Bitech tire changer

[Kurdt]

http://www.aviciouscycle.ca/bitechtire.html

Anyone bought one of these? They look pretty slick.

[gasser]

The machine looks just like the one I bought at Harbor Freight for about $100 on sale (basic machine, bead breaker, and motorcycle wheel adapter). The HF tire changer does come with a bead breaker but it's all metal (no plastic tip).

[blitz11]

Looks to be pretty much the same as a Coats 640 changer from the late 1970's. Nice to have if you're running a shop, but if you're doing 2 tires per month, a $150 Mike's Racing Products (no affiliation) tire changing stand is fine.

If you notice, the tire changer is $399 + $125 for the pedestal. $399 with the floor mount pedestal would have been attractive to me, but $525 isn't.

The nice thing about this is that you could do your own car tires, too.

blitz

[Kurdt]

Originally Posted by gasser

The machine looks just like the one I bought at Harbor Freight for about $100 on sale (basic machine, bead breaker, and motorcycle wheel adapter). The HF tire changer does come with a bead breaker but it's all metal (no plastic tip).

I agree with you that it looks like a run of the mill harbor freight machine, but i don't think you watched the removal and install videos. it has some well thought out features and really slick spoons.
The bead breaker and pedestal is a no brainer to build yourself. I'm gonna purchase the basic machine with an extra spoon and let you all know how it goes.

[Nick]

Not to take away from a Mikes stand as they are great and i have one, but Moose has one also for $99

[gasser]

Originally Posted by Kurdt

I agree with you that it looks like a run of the mill harbor freight machine, but i don't think you watched the removal and install videos. it has some well thought out features and really slick spoons.
The bead breaker and pedestal is a no brainer to build yourself. I'm gonna purchase the basic machine with an extra spoon and let you all know how it goes.

I wasn't trying to put down anybodies machine. I just noted that the basic machine looks and works like the one from Harbor Freight. There are 3 differences of importance though: (1) the bead breaker and tire irons have plastic tips to prevent scratches (2) it has a scale to ease set up for different size rims (3) the videos really help to learn proper use of the tool.

[blitz11]

By looking at the Moose stand, I'd believe that that Moose licensed the design from Mike. I like to support the entrepreneur, so I bought the Mike's stand.

blitz

[ScottyR]

I own one. It is just OK.

It isnt as easy to use as the video makes it out to be but it does keep the scratches to a min.

[GasGas]

I think I can change a tire just as fast with my wheel holder and regular spoons. I just started using a bead buddy recently and I'm still on the fence about using that.

[Kurdt]

Originally Posted by ScottyR

I own one. It is just OK.

It isnt as easy to use as the video makes it out to be but it does keep the scratches to a min.

Would you buy it again?