Getting ready to swing on some new rubber front & rear. I've watched utube video & looked at service manual. Just looking for any additional tips you guys may have who've done this. I have just average mechanic skills IMO. Thanks.

 

If it's hard to do, you are doing it wrong.
Make sure you put the rear tire on sprocket side first, the brake disc is much more forgiving than the sprocket when you slam your hand into it.
Powder the tube, inflate enough(I blow it up w/o the valve using my mouth) so it just folds on your finger but otherwise keeps its shape.
Windex the tire a lot, makes the tire a little slick and easier to mount.
A third lever is nice to have.
Something to keep the bead down in the center of the rim is nice, like a Bead Buddy, but I've jammed some dowels in too. If the bead pops up on the outer portion of the rim, it will seem impossible to mount the tire, you might even damage it trying. A well placed foot or knee is a good substitute if this happens.
I'm barely an average mechanic and it was so easy I couldn't believe it.
I also had my laptop next to me, so I could re-watch a video of some racetech changing out a tire.
Good luck, even though you probably won't need it.

 

I took mine off to put new tires on a couple weeks ago, it was super easy, I didn't even loosen the adjusters, I just removed the axle, pushed the wheel forward, and slipped the chain off the sprocket. The wheel came right out after that, took a few minutes at most.

I cant comment on spooning the tire on because I used the tire machine at work.

 

1. bend the pin straight with needle nose pliers and remove on the right blocking the right bolt...
2. jack up or lift the bike up...
3. remove the smaller fine adjustment bolts on the left and right with the head facing forward...
4. remove the left and right main bolts holding the wheel...
5. the wheel should be still held by the chain...just push the wheel forward and take the chain off the rear sprocket and it should just slide right on off...

 

Also putting all the rear axle goodies on the axle, in the correct orientation, with the nut(to keep it together) helped me from screwing crap up later or spending hours looking for a missing piece.

 

A light coat of grease on the axle helps you roll easy.

 

What year? 06-07 are different then the 09+. The 09+ have adjustement screws on the rear and the 06-07 had the cam style adjusters. Still should be vary simple to do.

On the front I stripped the top mounted bolts on the forks (4 botls, 2 on each side)trying to loosen them. I had to grind them off then I replaced them with hardened allen head bolts.

 

I just did mine.

'09 - just remove the cotter pin, take the nut off, and push the axle out. Then slide the wheel forward and take the chain off the sprocket. It was so easy I couldn't believe it!

Now, spooning the new tires on... that was a LOT more difficult.

 

I like this tire change vid.
Dan

 

That's the video I watched many, many times. Good stuff.