How to Remove the Front Wheel on a Honda Motorcycle

by Chris Gilliland

Removing the front wheel from your Honda motorcycle is a task that you will eventually have to accomplish at some point or another. In most cases, the wheel will need to be removed for a simple tire change or to effect repairs on the motorcycle's front fork. Although the front wheel is usually surrounded by the front fender, brake calipers and the front fork, only a few items must be removed in the process. Aside from a motorcycle-specific stand or jack, you will need only common hand tools to complete this task.

Step 1

Park the motorcycle on its kickstand. Loosen the front axle bolt located on the right fork leg, using a 22 mm socket. Loosen the front axle pinch bolts located on the bottom of the fork legs, using a 10 mm socket and a socket wrench. Loosen the front brake caliper mounting bolts, using a 14 mm socket.

Step 2

Lift the motorcycle's front wheel off of the ground, using a fork clamp lift or a motorcycle jack.

Step 3

Unscrew the front brake caliper mounting bolts, using a 14 mm socket and a socket wrench. Slide the caliper, or calipers, off the front fork legs and the front brake rotor. Hang the brake caliper from the handlebars, using a bungee cord.

Step 4

Unscrew the front axle bolt from the right fork leg, using a 22 mm Allen wrench. Pull the front axle out from the left fork leg, then lower the front wheel to the ground. Remove the speedometer drive from the left side of the wheel, by hand, if equipped. Pull the wheel spacers off both sides of the wheel.

Step 5

Place the wheel spacers against the bearings on both sides of the wheel. Place the speedometer drive against the left wheel spacer.

Step 6

Coat the front axle with grease, then slide it through the left fork leg. Lift the front wheel into place between the fork legs, then push the front axle through the wheel and into the right fork leg.

Step 7

Screw the front axle bolt onto the right end of the front axle, using a 22 mm socket and a socket wrench. Tighten the left fork leg pinch bolts to 16 foot-pounds, using a 10 mm socket and a torque wrench. Tighten the front axle bolt to 56 foot-pounds, using a torque wrench. Tighten the right fork leg pinch bolts to 16 foot-pounds, using a 10 mm socket and a torque wrench.

Step 8

Slide the front brake caliper, or calipers, into place over the front brake rotor. Screw the caliper mounting bolts into the front brake caliper and the fork leg, using a 12 mm socket and a socket wrench. Tighten the caliper mounting bolts to 22 to 33 foot-pounds, using a torque wrench.