Punctures – Like When You Had You First Off

**Terminated** · 20th January 2008, 20:50

Well sort of remembering when we had our first whoopsie [off/drop], today it happened - the first flat tyre, rear.

Only got the two new tyres a month ago, and being 150km short of 3000km when the air vacated the residence. Well I suppose it had to happen sooner or later.

My first reaction, ‘that wind is strong’, then ‘oh heck the rear axle nut is loose’ and then when I pull over this morning on the way back from Ngawi to Martinborough the tell tale was there for all to see – the tyre flat as. Honestly the puncture scenario did not even register until I stopped – true.

Oh for carrying onboard puncture kits, mine, Stevedee’s and Andy’s we had enough gas bottles to have a party. Stevedee is becoming a master of the roadside puncture repair, having had one in Martinborough 6mths back, and yes on a new tyre too.

So what has been your experience with your tyres and having a puncture?

Heads Up and Enjoy

**Trudes** · 20th January 2008, 20:54

Lucky really BB!!
Never had one personally (wishing already I hadn't typed that, cause Murphy loves me!!), but you have just reminded me that I should really buy a puncture repair kit, so thanks!!!

**Terminated** · 20th January 2008, 20:59

BTW I was lead bike of five in the group and well go figure...no one else got any debris. The spike plunger had little resistance in penetrating the puncture mark when we cleaned the damage up and before putting the glue and bung in, could have poked a pencil through it easily.

Mrs Kendog, on your shopping list this week for sure - an essential onboard item, else hours of inconvenience.

Also really enjoyed the Ngawi run, 260km round trip from the duckpond.

Heads Up and Enjoy

**gijoe1313** · 20th January 2008, 21:02

The funny thing with puncture kits is that you don't know how to actually use one unless you see someone else using one!

I had my first puncture when my tyre was on its last few hundred kms before being replaced. Blairos knew exactly how to use the rasper/dogshit/adhesive etc. because he saw someone else doing it!

i did RTFM the instructions a while ago, but its always good to have someone in the know do it! I got to pay it forward on a trip out to Kaiaua and just did the same as Blairos showed me!

I guess the poll function needs to include "puncture near end of tyre's life!"

**Terminated** · 20th January 2008, 21:10

Originally Posted by gijoe1313

The funny thing with puncture kits is that you don't know how to actually use one unless you see someone else using one!

I guess the poll function needs to include "puncture near end of tyre's life!"

G'day gijoe, you're right it does help watching somebody repair a puncture, fortunately stevedee, the brother-in-law fortunately was with me today, and I saw him do it last time. I stepped back and let him take over, him being an engineer type well he was having a ball getting the job done.

Second point, if I could amend the poll thingy-ma-jig, but what the heck, anything over 8000km is on the back end of the tyre's life I suppose.

Good to catch you up on hear. Cheers.

Heads Up and Enjoy

**xwhatsit** · 20th January 2008, 21:15

If one punctures a tubed tyre out in the middle of nowhere, what are one's options?

**Ixion** · 20th January 2008, 21:20

Originally Posted by xerxesdaphat

If one punctures a tubed tyre out in the middle of nowhere, what are one's options?

Depends if you carry tyre levers and a tube type puncture repair kit. Or a spare tube . Always wise to include one for each wheel on a long trip.

On your bike, I'd ride home on the flat tyre.

Done it before not (quite) as hard as you might think. You'll fuck the tube for sure though, and maybe the tyre.

**Spuds1234** · 20th January 2008, 21:21

Originally Posted by xerxesdaphat

If one punctures a tubed tyre out in the middle of nowhere, what are one's options?

Tyre Pandy.

Make sure you tell the shop changing your tyre that you have used one otherwise it makes one hell of a mess.

**Mr Triple** · 20th January 2008, 21:22

Well I'm almost to scared to say, but I've only had one on the road and that was back in the mid eightys. We were at a mates place out in the middle of nowhere and went to go home and you guess it.... Front tyre flat as

I did have a tyre pando with me so abit lucky I guess, so filled the tyre up and had a slow ride home.

I've only had two other flat tyres but they been over night when at home so not to bad.

I just hope that saying this my luck doesn't turn

**Terminated** · 20th January 2008, 21:24

Originally Posted by xerxesdaphat

If one punctures a tubed tyre out in the middle of nowhere, what are one's options?

Sorry. Showing my ignorance here, but generally are motorcycle tyres nowadays tubeless?

A tube tyre, well unless you got the tyre irons and a special puncture kit [like bicycles], it might be a long walk, or the AA breakdown service.

Heads Up and Enjoy

**Nick from the nick** · 20th January 2008, 22:55

I've only ever had one go flat in 22 years on bikes and that was on a 500 km old rear on a cbr1100, near crapped me pants it let go at 130 MPH i was still in the UK hence the MPH. By the time i pulled up (believe me it was fast) the tyre was way past a repair kit.

**xwhatsit** · 20th January 2008, 23:24

Originally Posted by Ixion

You'll fuck the tube for sure though, and maybe the tyre.

More worried about the rim...?

Originally Posted by Spuds1234

Tyre Pandy.

Did a brief Google, seems many places (at least overseas) people are complaining because it's not sold any more. Anybody sell this goop here?

Originally Posted by BuckBuckNo1

Sorry. Showing my ignorance here, but generally are motorcycle tyres nowadays tubeless?

I don't live in the nowadays.

Actually the real reason is that spoked rims (apart from fancy über-modern BMW ones) can't go tubeless without some modifications.

**Ixion** · 20th January 2008, 23:34

Originally Posted by xerxesdaphat

More worried about the rim...?

,,.

On your bike, the tyre will be narrow enough and high enough and strong enough that the rim won't be affected. Unless you roll over onto it, in which case you'll go down , and the rim will be the least of your troubles.

Needless to say, riding on a flat tyre, you can't turn or lean or steer a straight line. So riding is , um, interesting.

But it can be done. But not on a sprotsbike, with their six foot wide rear tyres.

**howdamnhard** · 21st January 2008, 00:52

Got a punture on the new rear tyre a week after fitting it.Staple through it.Pumped it up(was at work) and tried riding it to the nearest bike shop knowing there where a lot of service stations along the way and it appeared to be a slow leak.Checking at every stop,back started getting loose so pulled into service station and used my temporary puncture kit to repair it.Then limped to nearest bike shop and got proper repair.Also filled tyre with BLUE GOO(I think its called).Not recommended for the front tyre though as more sensitive to imbalances.So far working well.Lessons learned slow stationary leaks can become fast leaks while riding. Also always carry puncture repair kit.

**Gremlin** · 21st January 2008, 02:21

Originally Posted by BuckBuckNo1

So what has been your experience with your tyres and having a puncture?

Tipping the bike into a bumpy corner at 110 ish, and finding out later the rear tyre was inflated to a third of its pressure (hadn't felt anything wrong before that). Needless to say... it was a wild ride. Was rather amazed to come out intact.

Originally Posted by Ixion

But not on a sprotsbike, with their six foot wide rear tyres

My dear Ixion, surely you jest. Sprotties have 6-6.5 inch rears... and you can ride on them. Sure, anything over 60kph ish is rather... unusual, but I have seen a mate manage it.