Roadside tire repair just got easier, especially for those of us running tires with tubes. Repairing a simple puncture in a tubeless tire is easy, but fixing a tubed tire, like those on my BMW F 800 GS, means breaking the bleepin’ bead. Until now, the best “portable” bead breakers were heavy and complicated. Motion Pro’s BeadPro bead breaker is simple, lightweight (just 9 ounces) and doubles as a set of tire irons. And it’s easy to use.
Forged from 7075-T6 aluminum, the BeadPro comprises two levers the length of normal tire irons, but wider. To use it, push the forked lever between the tire and rim until it stops against the rim, then push down on the free end. Slip the angled end of the second lever into the space between the fork blades, also to the rim (both levers protect your hands with anti-slip guards). With the second lever on top at an angle of 30 or 40 degrees, squeeze them together. The bead of the 130/80 rear tire from my DR-Z400S popped off in one try. The 150/70 tires from a friend’s R 1150 GS (with spoked tubeless rims) and my F 800 GS (with “normal” spoked rims) both took a few bites, but one person can do it easily. Turn the levers around and use the nicely shaped tire spoon ends to finish the job. Dual-purpose, ultra portable and very effective, the $79.99 BeadPro makes other solutions obsolete.
For more information, call (650) 594-9600 or visit motionpro.com
(This Gearlab review was published in the June 2014 issue of Rider magazine.)
