[Xyzzy]

The manual wants you to remove the rear fender to change the rear tire.

This post show an easier way to do it.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showpost.php?p=24815562&postcount=318

 

[Bebo]

Thanks for posting this. I'm a little skeptical. You'd figure that the manual would tell you the best and easiest way, but I'd be happy to try this out if I found the manual's method too onerous.

Have you tried this out?

 

[Xyzzy]

I have not tried it. I do not have a lift like that. (I wish i did!)

The method in the manual is a lot of work. I haven't done that yet but just reading it makes me tired! Imagine if you had saddlebags and stuff back there!

With a regular Gold Wing some people literally drop it (slowly) onto the crash bars and then remove the rear wheel. There are videos on Youtube. Here is an example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUcGe-EcBy8

Note: Our Valkyries do not have the rear crash bar that the Gold Wing has so I don't think that is a viable method.

On the VFR1200 I just traded in, all I had to do was take of the five lug bolts and take off one bolt on the muffler hanger to move the muffler to the right a little. The Gold Wing, Valkyrie and VFR1200 all have a pretty similar final drive.

Here is what the back of my VFR1200 looked like with the wheel removed:

 

[MaxDrive]

The manual wants you to remove the rear fender to change the rear tire.

This post show an easier way to do it.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showpost.php?p=24815562&postcount=318

Handy Lift B.O.B. 1500 lift, bought it at an estate sale for $700.00. Best money I ever spent.

 

[messy bessie]

I think this could do the job nicely... $100 from HFT http://www.harborfreight.com/1500-lb-capacity-atvmotorcycle-lift-61632.html

 

[Xyzzy]

I have that exact lift.

The bottom of the Valkyrie is not flat and there are no lower frame rails.

I have not figured out how to lift the bike with it other than using a block of wood under the engine. (Not very stable!)

This (similar but higher quality) lift is very popular with the Gold Wing crowd: http://stores.pitbullbikershop.com/

 

[MaxDrive]

I have that exact lift.

The bottom of the Valkyrie is not flat and there are no lower frame rails.

I have not figured out how to lift the bike with it other than using a block of wood under the engine. (Not very stable!)

This (similar but higher quality) lift is very popular with the Gold Wing crowd: http://stores.pitbullbikershop.com/

Use a section of 2X4 under the centerstand lugs.

 

[Xyzzy]

Use a section of 2X4 under the centerstand lugs.

That works fine for the rear rail on that Harbor Freight lift, but the front rail is a different story.

Because you are lifting both wheels up together, stability becomes an issue.

 

[messy bessie]

That works fine for the rear rail on that Harbor Freight lift, but the front rail is a different story.

Because you are lifting both wheels up together, stability becomes an issue.

couldn't you just chuck the front wheel while still on the ground and then lift the rear slightly using the 2x4 and lift, or does that also run into stability issues?

 

[Xyzzy]

My uneducated guess is you are going to need to lift the back end up at least a foot to get enough clearance, maybe more. With the front end on the floor, somehow held in place, that sounds pretty unstable to me.

The table pictured above is the perfect solution. I have no idea what they cost but my guess is they are not cheap. I'm also running out of room!

 

[5robesons]

Method of Raising the Rear Wheel

Here is the setup I used to raise the bike enough to remove the rear wheel (attached pictures).

I purchased the following tools from Amazon.com:
Dragway Tools 1500 lb Fixed Motorcycle Front Wheel Chock fits Sport Bikes & Road Cruisers
Black Widow MC-JACK Jack (Motorcycle)

I put the jack under the center stand upper cross-bar. If you don't have the center stand, you could probably use the center stand mounting lugs. The key is to jack aft of the center of gravity so the front wheel stays firmly in the chock.

To get the jack to fit underneath, I had to ride the rear wheel onto some wood (2 - 2x4s) while also riding the front wheel into the chock. The chock held the bike stable. Hope this helps someone.

 

[Firefight100]

I have had my rear wheel off twice now. Both times I laid a moving pad down in the grass and laid the bike on it's right side. Very convenient way to remove the wheel. It is a load to pick back up though. So think about that before you do this.

 

[Firefight100]

Also, to remove the front wheel, if you don't have a center stand. I place the bike on its side stand, then place a jack stand, raised to touch and under the right side crash bar. I then use a scissors jack under the left crash bar to level and raise the bike. When done, just lower the left side back on the side stand and remove the jack stand from the right side. Very stable way to raise the front of the bike as you have three points on the ground.

 

[f6fig]

if you have center stand installed,1. place a 1/2 in piece of wood under it , lift bike up on wood . 2 put in 1st ,gear loosen lug nuts. 3. remove left muffler bolt and nut that hold on left muffler 4. loosen muffler clamp till it flops around loose. 5. wiggle muffler off header being care full not to damage gasket.6. remove lugs. there you have it , so easy a caveman can do it . this caveman has done it twice

 

[Thebrain]

I just replaced both tires on my Valk. I used a harbor freight atv/motorcycle jack with a piece of 1x4. I placed the rear leg of the jack surface under the center stand lugs with a piece of 1x4 just long enough to fit between the exhaust shields. Didnt use any spacers under the front section of the engine. Carefully jacked the bike up high enough to get the rear tire off; then ratchet strapped the front and the rear of the bike to the jack using the tie down points on the jack. Just for extra safety, I placed a set of jack stands under the front crash bars. Worked very well!!

 

[OX-34]

I just came upon this Youtube video.

It looks like the wheel was only a couple of inches off the ground when on the jack. It also looks like it can be wriggled out the back without having to be a foot off the ground or something.