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Scooters - 125 to 300 => Downtown 300 => Topic started by: moparkid on January 01, 2014, 03:17:50 AM
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Well.... I got on the scoot xmas day and barely got 500 feet when that dreaded "oh no! whats goin on here?" reared its ugly head. Pulled over and a quick eyball check of the rear tire....""Yeppers, them's a belt I be a seein pokin thru!" So I figured why not replace them both. Got 7500 miles out of the Maxxis factory issued pair so I am happy with that. But second set of tires I am going with are Metzelers FeelFree from Dennis Kirk, both tires shipped to my door for about 150 USD.
Now for all of you who bought the DT 300i service manual online, are you like me and wondering "why do they only give us steps 1,3,5,7...etc etc?" Seems like they leave out steps 2,4,6.8.....etc etc. But for the price, I have found the online manual to be a major help and after I do each procedure for the first time I realize why they are not more detailed about their manual. Once you do anything on your bike, it will always be a piece of cake from that time on, providing your memory doesnt fail you, and at my age thats a likely possibility. The manual leaves out quite a few steps but if you accept that going in, you will game plan your repair and you will learn.
Now on to the tires. I wont go into the front tire removal because its simple and straight forward, nothing to "figure out". As for the rear......
To start off with, remove the seat and tub (do this for any repair regardless whether or not the "manual" suggests it, except the front end. It just makes everything easier). DONT FORGET the lil pop out rivet holding the seat underneath. Just press the center of the rivet in with a screwdriver until you hear it "pop", then with your fingernails pull it out. Once seat and tub are removed find the O2 sensor and remove it from the muffler. Then remove rear fender well. Trust me, you'll be glad you did. Then remove the shock. Manual says unhook it from the fork only but unless you remove it completely, you'll never get the wheel off the spindle. It takes a 14mm. Once again having the tub out of the way is a godsend. Now remove exhaust system, two long nuts hold it at the block and three bolts secure it to the fork/frame. Dont lose the exhaust gasket that is located between block and pipe. Manual says replace but its made of metal and unless its deformed or broken, you can re-use the gasket. Then remove 2 screws holding brake line to fork. Remove bolts holding brake caliper in place and remove from brake hub. loosen the 2 front bolts of the fork. If you have an impact, here's where you'll need it, if not, get a 1x1x12'' piece of wood and put it between fork and rear wheel spoke and use as a stop to break the 24mm nut loose from the spindle. Give the breakover bar a good whack with a dead blow to break it loose. Now remove the front 2 bolts and then the nut from the back and pull off fork. There is a collar that is located on the spindle. Make note of direction though I seriously doubt the install would be possibe if it were installed backwards. Now pull off wheel, being very careful not to damage spline of spindle. Just for safety sake, before taking wheel in for tire replacement, remove brake disc plate. You never know what kind of person will be working on your wheel so better to not have it there. Naturally install is the exact reverse of removal. It seems like a lot of work but it took me less than 5 hours from start to getting tire installed on wheel to putting it all back together. I expect it will go faster the next time. I will report back about the tires in a few weeks to a month. Also installed a new plug and though I only tested it for about an hour today I could tell the difference right off the bat. Some say a plug change is useless...I say otherwise.
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Hey Moparkid,
I switched several months ago to Metzeler Feelfree tires from Pirelli Diablo, Please look under New Tires for my Downtown. I really like the way the tires feel and ride.
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I switched last week to Metzeler Feelfree tires from Diablo and im a firm believer in Diablo's
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Got stuck into getting to the rear wheel today to get the tyre replaced.
I'm down to the rear fork which I think should just slide off to give me access to the wheel.
I have all the bolts removed, including the 24mm wheel nut.
The fork is still stuck fast at the point of the axle.
I've tried to lever the fork off but it's on pretty tight!
Just wondering if I'm missing something or is it just a case of persisting with it to try and encourage it off?!
Thanks!
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I got Metzeller Feel Free too... Waaaay better... Or I became a way better driver (but I don't think so)
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I went for the city grip rear and power pure on the front seem to work well,.
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Got stuck into getting to the rear wheel today to get the tyre replaced.
If you have all the bolts removed from the rear fork it should pull off...maybe a few taps with a deadblow or rubber mallet and then you can get the wheel off of the spindle.
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Someone on here mentioned removing the muffler. Tried that last tire time and it works great! That side plate was a bear the first time: had to use two puller legs like pry bars and it eased off nicely. Got it off the second time with fingers. Have Metzlers front and rear and am happy.
Karl
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I used a dead blow hammer rubber face a couple of shots and it moved off,
and I removed the muffler only, not the pipe,
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Thanks for all for the responses, very much appreciated!
I've removed all the bolts facing out and have followed Cyclepedia manual in doing so, so I guess it should loosen up with a few taps of the rubber hammer.
I was just wondering if there was something else at the back that I was missing:
Now remove the front 2 bolts and then the nut from the back and pull off fork.
Got the 24mm wheelnut off relatively pain free and then the last 2 bolts on the very right hand side of the fork, as per picture.
Not sure what the nut from the back relates to though...
Having said that, I should find out fairly quickly whether the hammer will loosen it up!
I also removed the muffler to gain access. I ended up having to hacksaw off the exhaust clamp but it required replacing anyway and a lot more straight-forward than the alternative!
On the subject of tyres, I've replaced the Diablo with another purely to match the Diablo on the front. I've been happy with them so far so found no reason to change.
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Nut from the back I was referring to is the spindle nut...sorry for the confusion.
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Someone on here mentioned removing the muffler. Tried that last tire time and it works great! That side plate was a bear the first time: had to use two puller legs like pry bars and it eased off nicely. Got it off the second time with fingers. Have Metzlers front and rear and am happy.
Karl
Hey Karl, I'm assuming when you say side plate you are referring to the piece of black frame in front of the brake disc.
I cannot get it to budge at all! I've tried levering it off with spanners between it and the inside of the brake disc. I've tried the rubber hammer but can't get a good angle to strike it from behind in the direction it needs to go to come off.
I've enlisted some help to see if two people trying to lever it off might work! I can't understand where the resistance is coming from, I thought the muffler would be the hardest part of the job, especially when videos of rear tyre removal just show the piece of frame simply sliding off with minimal effort!
I'm going to try and persist with it for another hour or so before I consider putting it all back together and bringing to mechanic.
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Zee, you are correct about the sideplate: it is like the right half of a swing arm for the rear wheel. That plate is where the right hand wheel bearing is located. The clearance for the bearing outer race is a really fine slip fit. It is not an interference fit requiring some considerable force to remove. It should just slide off but never does especially on first removal. However, it requires the plate come STRAIGHT OFF. This is tough because ya can't get any kind of a puller on it. Ya kinda have to "worry" it off with a gentle pry on one side then the other when you detect microscopic movement. Once it starts, it comes right off and will practically fall off the next time. The watchword is it does not take a lot of force to get it going, it takes gentle finesse.
Karl
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I think I am going to replace the factory maxxis tires on the DT. Michelin or metzeler!! Any recommendations?
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Going to changed the factory maxxis tires on the DT. Michelin or metzeler? Any recommendations?
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Can't get Metzelers here in Malaysia, but I've been thru the Michelin Pilot Pure SC over the past 22,000kms.
I am still on my 1st front, and 3rd rear. Each rear I get about 10,000km out of it. That's past the wear indicator to just barely having any thread left.
To be honest, they aren't confident inspiring but holds a good line in the corners in the dry. Wet, the rear tends to slip a little if you're not careful.
Going to changed the factory maxxis tires on the DT. Michelin or metzeler? Any recommendations?
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Thanks, kneeslider. I was leaning towards the metzeler feel free, they are a little pricey but got good reviews. Thanks again
- Rich
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I put Metzelers on the old DT and they were such a VAST improvement over the Maxxis I would recommend them. However, there are so many on this forum using Michelins and raving about them that I would seriously consider them. I think Michelin has a harder compound in the center of the rear tire for better wear but cannot seem to confirm. Additionally, the Michelins may offer a radial but cannot confirm that either. Read the rain reports on here to decide on that.
Karl
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Yes the Michelin s do come in a radial, but not in our size.
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I'm with Dunlop scootsmart front and rear, seriously better than the standard maxxis IMHO.
I did have city grip on my old scoot, aprilia Atlantic 500, I only got about 5000 miles on the rear, I think it may have been down to the weight of the scoot, she was rather heavy!!! (unlike me!!) ;D ;D ;D
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I do not do much in the way of wet riding but the stock tires seem to have served well so far. I have over 6,000 miles on them and they are still holding out.
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Ok, I bought the metzeler feel free for front and rear. I ordered them yesterday afternoon and got them today!!!!! Damn, I love Amazon.(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160520/b953150a7540b09c42f502bb15a394b0.jpg)(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160520/dee1eee988262f2fa938cf0d674bdd8d.jpg)
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They are for the Dt300, not my Lance Venice, in the picture.
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I know a couple people have moved to the feel free's from the Pirelli Diablo, I haven't tried them yet. I just replaced some Maxxis tires on my Downtown with the Pirelli Diablo's and they are excellent in handling and traction on this bike.
I have gone through about 5 rears on my Burgman 400 of the Diablo's same size as the downtown and I can't speak highly enough about them as far as performance. They do wear faster than other tires I have had...but are cheap enough to not really care.
Since several people speak highly of the Metzers I will probably try a set of them, but you can't go wrong stability, traction or fun wise with the Pirelli's. Plan on about 15% shorter life though.
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As soon as I get them mounted and balanced, I will ride some and write a quick review. I was pretty confident on the maxxis' , can't wait to try these out.
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I replaced the Maxxis right away with Michelin Pilot Pure SC. Have used them in light snow and they do just fine. Like someone else said the they do have a slight slide in weet but just slow down like you should anyways and its a none issue.
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I had the metzelers installed last night. Took about 2 hours . They charged me $100. I'm happy with that, considering most auto mechanics in the NY area get $100 or more per hour.Plus I got to go to my 9 year old sons spring concert. That's priceless!! Seriously, for $100, I have peace of mind that I'll be safer and they were done right.
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I had the metzelers installed last night. Took about 2 hours . They charged me $100. I'm happy with that, considering most auto mechanics in the NY area get $100 or more per hour.Plus I got to go to my 9 year old sons spring concert. That's priceless!! Seriously, for $100, I have peace of mind that I'll be safer and they were done right.
I had the metzelers installed last night. Took about 2 hours . They charged me $100. I'm happy with that, considering most auto mechanics in the NY area get $100 or more per hour.Plus I got to go to my 9 year old sons spring concert. That's priceless!! Seriously, for $100, I have peace of mind that I'll be safer and they were done right.
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Good for you!
For all the right reasons !
Stig
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This post is semi out of location, but I feel pertinent so hopefully you all don't gig me for that.
I very recently posted that I put Pirelli Diablo's on my Downtown and have used these tires on other scooters to great success. I may not have mentioned that I own a People 300GTi as well as my downtown and I picked up a nail a few days ago in the rear.
Luckily I was at my groups clubhouse and we recently purchased a tire changing machine and spin balancer. The only thing I needed was some tires. Well you all have been talking so positive about these Metzeler Feel Frees I decided to go ahead and put them this bike. Even though its not a fair comparison since the bikes are so different in center of gravity and diameter of tire.
So I have had them on for several days now and I can confirm the Feel Frees on the PEOPLE are very stable grip well and don't seem to have much "Line Groove" drift from those lines they cut into the highways in so many places.
The Diablo did a little better on that highly grooved super-slab, but the Feel Free's did well. The Diablo's still perform better in the curves. I do have a great respect for the Metzelers so far...they are just different...If they hold up better than the Pirreli's (which it would be shocking if they didn't) they may still be a more viable tire for many. Pirelli's are certainly cheaper in this instance, but that may be because the PEOPLE has 16" tires versus the 13/14 n the DT.
I will post some more review on the tires in a week or so after a long trip down to US129 The Dragon in two weeks with the club.
P.S. If anyone is interested in meeting up down at the Dragon or riding down together let me know.
Deedah/Aaron
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Tire Update!! I've put about 200 miles on the new metzeler feel free's. So far I am very pleased with them. Let me just say, I didn't hate the stock Maxxis, only changed them because they started showing signs of cracking ( dry rot). A few "bikers " I know, said I could've left a little longer, but I'm not one to wait around and have something catastrophic happen (blowout at 65mph). The grip on the metzeler's is excellent and taking turns and corners is a breeze.I can't make a longevity comparison, the Maxxis had plenty of tread left, after 4 years, but when I bought it, only had 600 miles on them. I put about 1200 miles on.The scooter sat for quite some time,before I got it. So all in all, I love the feel free's,so far.I'll just have to wait and see how many miles or years, I get out of them.
I can promise you this... I won't have to change them ,due to letting the scooter sit and the tires getting dry- rot
- Rich
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Either way you can't go wrong, esp coming from the Maxxis MA-Pro.
I have used the Michelins for over 25000kms. Great tire, but they weren't confidence inspiring. Also, the rear would slip sideways a bit in the wet in a corner.
If the Metzs were available in Malaysia, I would give those a try.
I think I am going to replace the factory maxxis tires on the DT. Michelin or metzeler!! Any recommendations?
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