Repairing flats along the way

**Transalper** · 11th April 2008, 09:17

Breaking the bead is often the first place that causes trouble.
On tyres that have been on the bike for a while they are often stuck on and some leaverage can be required, especially for lighter people when jumping on it just isn't enough.
I use a long 4x2 and a smaller piece of wood to leaver the bead on the dr rear wheels which have a rep for being difficult.
Tryed the jack once but all I managed to do with that was to jack the front of the van off the ground without breaking the bead.
Front tyres are usually easier than rears too.

**Badjelly** · 11th April 2008, 09:34

Originally Posted by JATZ

get y'self a couple of tyre levers from any bike shop

Not Wellington Motorcycles when I called in last Saturday. Apparently there's no demand; nobody does it any more.

(The story of how I managed to change my tyre with tiny bicycle tyre levers, muck up the tube repair so it deflated the next time I rode the bike, so I had to be rescued by said Wellington Motorcycles--who are really nice guys--and I'd reassembled the wheel wrongly to boot, is far too shameful to tell here.)

Thanks for the links on puncture repairs, folks. I'm in need of a bit of advice myself.

**Crisis management** · 11th April 2008, 11:43

Originally Posted by Badjelly

Not Wellington Motorcycles when I called in last Saturday. Apparently there's no demand; nobody does it any more.

You had best find a proper motorcycle shop then!
I hate to admit it but some bike shops are going the way of service stations, all coffee and donuts and nothing usefull to sell.

If you're buying levers, get some with a ring spanner end to suit your axle nut size and kill two birds with one stone, you only need two levers so it ain't a complete financial crisis.

Finally, don't be put off the idea, it's really easy once you get stuck into tyre changing, just make sure you have the correct tools with you (decent tyre levers). The confidence boost, knowing you can fix a puncture anywhere, is well worth having.

**CBobR** · 11th April 2008, 13:11

Agree with all the above, with a couple of good tyre levers and the correct spanners (which may not always be included in your bike's tool kit

), after the first practice tyre change you'll be a tyre changing machine.

If you have painted rims, you might also like to get a couple of rim protectors so you don't have the added pain of scraping the paint off your nice rims with the tyre levers.
http://www.dual-star.com/index2/Tool...protectors.htm
The ones I got are cheap and lightweight and fit nicely around the levers to stop them rattling in storage.

Also, I found it useful to look into how other people temporarily support their bikes with a wheel off, e.g. using sticks to make a temporary centrestand to remove the rear wheel on a side-stand only bike, or loading the cargo rack of a centrestand only bike with rocks to remove the front wheel. Or with friendly terrain you can just put the bike on it's side.

**timpel_800** · 11th April 2008, 18:31

Hi guys thnx for the heaps of tips! Great, gives me something to read.

Bin to the bikeshop today and they had the levers but not the repair kit. Nobody does seem to have those things these days. But they told me maybe Repco, so check that out next week.

Is there a size of levers that is recommended?

Mind you guys, maybe you noticed, i'm from Holland, we have heaps of bikes overthere, and one of the first things to learn from your father is to repair a flat

, but I have bin f*king around with motorbike tyres before and just couldn't do it!

Just got my wheel back, it is straigthent out again but he broke 2 spokes (they were all rusty and so). Is there a shop in NZ that is specialized in spokes?

tim

**Motu** · 11th April 2008, 18:39

Originally Posted by Transalper

Breaking the bead is often the first place that causes trouble.

In nearly 40 years of removing motorcycle tyres,I have never had a problem breaking the bead - HOWEVER!!!!.Easter time I fitted a rear tyre to my XT600....stood on the tyre and broke the bead as per usual,and fitted the tyre.Two weeks later and it seems to be flat,so last sunday I decided to fix it.NO WAY could I break the bead!!! This was a used tyre I had on the same bike previously,never a problem....now after only 2 weeks and 350km I can't break it.

I turned my back and someone has shifted the paradigm.....has anyone seen where my universe went??

**Transalper** · 11th April 2008, 18:53

Welcome to my universe lol.
At home I use a leaverage setup, on the trail/road I use beffy friends or ride it untill ithe bead lets go by itself, then replace the tube.
I carry a spare 19 inch tube because it can be stretched in to a 21inch tyre or squeezed in to a 17 inch tyre.
The patches I got from our local Suzuki shop.
Would pushbike patches do the job too? or are they just not heavy duty enough?

**cooneyr** · 11th April 2008, 19:25

Originally Posted by timpel_800

......Just got my wheel back, it is straigthent out again but he broke 2 spokes (they were all rusty and so). Is there a shop in NZ that is specialized in spokes?......

No ideas bout shops sorry, but it shouldnt be too hard to lace in a couple of new spokes yourself if you can get your hands on some. Maybe try contacting Woody's Wheel Works about spokes if you get really stuck.

Originally Posted by Motu

......I turned my back and someone has shifted the paradigm.....has anyone seen where my universe went??....

Where is this fabulous universe of easily broken tyre beads? Have a go at a DR650 rear tyre some time and let me know what I'm doing wrong

Originally Posted by Transalper

.....on the trail/road I use beffy friends....

Keep that up and there will be no more help for you!!

Originally Posted by Transalper

Would pushbike patches do the job too? or are they just not heavy duty enough?

Rightly or wrongly (I dont know if it is a good idea or not) I used bike patches on a "normal" (not heavy duty) front tube and they worked fine for a good 6 months or so till the tube was removed. I have a $3 treadly tube patch kit that I carry with me all the time.

Cheers R

**Motu** · 11th April 2008, 19:44

Originally Posted by cooneyr

Where is this fabulous universe of easily broken tyre beads?

I had it here a couple of weeks ago,but I put it down and can't find it again!

I've owned the bike for 5 years,and am comfortable enough with tyre changes to do it on a whim.Both tyres had been on the bike before.Same wheel,same tyres....so what has changed? The only variable is my tyre lube - I used a water based cleaner,and it seemed to evaporate quickly.I don't think it was slippery enough and maybe has made the bead stick to the rim.

Anyway,it wasn't totally flat,just very soft....pumped it up and hasn't gone down in a week.Must be the valve eh?

Yeah,right.....

**JATZ** · 11th April 2008, 19:48

almost always carry a repair kit, one of those high end warehouse specials, also have a front and rear tube which goes on long trips. used a patch from the kit on the 125 and it hasn't gone flat yet, mind you I don't ride it much as it's a piece of s**t

**Oscar** · 11th April 2008, 19:54

Originally Posted by cooneyr

Where is this fabulous universe of easily broken tyre beads? Have a go at a DR650 rear tyre some time and let me know what I'm doing wrong

The heel of a size 12 moto-x boot and the application of 100+ kilos of grumpy bastid generally does it fer me...

**Padmei** · 11th April 2008, 20:18

what is it that makes the tyre stick to the rim? Do they get so hot that the rubber melts onto the rim or is it the torque that jams them in? Maybe dirt & grime?

Do they just have a need to create an emotional attachment to whatevers closest

**Motu** · 11th April 2008, 20:20

Originally Posted by Oscar

The heel of a size 12 moto-x boot and the application of 100+ kilos of grumpy bastid generally does it fer me...

Oooooh,you sound like just the man I need....I like a man with big thighs.I'm willing to pay,and will supply the lubricant and rubber too.So,do call me....and we'll do the dirty deed together....I'll keep a pie in the oven for you.