Ok, so I wore the inevitable flat-spot that comes with doing the commute thing on sportbike tires. Michelin Pilot Power tires, and I guess they made it around 8k, which isn't bad for tires that sticky. The front still has a couple thousand left on it, but I figured I'd go ahead and pick up another front, and rotate the old one into my "in case of emergency" rack. The D204 front I've got there now was like a brick when it was on the bike, and a season of sitting can't have helped.

Anywho, here's why I posted: I picked up a set of these Michelin wonders for $246 DELIVERED! Cheapest local shop wanted $140 for the front and $175 for the rear, the Honda shop wanted $155 and $190!! Plus installation!! Cheeky bastards. I don't mind spending 10-15% or even 20% more than online to buy local, but 40% plus exorbitant install charges? Come on.

I ordered the tires last Thursday, and they came in today (Monday). I then picked up a set of jackstands to use as a balancing rack, and some tire irons from NAPA. I'd recommend getting a better set of irons than the ones I got, but with a good bit of soap and good technique, it didn't take long to have everything squared away. I left the front on tonight as I only HAD to have the rear, and I'm really, really sick of having to ride the DC Metro, so I wanted to be able to ride in the morning. I'll need a padded 14" rim to do the front w/o messing up the rotors, so I'll have to run by and pick one up at a junkyard, then pad it w/ some weatherstripping I've got. Even with the tires, jackstands, and tire irons, I'm only out $306 total, and once I drop another $5 on a rim, I'll be set up to change my tires for free from here on out.

Tire changing and balancing instructions here:
http://www.clarity.net/~adam/tire-changing-doc.html

And where, you ask, did I get the tires? Check this out:
http://www.ridedirect.com