Back when I purchased mine, I picked up what they would call the
Classic Ultimate Package today+ a hitch mount to make it portable and if memory serves me I gave $650 bucks. The package I have now has been upgraded once to the
Cruiser Ultimate Packagewhich goes for $1195.
To really see the value in it most people have to take a lot of things into account like travel time to a shop, convenience of not having to drop your wheels off and come back later, not having to worry about scratches and the pitiful refund of $5 they will take off after they scratch you BRAND NEW BIKE WHEELS. Not to mention the money you will save on the labor and tire cost themselves. For an example if I took my GL1800 to the dealer and asked them to install a NEW set of tires I would be forking out close to $600 before I got my bike back. Changing the tires myself I am able to change them for $270 start to finish. Even a Sport Bike will run you $400 at the dealer before it is all said and done and I can change out those as well for the same $270 or less depending on the deals I find. The Roadsmarts I just installed were $239 to my door.
Granted most people are not paying that since they buy their tires on-line and take the wheels off and take them to the dealer to have them installed for anywhere from 15-$40 a wheel. So obviously it will take longer for the changer to pay for itself. I average at least 2 sets of tires a season on the CBR as well as 2 sets on the Wing so my savings add up quick. If you catch them at an AMA event or at and IMS show you can usually take the shipping cost or or 10-15% off their cost it just depends on whether they are having a good weekend or how good you are at negotiating.
You can view the upcoming events on their
Facebook Page.
But to answer any questions they have changers that range from $465 all the way up to $1400 depending on what you are looking for. The No-Mar Changers carry a LIFETIME WARRANTY on the Non Marring parts and the Cycle Hill Changers offer a 5 year warranty on structural or something like that. They all pretty much operate with the same principles. If you are only doing Sportbike tires the Classic is the fastest at an economical price. The Cycle Hill uses a different clamping system that is not necessarily as quick and bead breaking is done on the ground rather than waist level like on the No-Mar line.
I find it so funny that people will drop $1000 or more on exhaust and thinks that will never put money back in your pocket but complain about the cost of a machine that pays for itself.
They are not very portable. When I go to the mountains on vacation I usually burn up a set of tires before the week is up ( 7 days in the twisties will do that ) with my No-Mar I can load the changer in the bed of the truck with my extra set of tires and a small pancake compressor and I am set. No worrying about finding tires, paying rediculous prices for tires ect.
