A Flat Tire

[Landry]

So, I made the mistake of thinking of others Saturday morning and went by the local Wal-Mart to buy some diaper rash cream for the baby before my usual weekend morning bluff-strafing.     As I left the lot, I heard what I thought was a rock being thrown from my rear tire.  I usually notice what I hit, so I thought it was odd that I would have hit a rock, seeing as how I didn't see one in my path.  I came to a stop at the light and looked around behind me . . . no rock; no ticked off, your-rock-just-hit-my-Hummer motorists . . . so I kept on.  

An hour or so later, I started noticing that the bike was handling really sloppily.  I suspected that the M-1 I've had on the front for somethign near 5K miles was going bad.  No biggie.  THe edges have been worn smooth for a while now anyway.

My sogginess became progressively worse to the point that I thought the (don't laugh at me   ) forks were loose, or that maybe the front tire was coming loose.  I came to this realization while leaned over at 60 mph, in the middle of a 30 mph turn.  Yikes.

I pull over . . . flat rar tire.  2" Screw hanging loosely from the gaping chasm that it had created earlier as I left Wal-Mart.  

Long story short(er), I had to park the bike where it sat.  I had to try a few houses before a muu-muu clad Tiptonite allowed me to use her phone.  

The wife was (of course) asleep, and was pissed   that she had to interrupt her "nothing" to come and pick me up.

I wound up lugging a compressor out there and tossing a plug in it to get it home.  I didn't ride Sunday morning, because of that plug.

I'm trying to decide whether I should just take it easy on the plug, or if I should get a patch.  The rear's probably got another 2000-2500 miles left on it.

If I go the patch route, I'll probably go ahead and either buy or make a wheel mounting setup and balancer.

If the shop patches the tire, they'll want $45.  I can make the wheel stuff for half of that, and I can buy the wheel stuff (including a patch kit, I'm guessing) for about $150.

I've got $150, that's not a problem . . . I just can't shake the feeling that a plug is okay.   I took it up to 90 mphi (~84 mpha) on the way home.  Felt fine.  I have plugs in almost every one of my truck tires.  I go a hundred in it if I have to (never really have to, thank God).

I am a firm believer that the motorcycling community is subject to a certain amount of "hype marketing," like our $30 tire mount and balance, where a much heavier car tire only costs $5 . . . or our "motorcycle oil must be used" belief (I follow that one myself).  
 

Is it possible that the whole "GOOD GOD DON'T RIDE WITH A PLUG MAN, ARE YOU A NUT???!?!?!??"   angle is just another myth designed to pad the pockets of the stealerships???

[txbanditrydr]

In all my years of plugging tires (auto, not bike) I have NEVER has a catastrophic failure occur - nothing worse than a slow leak and that was one time only resulting in a inside patch.  With that said if there was a big failure I still had 3 wheels to balance on.

I would like to think the same thing would apply to motorcycles - that an outright complete failure would be extremely rare... sudden loss of all pressure, tire rolling off rim, etc, etc.  Also a lot would depend on the location of the plug and the diameter of puncture.  

Finally, it all boils down to your comfort level with a plugged tire.... good luck with your decision.

[PeteSC]

It's your call, Mark.  I think you still commute to work on the bike.  In that use, I'd be tempted to get some more miles out of the tire....but watch it carefully......

[Landry]

Nah . . . no more commuing.  My fellow Memphians have taken what was an otherwise unblemished truck and ruined it with 3 wrecks in two years.  All on the way to this godforsaken hellhole they call a gov't office building . . . all in the a.m.  That said, State Farm tried to total the truck for body damage after the last moron made an unannounced u-turn in the street as I passed him (he was at the curb with his hazards on at the time), so I bought it back and am now driving the most-dinged, dented Dodge Ram in the city, I'm quite certain.  

Fine with me.  I took the settlement (the truck's value minus the salvage value) and paid off the Accord with it (no car payments, bay-beeeee!!!).  Now, I drive something that says, "I'll win any game of chicken."  That helps in Memphis.  You've driven a lot here, Pete . . . you know what I'm talgin'bout.  

I only use the bike to carve the corners now on Sat and Sun mornings.  I suppose I could sort of tour for the next couple thousand miles, but I hate to lose "the edge" that you build up from weekly corner-carving exercises.

I still feel that a plug is pretty safe, but I'm waiting on someone to post something scientific about motorcycle tires flexing more than car tires, or something, to change my mind.  

Although, txbanditrydr makes a good point about a car/truck having 3 back-up tires.   I'd hate to be scooting along the pavement on my can while I thought about his sage advice!!

[PeteSC]

Naw, Mark, what your truck says about you is.....

  "I've faced death many times, and I ain't skeered!"
  or...
  "You don't really want to hit me.  Do you actually think I have insurance on this piece of junk?"

  Dunno.  Maybe if you didn't wander far from home, the tire would be OK, but I'd sure watch it, particularily the tire pressure.

   Then again, $150 may seem a cheap price for not having to worry about the tire for a while.....

[ray nielsen]

If you're using steel belted radial tires, some plugs can be cut by the belts.

MCN has reported a couple of cut plugs that were spit out with the tire going flat quickly.  I know some Metzeler radials are steel belted, so I carry the rope style plugs in my tank bag rather than using the rubber plugs.

Just a thought.

[Landry]

Not sure what ind of plug I used.  Hmmm . . . it came from Wal-Mart!   No help, eh?

What Pete said about $150 buying some serenity . . . that hits home.

FWIW, I am definitely going to get one of those "plug-on-the-go" kits so I don't have to endure the wife's poor attitude the next time.

[gsxr400 racer]

never plug a bike tire! unless its just to get you home then buy another tire or a used tire is better than a pluged tire! as a mechanic of BIKES for 13 years and a road racer id never ride on one myself!

[jfudo]

I'm not going to be much help with the solution, but I can help in the prevention.  Stay away from Wal-Mart.  That place has caused our economy and society to regress causing us to be thoughtless (towards our fellow humans) and completely non-discriminating (towards what we spend money on).  

Garbage in their parking lot just goes to reinforce my thoughts.

Stay far away in the future.  There is nothing there you need.  Honestly.  Nothing.

[Dragbike]

I am sorry I too that I'm not going to be much help either,
BUT I can relate to
"The wife was (of course) asleep, and was pissed  that she had to interrupt her "nothing" to come and pick me up."
I have been single for 3 years now Anyway your call, I will NOT race on a plug though! And would not feel comfy at 100+
Brent

[oldandslow]

As for the safety of riding on a plugged tire, I'll bet the answer is "it depends".  On the size and shape of the hole. It's location. How hard you ride. etc.

Got a small screw in the original Macadam at ~2500 miles. About 2/3 from the center to the sidewall.  Plugged it (rope style, from the outside) and have commuted successfully for 6000 subsequent miles.  I ride conservatively, mostly straight-line highway at 70-80mph, and check the plug daily.  Yes, it's a risk, but so is riding a motorcylce.

As for being caught with a flat, I got the "Stop & Go" kit:  http://www.stopngo.com/motorcycle.htm

I can attest that it works (probably not as well on your DR650, Pete ;)

It's a minor nuisance to set up, and be careful not to tighten the spark plug insert or it's really hard to remove, but it sure beats being stranded!

Rob
'02 B12, 8500 miles, patched and rollin'

[Landry]

As for being caught with a flat, I got the "Stop & Go" kit:  http://www.stopngo.com/motorcycle.htm

It pumps off engine compression?  

I think I'm in love.  

<with the tool, not you . . . back off, i'm armed!>

[oldandslow]

As for being caught with a flat, I got the "Stop & Go" kit:  http://www.stopngo.com/motorcycle.htm

It pumps off engine compression?  

Yep.  Unscrew a sparkplug, thread in an insert (it comes with three sizes), and connect the hose to the insert.  Connect the other end of the hose to the tire's valve.  Start the bike (you DID turn if off before removing the plug, right   ) and inflate the tire.

As I understand it, there is a small, piston at the base of the hose.  Each downstroke of the bike's piston causes the hose's piston to draw in fresh air.  Each upstroke pushes the fresh air through the hose.  Unburned mixture is vented to the atmosphere (don't smoke!) and NOT pumped into the tire.

I've actually used it and it works - took only a couple of minutes to fill the tall, narrow front tire of a Harley Soft Tail;  Probably a bit longer to fill the Bandit's rear tire.

The carrying case for the Stop & Go *might* fit under the seat - haven't tried; I keep it in the Givi topcase!

Hey Pete - do you want to move this into "product reviews"?

Rob from KC, but currently in Seattle

[todius]

This emergency pump never seemed like a real good idea to me.  You have to remove the spark plug which means waiting til the bike cools off (or risk ruining the threads in the head).

I can think of a few better alternatives IMHO.  (1) A small bicycle pump (manually operated which is a PITA buit would work)   (2)  CO2 style catridge emergency inflators (for bicycles .. might take a few and cost some $$)   (3) A cheap 12V automotive pump/inflator with the plastic housing and extraneous guages/hoses removed to make it smaller.

Just seems to me like these alternatives would be easier/safer.

[Red01]

Especially #3.  
...and those 12v compressors are CHEAP!