Can your average rider change a stiff sidewall Pirelli Angel GT tire with over 12k kilometers on, using the Rabaconda Street Bike Tire Changer for the second time ever (not to mention forgetting to use lubricant when taking the tire off)?

Why yes, absolutely – they can.

In a new Lohn Rider video, rider Scott Lohnes shares just how long it took him to change the stubborn, worn Pirelli Angel GT – and how he did it. This isn’t some slick marketing video done by the pros: it’s just Scott and Rabaconda vs an old GT tire.

Watch the mayhem unfold:

In this episode, Scott is tackling a tire change on his Kawasaki Concours 14, a beast of a touring bike with stiff sidewall tires. It’s only his second time using the Rabaconda, but Scott feels he’s got the hang of it by now.

“I’m curious how the Rabaconda will handle a heavy, well-worn tire. I’m using an adapter to secure the wheel in place and the magnetic pads to hold the brake disc away from the unit”, Scott explains.

Using the ratchet, Scott quickly breaks the bead, flips the tire, and pops the bead on the other side – all done within a matter of seconds and with zero sweat.

Next, he secures the duck head attachment, gets a tire iron in, and gets the tire off using the ratchet. It’s a bit of a struggle at first as the Pirelli is extremely stiff, but it takes Scott less than two minutes to get the thing off the rim. It would have been easier if he had positioned the duck head at 6 o’clock and used the bead breaker to push the tire to the drop center at 12 o’clock when pulling the tire iron. Also, make sure you always use plenty of lube both when dismounting and when mounting a tire.

Now, he has to install a new Dunlop RoadSmart IV tire. “This one’s as rigid and stiff as they come”, Scott comments.

He applies some lubricant on the inside bead, secures the wheel on the Street Bike Tire Changer, and gets to work. “It probably looks a little awkward, but it’s only my second time using the tool, so I’m sure this can be done faster and more efficiently once you’re used to it”, Scott explains.

The Dunlop puts up a bit of a fight, but Scott soon gets the bead in with the duck head, and the new tire is on. It would have been easier if he had positioned the duck head at 12 o’clock so that the tire rests diagonally on the duck head when starting to mount the tire. Then just holding the tire in place with one hand and rotating the duck head will guide the bead nicely on the rim.

“It’s important to do everything properly – then, the Rabaconda works extremely well. It takes a little while to get the hang of it, for sure, but the tool is great for sport touring tires!”, Scott says.

Enjoyed this video? Have one of your own? Send it our way – we love seeing riders tackle tire changers with our tools!