Flat Rear Tire @ 480Miles , NO PUNCTURES

3260 Views 10 Replies 8 Participants Last post by Lollingthunder, Aug 18, 2015

KingAja

Discussion Starter · Aug 16, 2015

I'm not sure if the heat has anything to do with it, but it's 84degrees today. Everything was fine until I came off of the freeway and felt the bike a little wobbly. I made it to my driveway and inspected the bike and the rear tire is completely flat. I rolled it around inspecting it for any type of punctures on the center and walls of the tires, but it still looks new.

1. Is it safe to slowly ride the bike two blocks to the gas station to put air in it so that I can check for leaks?

2. Has anyone else had an issue like this before?

Of course , it would happen to go flat on a Sunday and nothing is open.

Any suggestions?

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KingAja

Discussion Starter · #2 · Aug 16, 2015

I take it back. I walked it up to the station and I found the hole

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Capn Kirk

· #3 · Aug 16, 2015

If the hole is in the tread and not the sidewall, I have used these plugs on two cars and on my motorcycle for many thousands of miles. If it is anywhere near the sidewall, I would change the tire.

http://amzn.com/B00B7FC4DI

http://www.dynaplug.com/

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FangShui

· #4 · Aug 16, 2015

Capn Kirk said:
If the hole is in the tread and not the sidewall, I have used these plugs on two cars and on my motorcycle for many thousands of miles. If it is anywhere near the sidewall, I would change the tire.

http://amzn.com/B00B7FC4DI

http://www.dynaplug.com/

+! for me on this. I bought one a couple weeks ago from their website. They have a new Ultralite Carbon model for motorcycles available for $21.99, and right now it comes with an extra pack of 5 plugs free AND free shipping.

http://www.dynaplug.com/carbon.html

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Yamamama

· #5 · Aug 16, 2015

I've had two professionally installed plugs fail on car tires.

A new tire isn't THAT much money. I'm sure there are plenty of people here who've gotten thousands of miles of high performance riding out of a plug, but it's not a risk I'd want to take on two wheels. AFAIC, repair kits are like spare tires on a car, great for getting you back from where you went flat, taking it easy all the way - not a long term fix. Just make sure you get one with the CO2 inflater, otherwise the plug isn't going to do you a whole lot of good out in BFE.

Besides, then you get to tell us how some other tires compare to the ones that come stock on the bike.

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zchan

· #6 · Aug 17, 2015

You walked it to the station? I'm too lazy for that. I always use bicycle pumps to air up my tires. As a last resort, there's always somebody in the area with one. Sorry to hear about the flat, but now you have an excuse to put good radials on it.

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Stirz

· #7 · Aug 17, 2015

I have used plugs successfully on the street bike, but you really should just replace the tire (do as I say, not as I have done - lol).

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Mike-the-Bike

· #8 · Aug 17, 2015

Get a small compresser from Lowe's or Home Depot (or even harbor Freight); you'll never have to go to the gas station for air again.

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KingAja

Discussion Starter · #9 · Aug 17, 2015

Thanks for the advice! I will be getting a new set of tires within the next couple of weeks. I hear the Dunlop Q3s were pretty good but I don't think they have them to fit our R3s. Any suggestions for some really good tires? I just street ride mostly. I may take it to the track every blue moon.

Temporarily, I used a Slime plug kit. Seems like it's holding up good so far. Made sure tire pressure was at 36PSI yesterday. I checked it again this morning before work and its still at 36.

I felt like a stunt man yesterday walking it up to the gas station. It basically walked itself in 1st gear. Just kept my hands on the clutch and front brake. But a compressor is definitely worth keeping around.

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FangShui

· #10 · Aug 18, 2015 (Edited)

KingAja said:
Thanks for the advice! I will be getting a new set of tires within the next couple of weeks. I hear the Dunlop Q3s were pretty good but I don't think they have them to fit our R3s. Any suggestions for some really good tires? I just street ride mostly. I may take it to the track every blue moon.

Temporarily, I used a Slime plug kit. Seems like it's holding up good so far. Made sure tire pressure was at 36PSI yesterday. I checked it again this morning before work and its still at 36.

I felt like a stunt man yesterday walking it up to the gas station. It basically walked itself in 1st gear. Just kept my hands on the clutch and front brake. But a compressor is definitely worth keeping around.

Metzeler M7-RR. I'll be putting these on my R3 when the stock tires wear out. Read the Cycle World review:

http://www.cycleworld.com/2015/02/26/metzeler-sportec-m7-rr-sport-radial-motorcycle-tire-review/

$219 a set on eBay from Chaparral Motorsports, or direct through their website. Free shipping. Probably about $68 with wheels off the bike/$100 wheels on the bike to have them mounted and balanced if you're not able to do it yourself.

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Lollingthunder

· #11 · Aug 18, 2015

Mike-the-Bike said:
Get a small compresser from Lowe's or Home Depot (or even harbor Freight); you'll never have to go to the gas station for air again.

I hear that brother. Buying an air compressor changed my life. I even bought a cheapie from harbor freight, been about 8-9 years now, still working. Well, maybe it may or may not explode in the next few years, but its been working well for nearly a decade.

Of course, it helps if you own a home and a garage.

Man, before owning a home, living in an apartment, and then driving to the gas station to fill up my tire? Ugh. Once I bought my house, got that air compressor... filling up both car tires, bicycle tires, now motorcycle tires (as well as all the other DIY things you can do with various tools that use air compressors). Its worth the hundred+ bucks.

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