Flats

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The Grinch · Mon Mar 20, 2006 6:40 am

What to do about flat tires out on the road? When I'm out riding my bicycle I carry a pump, a spare tube, a patch kit, and tire irons to remove the tire from the rim. Do you guys carry similar equipment to patch tires on the road, or do you call a tow truck?

My bicycle weighs 16 pounds, so removing a wheel to patch the tube is trivial, but my motorcycle weighs >400 lbs, so patching a tire out on the road seems like an impossible task.

sapaul · #2 Unread post by **sapaul** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 7:08 am

Most motorcycle tyres are tubeless, so you carry a puncture repair kit and small compressed air cartridges for reinflation. the tyre stays on the bike. If I can find space for it on my K1200S and a first aid kit too, it should not be a problem for you.

Mon Mar 20, 2006 10:39 am

if you have tubeless tires carry a can of fixaflat.it has got me home a few times.

The Grinch · Mon Mar 20, 2006 10:54 am

Is there a site somewhere that describes how to patch a tubeless tire on the road? Pictures would be nice.

Regarding the cartridges to reinflate the tire, how big are they? I use a 16 gm CO2 cartridge to reinflate my bicycle tires, and they're only 23mm wide. Inflating a motorcycle tire, especially the rear, must take a lot more even though the pressure isn't as high.

flynrider · Mon Mar 20, 2006 11:40 am

For tubeless tires, the repair is more like a plug than a patch. Using a special insertion tool, you jam a rubber plug into the puncture, then snip off the excess. Detailed instructions come with the kit.

Opinions will vary whether you should ride on a plugged tire long term.

The Grinch · Mon Mar 20, 2006 12:37 pm

Thanks for the info. I'd only ride on a patched tire long enough to get home. My life is worth more than the cost of a new tire.

#7 Unread post by **9000white** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 1:49 pm

the fixaflat stuff comes in an aerosol can.if you go with the plug repair you still have to have something to pump the tire back up with.the fixaflat pumps up the tire when you put it in.

The Grinch · Mon Mar 20, 2006 2:30 pm

the fixaflat stuff comes in an aerosol can.

I pity the poor tech at the bike shop who has to clean that junk out when replacing the tire.

flynrider · #9 Unread post by **flynrider** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 8:22 am

XM23 wrote:
the fixaflat stuff comes in an aerosol can.
I pity the poor tech at the bike shop who has to clean that junk out when replacing the tire.

Don't pity him. He'll likely charge you extra for it. They also request that you tell them beforehand if you used aerosol sealant, since some brands are highly flammable and can cause the tire to explode on the tire machine. "Fix-a-flat" brand finally changed their propellant to a non-flammable formula, but there are still other brands that use propane and butane as a propellant.

J.R. Bob Dobbs · Tue Mar 21, 2006 4:16 pm

I bought a tiny motorcycle-sized can of fixaflat (different brand actually) today, it's small enough to fit under my Nighthawk seat with my toolkit.

I figure it's a good thing to have along, always figured I'd be royally screwed with a flat on a bike. If it gets used and the tech later charges me an extra $50 it's worth it to not be stranded.

I've used the product in a car and it really works well.