you boys are talking .... if I knew what a bobbin was I would be spinning it ! I love all that sort of stuff .... not sad, just being thorough !   

You know very well what a bobbin is... you scallywag       

[GLA55Y]

Tyres still in transit from Oponeo, now with DPD according to the tracking links. One for each tyre!
At present I wouldn't recommend Oponeo. They might be cheap and they advertise 4-5 days delivery. How will that happen from Germany !!

[Lonewolf]

Make sure DPD don't steal your tyres. I returned two car snow tyres on the run up to Christmas via DPD but was only credited for one by the seller. When I queried this with the seller they informed me I had only given one to the driver. Thankfully I was able to prove to them via CCTV that the driver had collected two from my address and driven off with two. The seller promptly credited me for the cost of the outstanding tyre and then took it up with DPD. The DPD driver insisted I had only given him one tyre until confronted with the CCTV footage.


There are some opportunist thieving bastards on the run up to Christmas. I've no doubt they would have moved the tyre on for a fraction of the cost leaving me significantly out of pocket and not a leg to stand on. The seller who is a reputable tyre supplier in the UK who sell mostly by mail order told me straight that if I hadn't been able to prove two tyres were collected they would have assumed it was me who was trying to fleece them!


Needless to say they were quite shocked at the conduct of the DPD driver.

[Lonewolf]

Maybe that should say ex, DPD driver.