Tire Lever & Bead Holder Kit | Vintage Honda Motorcycles
You do not need a tire machine to change a vintage motorcycle tire. A couple of good levers, a bead holder, and a little technique will get a tire and tube on or off just about anywhere — even on the side of the road. This is our house-brand kit for exactly that: two premium tire levers plus our “Outer Rim” tire bead holder tool.
Why You Need This
Cheap, short tire levers flex and slip, and they make wrestling a stiff old tire — or a tight modern one — onto the rim miserable. Our levers are long enough to give you real leverage and stout enough that they do not flex when you lean on them. The “Outer Rim” bead holder solves the other half of the problem: as you reinstall a tire, it clamps the seated bead down against the rim so it cannot pop back up over the edge while you pry the rest of the tire on.
What’s in the Kit
- Two tire levers — 16.5-inch forged-steel spoons with easy-grip handles
- One “Outer Rim” bead holder — anodized aluminum, clamps to the rim with a nylon thumb screw so it will not scratch the finish
Every tool carries the Common Motor logo, laser-etched. Add the optional Tire Tamer Tool to round out the kit.
Specifications
| Tire Levers | 16.5 in (420 mm) long; 1/2 in (12.7 mm) forged-steel shaft; 1.3 in spoon |
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| Lever Finish | Zinc plated, rubber-coated easy-grip handle |
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| Bead Holder | Extruded anodized aluminum with a nylon thumb screw |
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| Fits Models | CT90 / Trail 90 · CB100 / CL100 / SL100 · CB125 / CL125 / SL125 · CB175 / CL175 / SL175 · CB200 / CL200 · CB350 / CL350 / SL350 · CB350F · CB360 / CL360 / CJ360 · CB400F · CB450 / CL450 / CB500T · CB500K / CB550K / CB550F · CB750K / CB750F / CB750A |
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| Sold As | Kit — two tire levers and one bead holder (optional Tire Tamer add-on) |
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How to Use
Difficulty: Intermediate
Lube the bead. Glass cleaner or soapy water helps the bead slip over the rim edge, and both wipe off clean and dry faster than heavy tire-mounting paste.
Prep the tube. Inflate the tube just enough to take shape, then dust it — and the inside of the tire — with talcum powder so it does not stick or bunch as the tire goes on.
Take small bites. Work the bead over the rim a little at a time, using the tip of the lever. Small bites let the tire stretch evenly and help prevent pinch flats in the tube.
Use the bead holder on the way back on. Clamp it to the rim to hold the seated bead down while you pry the rest of the tire onto the rim.
Keep the valve stem out of the hard spot. Never let the last section of bead snap on right next to the valve stem — it is the toughest place to pry a bead over, so arrange your work to finish away from it.
Our full tire-change walkthrough shows the levers and the bead holder in use on a vintage Honda:
Frequently Asked Questions
Will this work on my Honda?
Yes. The technique is the same for any spoked, tube-type wheel — it is not Honda-specific. This kit covers the CT90 up through the CB750, and the same levers work on the smaller singles and the fours alike.
What comes in the kit?
Two tire levers and one “Outer Rim” bead holder. The Tire Tamer is a separate optional add-on, not part of the base kit.
Can I really change a tire without a machine?
Yes — that is the whole point of the kit. With these levers, the bead holder, and some patience, you can mount and dismount a tube-type tire on the bench or at the roadside. Take your time and work in small bites.
What else do I need for a full tire change?
A fresh inner tube and a new rim strip go in with every new tire, and a set of balance beads finishes the job. All of these are linked below.
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Last updated: July 2026
