You guys have me paranoid about flat tires.....

Sidecar Flip

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20150 Mc Carty Rd. Deerfield, Michigan 49238
I'm not big into starting threads unless I have a question. Seems as though most of my questions get asked by someone else so I read along, comment when appropriate and so on.

Frankly, I'm worried about a flat on the way to Smashville. I'm probably not coming directly to Smashville, I'm going by way of the Chesapeake Bay Peninsula, probably stopping at Britman's for the 4th with E&C. They are setting the itinerary up presently. They will accompany me to Smashville and if you all are at all hospitable, they might tag along. This ain't gonna be no 500 mile trip. It will be more like 2000 miles. I have my Mo-Tow and that's all well and good and I'll have a nice tool roll (thanks to Bart's Christmas present of a nice Triumph tool roll), empty, but filled with my tools and my trusty SOG tactical knife. The CruiserBag will hold a bunch and between that and the saddle bags, I should be able to change my underwear every day. I purchased a new Rain suit thanks to this forum, a TourMaster Defender in red and black but I still have tire dilemma.

I've looked at a couple of types of inflation doodads. The spark plug pump is out. For one thing, the plugs are too hard to get to. That would take too much time. Time on the side of the E-way must be short. All those passing 18 wheelers are trying to blow your bike over or see how close they can come to having you see the doors of St. Peters (I know about that as you all know). The R3 has a big tire in the rear (the front isn't small either). Those Co2 cartridge things look promising but it would take a fist full of cartridges to fill the rear plus, you have to pull the offending nail out and plug the tire, so, what about a couple cans of flat fix like the wifey carries in the trunk of her car or SUV. They are cheap, come with sealant and I could stash a couple in the bottom of a saddlebag.

No Jack, no panties in the saddlebag.......

Input appreciated.
 
I pondered the same occurance happening to me as I planned my ride to Arkansas. After some studing and looking at what is out there to assist in just such a situation, I came to this resolve (I don't say "resolve" because it worked, but because I can't learn the "better" approach without experience, right?).

I purchased a tire plug kit from JP Cycles, the one with the mushroom shaped plugs. It comes with the tools needed to prepair the hole and install the plugs (naturally) and CO2 cartridges for reinflation of the tire. I knew the CO2 cartridges would not reinflate the tires to good running pressure so I stopped by the local "bicycle" shop & purchased a very compact "quality" air pump for about $18. I slips right in the saddle bag due to it's short length. Also, after getting it home (and I knew this might be an issue), I could not get the pump to fit onto the valve stem properly. This pump has the valve stem hole perpendicular to the pump body & the rear wheel is too deep for the pump to work. I was going to take it back but I felt I needed to find a resolve before I took back the only device that was practical to achieve running pressure, even if I had to dismount the tire to do it. I stopped by Kmart & they had a pump with a short 4" extention hose which would do exactly what I needed for the "somewhat better" quality pump from the bike shop. My son will mount the other pump on his bike, which worked out perfectly.

So, my approach will be to use the CO2 cartridge (or 2 if needed) to get the tire started on the mend but use the air pump to finish it off. I need to do a trial run in the driveway with the hose approach. Hey, I'll be cleaning the Arkansas bugs off tomorrow, I'll do the dry run test then and let you know.

See ya.
 
Rusty:

Thats an idea but the pressurized can stuff has sealer in it. Wonder if I should get a plug kit and carry a couple of cans of the other stuff. If we have a weinie roast in Smashville, I could always toss a can in the fire with spectacular results.....:D

When you go to wash the Arkansas bugs off tomorow, go in the house and snitch your wife's bottle of peroxide from the medicine cabinet. Wet a rag with the stuff (don't worry it's only 3%) and wipe it over the bug goo. It'll soften the bug goo right up so you can hose it off. I have 35% here. That stuff will turn you into a bleached blonde pronto.:eek:
 
Already knowledgable about the peroxide principles, read it posted several months ago, but thanks Flip. I use the large cotton balls soaked with it to focus the moisture if needed.

I have heard that the "Green Stuff" that farmers & 4 wheel riders use is better than the pressurized can stuff (Fix-a-flat), but then again the green stuff is not in a pressurized container.

Looking forward to that weinner roast spectacular.

See ya
 
Stop-n-Go

Rusty - the mushroom type plug kits, name withheld cause I can't think of the dam things, had my focus recently and I believe I'm going that way, when I once again track 'em down; with an additional 4 pack of co2 cartridges. I'm not comfortable with using Viagra in my bike, it's still so new. I had a "self sealing stem bolt" blow out on me once upon a time. I accelerated hard shortly before running across a set of train tracks, with a passenger aboard. The fix-a-flat plug was immediately spat out and I was looking at my honey first on one side and then onto the other. The ass end went from one side to the other, and the now ex- was grabbing hands full of my love handles. I'm yelling, "don't panic, don't panic". We came to a very wobbly and safe stop, thanks to no use of the brakes. Anywho, the 4 each co2 packed in the kits should be enough to limp down the road to the nearest filler-up station; and, if not that portable air pump that you or a kindly passerby has should do the trick. Or an extra 4 pack of co2 cartridges which should be considerably less space taking than a pump. Is it Stop-n-Go...
 
There will be debate forthcoming I'm assurred, about getting "real" internal patches applied or going way overboard and trashing any tire with even the slighest of punctures. These mushroom type pugs, at least the concept of their application, give me far greater confidence than fix-a-flat. With that stuff in the tire, what effects does it have on a M/C tire balance. If another puncture were to occur and the fix-a-flat handled it, unknown to you the rider, how long before a similar experience to mine will suddenly leave you yelling, "don't panic...", if only to yourself.
 
R:

I certainly don't want a debate, just some solid advice on what's best and what isn't. Bart just tole me (over steak that I grilled) that he was a fan of the 'shroom plug but I've always used the brown gooey stringy things on my car tires, that is, unless the puncture is a slit in which case an internal patch is required. By the way, that patch is called a "BOOT". Matter of fact, any internal flat, stick on patch is called a boot.

Bart was with you on the fix-a-flat in a can. Honestly, I've never used one though there is a can rolling around under my passengers seat in the car. I'm always reminded it's there. I hear it bump around under the seat every time I make a right turn. It's 'peace-of-mind. My wife got it for me. She knows no one will help me change a tire. I don't wear a skirt....No Jack, I'm not gonna show the panties either.:D

I'm leaning toward the 'shroom patch with a Co2 inflater or a portable tire pump, which I already have. OR,

I can forgo the whole patch idea and just ride. It's looking like the ride to Nashville will commence on June 30th with arrival in Nashville on July 6th, by way of the Chesapeake Bay Peninsula. Ed and Carol will be with me and possibly Britman too (at least for the Virginia to Nashville leg. We are figuring in the area of 2500 miles upon arrival in Nashville with a total round trip mileage around 3100 miles. That's a good trip. I just want to be a good 'Boy Scout' and be prepared.

3100 miles is more miles than I've put on my Bonneville since it was new in '04...:eek:
 
Flip, I have thought about picking up this kit since seeing it in a bike mag. I am not big on tire slime though it helps the lawn tractor and trailor tires stay inflated. But what I do like is that it comes with a tiny air compressor-- so you don't have to worry about CO2 or inflat-a-cans. I think this kit goes for $40. Just throw in a few plugs.

http://www.slimesealant.com/product.php?product=50001
 
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Flats

She knows no one will help me change a tire. I don't wear a skirt....No Jack, I'm not gonna show the panties either\\\\\\Well then you better have a wrecker follow you..Gezze whats the big deal.I'am sure you all have cell phones and a pocket full of money..Thats the fun of the trip,winding up somewhere you had not planed on and having a car tire installed because there are no 240 16s within 1000 miles..You can carry all the air and goo plugs you want but If you cut a tire your, oh never mind.Iam just jealous I cant make it that far. Quit worring you'll have a ball...I have buds I can call that have trailers and just wait for an excuse to get away from home..LOL Jack
 
Jack....

When I retired from my full time job, I turned in my cell phone and I haven't replaced it. I'm not sure I ever will. Last time I made the Penninsula trip was over 25 years ago with Ed & Carol that time too. None of us had cell phones then. We tented the whole trip and Ed & Carol rode their Yamaha 750 Seca 2 up and I rode my 920 Virago. How times have changed. This is our re-enactment of that trip over 25 years ago. Back then I never even gave a tought about a flat, I've never carried a flat kit on any bike going anywhere but with all the deflated tires on this forum, either the Metz's are puncture prone or there is more puncture junk on the roads. Never fear, no tents this time. Holiday Inn Express for us, we are retired now.

If you remember a while back, Wilbur posted about an edged chunk of gravel puncturing his tire, well, I had a sharp edged stone slice a tire on my car yesterday. It went through in the middle of the tire and I'll have to have it dismounted and booted.....Friggin gravel.

I was a little skeptical about Wilbur. No more and mine was a car tire.
 
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