The Rabaconda Blog

Portable motorcycle tire changer with tire irons

What Is a Tire Iron? How to Use One (and What Makes a Good One)

New to DIY tire work and wondering what a tire iron actually is? Here's a judgment-free guide to using one the right way, without pinching tubes or scratching rims, plus what makes a good one.
Team USA paddock at the 6DAYS in Portugal with Rabaconda portable tire-changing tools

Team Rabaconda Wins the Club Team Award at the 100th 6DAYS

Team Rabaconda won the Club Team Award at the 100th 6DAYS in Portugal. The riders share what the dust, the tests and daily tire changes were really like.
Motorcycle wheel mounted on a Rabaconda Motorcycle Wheel Balancer in a home garage, allowing a rider to accurately balance the wheel after a tire change.

Balancing Beads vs. Wheel Weights: Which Is Right for Your Bike?

Beads are a miracle, or they're witchcraft, depending on which forum you ask. Here's the honest breakdown of beads vs. wheel weights, and which one actually suits how you ride.
Tubeless motorcycle tire change

Tubes vs. Tubeless for Motorcycle Tires: What's the Difference?

Tube or tubeless isn't really a choice, it's usually your wheel deciding for you. Here's the real difference in puncture behavior, installation, cost and handling, plus the tools to mount either one yourself.
Technician changing a motorcycle tire with a Rabaconda tire changer

Best Motorcycle Tire Changer: A No-BS Buyer's Guide

Tire irons, budget stands, mid-tier machines or full shop equipment? Here's what actually separates a good motorcycle tire changer from a bad one, and which tier is worth your money.
Motorcycle Tire Install Cost: Is It Worth Doing Yourself?

Motorcycle Tire Install Cost: Is It Worth Doing Yourself?

You already priced the tire. Here's what shops actually charge to install it, and the honest math on how many tire changes it takes before owning your own gear pays for itself.  
Motorcycle wheel mounted on a Rabaconda Wheel Balancer in a home garage for precise wheel balancing

How to Balance a Motorcycle Tire at Home (And Stop Paying Shop Prices to Do It)

Balancing your own motorcycle wheel isn't some shop-only skill, it's a 5-minute step you're fully capable of once you know the difference between static and dynamic balancing and have the right tool for the job.
Harley-Davidson tire and wheel secured on a Rabaconda Street Bike Tire Changer

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Change a Harley-Davidson Tire at Home with Rabaconda (Without Losing Your Weekend)

Want to change a Harley-Davidson tire yourself? This step-by-step guide covers the full process for Sportster, Softail, Fat Boy, Electra Glide, Road King, Street Glide, Dyna and touring models. Learn how to break even the...
Changing a motorcycle tire in a garage

Change a Motorcycle Tire Without a Machine

Yes, you can change a motorcycle tire without a machine. Riders have been doing it for years with tire irons, basic leverage and varying amounts of patience. The important part is knowing where the job...
Quick tire changes for riders with Rabaconda

When to Change Motorcycle Tires: Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore

Knowing when to change motorcycle tires is one of those maintenance questions that seems simple until you actually look at a worn tire and wonder whether it has one more ride left or is quietly...
Rabaconda street bike tire changer for home garage tire changes”

Rabaconda vs No-Mar Tire Changers

If you are comparing Rabaconda vs No-Mar Tire Changers, you are already asking the right kind of question. You are not just trying to find any tool. You are trying to find the one that...
Street motorcycle tire bead breaker pressing down on the tire

How to Break the Bead on a Motorcycle Tire

If there is one part of motorcycle tire changing that makes riders question their life choices, it is usually breaking the bead. The tire is flat, the wheel is on the ground and somehow the...