Honda Spree and Elite 50 Forums

i have an 85 aero i need to get some new tires for. it has tires with tubes now but they are old and one tube is popped. whats the best kind of tire for this kind of scooter? whats better tubes or tubeless?
what do you roll around on?

Just looking for some info from ppl who know so i make a informed order.

The stock 1985 Aero 50 wheels are designed for tubes and the rims will not work properly with tubeless tires.

.....gotta go with tubes....be sure to use baby powder on the tubes to reduce wrinkle, and install with extreme care NOT to pinch tube with pry tools,.....patience will save you repeated cost and energy......it is quite a tricky procedure even for the vet......after completing the tire / wheel assembly, test pressure over ten minute period before re-installing assembly to bike....my personal choice is to run new tubes never using patched tubes on anything street driven..... .....One more tip: .....seating the bead to the rim often requires multiple inflations/deflations....normally tires will have a ridge right next to the rim lip used for centering the tire on the rim....should be obvious when not properly seated to "round"....Luck mate.......

seating the bead to the rim often requires multiple inflations/deflations

That's the main reason I hate tube tires, I can never get them to seat! I'm not one to put ~100 psi in a tire to get it to seat.

Chisholm wrote:

seating the bead to the rim often requires multiple inflations/deflations

That's the main reason I hate tube tires, I can never get them to seat! I'm not one to put ~100 psi in a tire to get it to seat.

....understand the hesitancy to go to HIGH extreme pressures,....but hey, that is sometimes what it takes when conditions aren't Ideal .....such as warm tires, shiny wheels, careful massaging of tire onto rim...honestly, I've never blown a bike tire (NEW) with 80-90 psi....and often use lubrication in difficult mounts....I keep a bottle of soapy water in the shop for this as well as finding leaks........

A little soapy water along the rim and tire bead eases assembly and facilitates bead seating.

Putting tubes in tires is one thing I can not seem to get the hang of.

I let my local tire shop do that job.

I put tubless tires and rims on my elites that exceed 55mph

Even though I have all the tools necessary for the job, my local scooter/motorcycle/quad shop gets the nod. Better yet if I buy the tire and tube from him, he mounts it for free. Otherwise it is a $15 gig but I usually get it if I wait for 30 minutes.

an easy trick is to find a elite-s front rim with brake hub- its a direct bolt on, 3.00 michelin tires last the longest, you can also upgrade the aero to dual headlights ?

thanks for the tips, after reading the wiki several times i have been dreading it. i would like to get the shop to do it, but i dont have a way to get the scooter there. to be honest i'm stuck trying to get the muffler off. the one bolt is at such an awkward angle i cant seem to get any tool to move it. it doesnt match the other nut, maybe its not the right one. i've spent about three hours on it.

Greetings:

When you do get your nuts off, check This out.

cool havent got it off yet but i think i figured out how, just need to take more stuff off.

Greetings:

Your tool kit will grow into an SA-specific collection of Rocks and Sticks.

A 10mm deep socket on a 1/4" drive ratchet with an extender works for me. Visit Harbor Freight Tools for some really crappy ones that are still good enough.
(I have Craftsman from Sears for decent quality and a bit more money.
You do have to lift the under-saddle bucket, but I pull the engine without removing the side panels usually.

thanks Wheelman, i have enjoyed reading some of your other posts, yr a funny guy. I once again lost to the nut last night.
today i'm gonna win though. the ratchet set i bought could only take off one. 10mm deep i could do it with that prob, i have lost several battles
but that might win me the war. I just went out and bought a ratcheting screwdriver to try, but i forsee another trip to get the 10mm deep.
thinking positively i picked up a couple clamps too for the tire.

edit


10mm deep did the trick!!!!
Now for the real punishment!

...an easy trick to get a stubborn tubeless tire to quickly bead is to remove the valvestem core, and inflate using an actual air compressor. (not a small tire inflator compressor; a comp with an air tank) This "blows" air in much more forcefully and "pops" the bead into place. As soon as the tire has beaded, immediately stop inflating and replace valve core then re inflate.

-you will have to find an air chuck that will inflate w/o the core installed... Alot of air chucks will inflate w/o the core installed. Works every time.

-just an idea for ya... This is the way I usually have to inflate and bead ATV tires

-j