Damn potholes! (Update/Diagnosis)

[Raux]

you have a ducati. pull out your owners card and call the number.

[BastrdHK]

Borrow a small air compressor or high quality bike pump( most road racing bicycles have tire pressures over 100psi) and try pumping up the tire.  Find a friend that is a cyclist or knows one.  It will take about 150 pumps on a quality bike pump to seat the bead.  Don't ask how I know     Investing in stands is an excellent idea.  You want the tire off the ground when you seat the bead otherwise the weight of the bike may prevent this and could cause the bike to topple if its on the side stand when the bead "pops"

Good luck!.....let us know how it turns out

[Spidey]

Is this something I can do myself at a gas station with their compressed air? Do I need to "seat" the bead first before I try to re-fill the tire? Or can I simply take the bike to a gas station and try to put some air in tire? I'm still so new to this, and don't wanna risk further damage by doing something that I shouldn't have.

Seating the bead and filling the tire are largely the same.  To seat the bead, you fill the tire with air (a lot of air and fill it quickly--which is why you often need a compressor).  It'll pop, once on each side if the bead seats  (you may not hear the pops, but they can also be very, very loud).  Once the bead is seated, the tire will hold air and will fit properly on the rim.  Then you let out the air cuz it's probably hugely overinflated.  Then fill the tire with air to appropriate PSI.  I assume the air compressor at the gas station is strong enough.  If the bead is not seating, the tire may not fill properly and may leak.  Or it may look like it's not sitting properly on the rim.  If you have the wheel off hte bike, you can bounce the tire on the ground while you're filling it with air and/or press down on it with your hand.  This often distorts the rubber a bit and will increase the pressure, which will help the bead seat.  Re BastardHK's post, I've never heard of it working with a bike pump.    

 

I'm in Chicago. and I am a lawyer 
I'll look into filing a claim, but I doubt it will get me anywhere

Most states have the state equivalent of the Federal Tort Claims act where they waive their soveign immunity to allow torts against them.  But they also put into place claim procedures that you have to exhaust before filing a suit.  The claim procedures generally have a much shorter statute of limitations and the scope of your later lawsuit is limited by the scope of your claim.  Some entities deny claims as a matter of course.  Others will settle smaller claims because it's not worth it to fight them.  The claims are generally administered by a claims adjuster, much like with an insurance company.  As you'd expect (squeaky wheel and all that), if you get on the adjuster's case and ride them hard, you're more likely to get some $ from them.  Similarly, if you treat your claim as you would a settlement demand package-- with all the accompanying documentation, witness statements, photographs, etc.--you're more likely to get some money.

Umm, he doesn't know what a tire bead is. Maybe he shouldn't be screwing around with tools?

Taking off a front and rear wheel?  Sure he should (if he wants).  That's how he'll learn.  It's not brain surgery.  It's a coupla bolts.  And we're here to explain it if he needs.  Or he can take it to the dealer. 

[jorgemiranda]

Is this something I can do myself at a gas station with their compressed air? Do I need to "seat" the bead first before I try to re-fill the tire? Or can I simply take the bike to a gas station and try to put some air in tire? I'm still so new to this, and don't wanna risk further damage by doing something that I shouldn't have.

I'm in Chicago. and I am a lawyer 
I'll look into filing a claim, but I doubt it will get me anywhere

What's up with potholes in Chicago this year? They're the worse I've seen them in years. Are you in the City?

[needtorque]

Once a tire has been seated for a while it is much easier to re-seat it if the bead breaks.  It has already been held in that form for long enough that it really wants to return to that shape.  In theory it COULD be done with a bike pump but that would have to be one hell of a nice pump.

[herm]

there is a trick involving a tie down strap, or a good piece of rope, for re seating a bead........not sure it would work for a bike tire though

basically, you wrap the strap around the circumference of the tire, and then compress the rubber in the middle of the tire with the strap. this forces the edge of the tire closer to where it needs to be for it to seat properly. now when you hit it with compressed air............POP! and done...

works for ATV tires anyway.....

[Spidey]

works for ATV tires anyway.....

I've done it with motorcycle tires.  It works like a charm.  I've only found one set of wheels (custom welded wheels) where I needed to do it though.  Otherwise, it's always just been inflate the tire and, if necessary, bounce and push with a hand.

[Rambler1982]

What's up with potholes in Chicago this year? They're the worse I've seen them in years. Are you in the City?

Yea, I live in Lincoln Park. The pothole was on Chicago ave and Franklin.

[Jtree007]

Yea, I live in Lincoln Park. The pothole was on Chicago ave and Franklin.

I think I would bring something up with the city about the potholes.   I was in chicago in October and I was shocked about how bad the potholes were.  I thought we had bad ones here in Atlanta.  In Chicago I saw plenty of nasty ones... dangerous for everyone, more dangerous for bikes.

Hope you can get it fixed without ant major expense.

[He Man]

that rope thing is smart!

ehres a another way that can easily get very dumb

Seal A Tire Bead with Starting Fluid

[sroberts152]

I ride past the pothole I hit every day.  Every day I look at how nasty it is - about an 18-22" gap between the fast lane and #2 lane where the pavement is different on each side and just after a little bridge.  There is an equally nasty pothole just before the little bridge.  It sucks.  Its fixable.  Tinker.  Find a good local guy.  I found mine talking to a manager at a local Wheel Works.  Ask who they recommend to repair rims instead of replacing them - then give him a nice little tip to make it worth his while.   

I would have both wheels checked - whether you can seat the bead or not.  There may be structural damage that you can't see. 

[Rambler1982]

I spoke with my dealership, and they said that they don't usually fix rims when they are dented.

If they wont fix it, and I'd rather not pay $1200 for a new wheel, would it be unsafe to drive around with the dented rim?


Also, I called the phone number on my Ducati card and they will cover the cost of towing the bike to the dealership. So cudos to them for that.

[Spidey]

I spoke with my dealership, and they said that they don't usually fix rims when they are dented.

If they wont fix it, and I'd rather not pay $1200 for a new wheel, would it be unsafe to drive around with the dented rim?


Also, I called the phone number on my Ducati card and they will cover the cost of towing the bike to the dealership. So cudos to them for that.

I wouldn't ride around with that rim.  The issue is whether the lip is just bent (which is often fine) or whether the entire wheel is out of true.  You can't tell.  You have no idea if it's straight or not or whether it will hold a bead.  The last thing you want is to be riding around and have sudden loss of pressure on your front tire.  You'll get to know the pavement intimately if that happens. 

Dealers often won't straighten wheels for liability reasons (and cuz they want you to buy a new one).  They should be able to diagnose whether it's straight or not.  If not, you need to find a wheel straightener.  Either the dealer may know of one or any independent shop should be able to give you a recommendation.

[the_Journeyman]

that rope thing is smart!

ehres a another way that can easily get very dumb

I've seen my dad use a chain & dog to seat beads on his trailer.  It runs house-trailer tires, and they are a PITA to deal with.

I've also seen many tires seated with various flammable gases & liquids.  Yes, it can be dangerous.  Imagine having a fire bomb with the volume of a tire.  Makes for one hell of a flame out ~

JM

[Smokescreen]

Here's the thing.  If you don't send them out (a few hundred bucks?) you  are considering having the dealer do what?  Whatever they do, it'll also be a few hundred bucks.  Unless they replace the wheel, then it's $1200.  Not a smokin deal when a new set of Carros in whatever color you want is $1800.  Yeah, $600 more to get TWO wheels both of which are lighter and hotter looking than the stock Marchi. 

If you take the bike to the dealer, and decide to send your wheel out your dealer will charge for everything right down to storage of the bike.  If you want to repair the wheel(s) you could spend a few hundred buck (max) on a set of wheel stands, that you'd get to keep after.

As a side note, has anyone considered that the tyres may be damaged from the impact?