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I've given up on trying to keep the rim looking pretty. It's a workhorse adventure bike...it's going to get a bit beat up over time. But, I do use the rubber rim savers a bit when using the levers and this Baja No-Pinch tool helps on that final hard part.

You can buy rim shields to protect your rims from damage whilst fitting tyres, various models available, and mostly American made.

It probably also helps avoid some pinch flats caused by not being careful mounting, but the main reason for me was to make getting that last bead over the rim with these stiff tires we have on the rear. I've had a friend borrow it as well to mount a tire on his bike that he was having trouble with. Originally I bought it when I couldn't mount my Dunlop Mission Trailmax tires...I tried three different evenings, twice with a buddy to help. I finally had to bring the wheel in to the shop to have them mount that tire. I then bought the tool and luckily brought it with me on a trip down to Mike's Sky Ranch in Baja...because on the way home I got a rear flat at night just outside Tijuana....that tool saved my ass.

Essential.

Hi Thomas. That's a Bead Buddy...(or Tire Bead Tool). Here is a link: www.amazon.com/Motorcycle-Installation-Assistance-KAWASAKI-HUSQVARNA/dp/B07RHGDZG2/ref=sr_1_17?keywords=motorcycle+tire+bead+tool&qid=1678724941&sprefix=motorcycle+tire+bead%2Caps%2C210&sr=8-17

Haha. Yes, they are still needed for sure. This doesn't replace them. It only augments them and makes that last part easier....and possible for some of us. Twice now I've used it where we pretty much gave up on the install and this tool made it possible. And we're not beginners. Yeah, sure we could have cranked on it with big lever irons, but you might cause damage to the rim...scratch it at minimum. I know what you're thinking...."He just didn't do it right. You got to make sure the tire is in the center part and stays there." Yep....I know. It's an art. Thanks for the comment though...it's spot on!

@@SDTriathlete Every tire is a struggle it seem. Nowadays I drive an off-road bike so scratches aren't a concern. And the tires are usually softer as well. Makes it a lot easier. Get in the there and train. I know some fellas that that race each other changing tires. People of all kinds. Changing tires for me is is more of : Finally on and now I don't want to think about this for a lonoong time.

@@Roger_Gustafsson It's a lot easier on a smaller dirt bike or smaller dual-sport than on these big adventure bikes with the fatter, stiffer tires!

Thanks. I'll have to play around with that next time. I just helped a buddy put on a new Heidenau Ranger last night. He tried multiple times on his own, then came over to use my Baja No-Pinch tool and we got it on. The key, as you mention, is to keep the tire in the well....but that's not easy with a stiff tire.

@Andy Seitz I've never used the Baja No Pinch, only irons. Going to buy one for sure. But my trick is to push the sidewall down on the near side, then kneel on it. It makes a huge difference in how much you have to "stretch" that last bead into place. Using MOTOZ GPS tires, with a stiff sidewall too.

@@KenWoods Thanks for the tip. I'll try that next time, although I'm not a big guy and I tried that before and I don't make much of a dent in those stiff tires. I just used the tool again the other day and the key is to keep that tire in the groove and away from the bead as best you can....however you can. If using the knee works, great. On lighter tires I've seen folks use zip ties. I've tried some wooden blocks in the past...or some rubber spacers, like those rim protectors. It sort of works. Hope you don't need to worry about it much. ;)

Use a large vice/clamp to squeeze the opposite side and help the bead in the drop center of the rim

It sure is a loud tire on the highway though. And I don't feel too safe going much faster than 75-80mph. I much preferred the previous Dunlop Mission Trailmax. Maybe also look at the new Dunlop Raid that was just announced.

Yeah, when I initially got the Dunlop TMM I tried 3x unsuccessfully to put the rear on myself (once with a buddy, and two more evenings myself. Gave up after a bit each time.). I finally took it in to the shop and they had it mounted in a a few minutes - no problem. I went on a weekend trip down to Mike's Sky Ranch in Baja and was worried that if I ever got a flat on the rear I'd be screwed, so I saw that Baja No-Pinch Tool and ordered it before I went on the trip and it arrived the day before I left. Sure enough, I got a flat...on the rear...at night on the Mexico side near Tijuana. Perfect! I surprised my friend and pulled out the new tool - it worked well and we were able to fix it. I don't think the Dunlops are much different in stiffness than the MotoZ - both seems really beefy tires!

Yup...I had the tire in the car in the sun prior to mounting.

Yeah...I agree. You have to be a bit careful when placing that on the tire edge. But hey...it's an adventure bike....it's going to get a bit beat up, right?

I'll be able to report back on that in several weeks after my Baja trip.

@@SDTriathlete enjoy your Baja trip mate ! I'll be thanksfull to have your feed back in few weeks.

I rode it yesterday for the first time. Definitely feels way different. The Dunlop Trailmax Missions are smooth and didn't feel all that different than the Michelin Anakee IIIs on the road. These knobby MotoZ tires are what you expect: Louder and a bit squirrely on the road. I can feel the knobs when going slower than 20mph and you notice a higher sound level on the road. First time in a turn on the asphalt it felt really weird..almost like the tire was low on air...or fighting me. After some miles on the twistys I am getting used to the tires and trust them a lot more now. They worked great off-road and in the mud/slushy snow on Mount Palomar yesterday. I expect them to be decent in the sand down in Baja. The Dunlops aren't that great in mud or sand, but performed really well on hard-pack and rocky terrain in SoCal or Baja.

@@SDTriathlete Thanks for the report :). hopefully they will work great at baja for you. I'm planing to go for a motoz rallz rear and a pirelli mt 21 front. enjoy your riding time

True....but usually removal is not a problem......I say usually. I did have a problem getting the damn old rear tire off...just took a while and lots of swearing.

That's my 1982 Honda XL500R I restored recently. It belonged to my friend's dad who started working on it 18 years ago and then passed away and it sat semi-disassembled since then. It took me a year to restore it. I have no paperwork so I'm still working on getting it registered.

@@SDTriathlete that's awesome... I had a 1982 XL250R back when it was new. I rode that thing everywhere.

I tried that before I bought this device....didn't work very well.

Use whatever it takes, but if that bead is not in the deepest part of the rim well you are making life hard for yourself.

You mean the flame isn't coming on at all? Maybe you didn't hook things back up the right way...I'd double-check all the connections - especially the igniter.

Hi! Dis you find out the problem??

Sorry...I missed your message when you posted. I'm guessing by now you figured it out and it's working. Can you post a reply to let others know what the problem was exactly and how you fixed it?

Glad it was helpful.

You're welcome!

Sorry. I don't know the exact specs. Maybe do an online search for the specs to get your answer, but if that's what Samsung told you, I'd probably go with that. Installation should be pretty much the same. Why would you not go with the one they recommend?

Andy Seitz The one Samsung recommends (LPKIT-4) is not available anywhere, the only one available is LPKIT-3, but it’s designed for the 22000 BTU rating dryer, most of the new models now a days are 20000 BTU rating dryers. I think Samsung didn’t think it through on the new ones.