I pulled THIS from my tire! Cursed- two flats in 4K miles!

Journeyman

"And this one is just right" ~ Goldilocks
Joined
Aug 13, 2017
Messages
2,971
Location
Old Fort, NC 28762 USA
Ride
2020 3R
Exactly one month ago I replaced an Exedra Max with only 2700 miles due to a puncture, then yesterday on a beautiful ride I pulled this shet out of that new tire, with just 1300 miles on it!



If not for the fact that I got the two punctures in two different locations I would have thought that someone is out to get me. Unless someone is actually following me around, I have to go with just extremely bad luck.

Minutes before I noticed the change in handling I felt something kick up and hit my leg. I think it was the handle that had just broken off- probably on the first rotation. I'm still trying to picture how the stars lined up for a dang screwdriver to position itself perfectly like that.

Btw, if you've never had a rear flat (I'm now all too familiar), not a blow out, on the R3 it feels like this.... You may notice it in the front first. The front feels a little high and loose (light contact). On turns she won't want to lean, but will turn more and more like a tricycle. Pull over.

There were lots of bikes yesterday on that popular scenic mountain road. I'd say 20, mostly Harleys, passed by, but none stopped- just a nice guy in a pickup truck with his wife and kids. Hmmmm, I thought. I once stopped to help a guy on a Harley when I had the R1200RT. I had metric tools, but the vice grips were enough to help get him going. Certainly on a joy ride, not late for work, etc., I will stop to help anyone- so much for the "brotherhood" that particular day. Oh, well.

I used a black sticky rope plug and 3 cans of CO2 (need 4) to get me to an air machine and then home.

So, last night, I re-read a post that I participated in about plugging tires. I said then that you should always replace them, but averaging a little over 4,000 miles to a tire, and with two punctures in about that many miles, I'm having a serious debate with myself......
 
I got 2 flats the first summer I owned mine, haven't had another in 8 years.
 
I must be doing something right. I have never had a flat from a puncture since I started riding in 1976.
And now, just to keep the spooks away I carry a patch kit and a small inflator I can run off the battery. I decided to get those after reading some of you guys posts about that on here. Had them stowed for about 3 weeks now. I also keep Ride-on in the tires. Knock on wood!!!
 
My T patched tire was over 200 on the dyno, and well over 150 with me on it, lol, many times. All on a closed course.....

It really depends on where and the extent of damage for me. And each case is weighed for safety. And I only do repairs with the tire off the rim, and only performed my me with a t patch.

That being said, I respect others view to just change it out. It’s yours , and your pax’s life your responsible for.

But it sure seems like cycle tires are garbage magnets!
 
Well the plug has a very slow leak and I had to ride several miles on it before I could get to get to a pull off to plug it. I have no faith in it so, once again, Rocky Mountain ATV has made another sale.

Riding the '98 Thunderbird Sport today (not complaining) and until I can get it mounted Wednesday. I pulled the wheel tonight and expect the tire to arrive tomorrow.

"If it wasn't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all...."
 
If it weren't for bad luck you'd have no luck at all.