Saturday, Jan 26 2019 [42,804 miles]
The rear tire I ordered after discovering a flat arrived when I was out riding Thursday. Some replacement parts used to mount my left pannier arrived, too. Both are going on the bike today.
![Pannier latch](./t-1320-116Q4472.jpg)
Pannier latch
![Old bent latch](./t-1321-116Q4473.jpg)
Old bent latch
These are the latch/cams used to hold the panniers to the upper part of the pannier frame. The existing latches were bent (along with the pannier frame) during a minor mishap a couple of years ago. I brazed the latches back together and they’v e been holding, but because of the bends the pannier was slightly rattling on the rack.
![Old out](./t-1329-116Q4474.jpg)
Old out
![New installed](./t-1330-116Q4475.jpg)
New installed
It only took a few minutes to replace the existing latches. The left pannier doesn’t have the free play it had. Now I won’t have to remember to replace the tape I’ve been wrapping around the old latches due to pannier play.
![Loosen screws](./t-1336-116Q4476.jpg)
Loosen screws
![Break the bead](./t-1345-116Q4477.jpg)
Break the bead
I removed the rear wheel and put it on the stand to remove the tire. I must be getting better at this job – it didn’t take that long. With the tire off I cleaned the rim.
![Wheel balanced](./t-1409-116Q4478.jpg)
Wheel balanced
![More weight needed for tire](./t-1440-116Q4479.jpg)
More weight needed for tire
I didn’t remember if I’d balanced this wheel before. I had. The wheel stayed in place whereever I stopped it on the balance stand. Because the wheel is balanced it really doesn’t make any difference where the red dot on the tire is placed. I still placed it next to the valve stem.
The second picture shows some lead wrapped around a few spokes. That was needed to balance the wheel with the tire installed.
![Ready to ride](./t-1514-116Q4480.jpg)
Ready to ride
The wheel is back on the bike. It’s ready to ride. Tomorrow will be the first time in a long while since I’ve ridden the GS with new rubber front and rear. I’m looking forward to it.