A flat?!

[Shifty]

A week of 70-degree, sunny days ahead and I go out to the garage to find a flat rear tire. WHY?! 

Question is, how do I fix it? I have a plug kit but somehow that seems sketch to me... I have never had a flat on a motorcycle before. 

[Kopfjäger]

Paging IZ 

[Howie]

A week of 70-degree, sunny days ahead and I go out to the garage to find a flat rear tire. WHY?! 

The motorcycle gods don't like you?

Question is, how do I fix it? I have a plug kit but somehow that seems sketch to me... I have never had a flat on a motorcycle before. 

Where is the puncture?  How big?  How much tread is left?  Other than a plug to keep me going temporarily, the only type of plug I would consider is a mushroom plug installed from the inside of the tire.

[Shifty]

Haven't found the leak yet, the tire has a decent amount of tread left but it's badly squared. I wanted to get a new one this winter anyway and would use this as an excuse if I could afford it now (need a front tire worse). The plug kit I have is the push/pull/cut style. I'm trying to avoid removing the tire. Honestly after this week I will likely take the bike in for 12,000 mile service and a new chain. Maybe I'll just plug it. It will get me through this streak of awesome riding weather. 

[gregrnel]

Plugging a cycle tire is sketchy and dangerous. I had one earlier this year, found the hole, did the fix a flat just to get it to the dealer at a slow pace to have the tire replaced. It was almost time anyway.

[BastrdHK]

A plugged moto tire is just as safe as a new one if the proper plug is used and installed correctly.  I have ridden several thousand miles on plugged tires.  The bike will let you know immediately if your tire pressure is below about 20psi.  It handles like a truck and will not want to turn.  Tires are constructed in a way that prevents a catastrophic blowout.  If they do lose pressure it is in a very controlled, predictable manner.

Use Slime in an emergency(fix a flat is extremely messy and practically useless)

Patch a tire properly by removing it from the rim and plugging it with a mushroom type plug.

The expense of doing this may be better spent on a new tire, but that is your decision.

P.S.  ***I am only speaking from experience with rear tires, and would not ride on any front tire in which the internal construction had been compromised.***

[Popeye the Sailor]

I have ridden numerous plugged tires for thousands of miles as well. I would plug it and ride it.




Those of you saying it's dangerous-have you ridden a plugged tire?

[pennyrobber]

I have ridden numerous plugged tires for thousands of miles as well. I would plug it and ride it.

+1.

Never seen a problem with a plugged tire. 

[MendoDave]

Same here, plugged a tire several times. Rode it to the end of tire life. At worst its going to slowly leak.

[Shifty]

Thanks for the input guys. I'm going to try a plug but first I HAVE TO FIND THE LEAK!!! I hosed the entire wheel down with soapy water and I have yet to find the leak. The tire lost all it's air overnight so I assumed it would be fairly noticable but I guess not.

[Boog]

Thanks for the input guys. I'm going to try a plug but first I HAVE TO FIND THE LEAK!!! I hosed the entire wheel down with soapy water and I have yet to find the leak. The tire lost all it's air overnight so I assumed it would be fairly noticable but I guess not.

Did you check the valve? It may have come lose and just needs to be tightened.

[MendoDave]

Thanks for the input guys. I'm going to try a plug but first I HAVE TO FIND THE LEAK!!! I hosed the entire wheel down with soapy water and I have yet to find the leak. The tire lost all it's air overnight so I assumed it would be fairly noticable but I guess not.

The way this reads it sounds like you soaped the tire after it lost all its air. If so, do with air and also check the valve stem as suggested. Sometimes you can hear the air escaping if you put your ear down there.

[gregrnel]

Alright, I guess I take the advice of mechanics too seriously.....

A plugged moto tire is just as safe as a new one if the proper plug is used and it is installed correctly.  I have ridden several thousand miles on plugged tires.  The bike will let you know immediately if your tire pressure is below about 20psi.  It handles like a truck and will not want to turn.  Tires are constructed in a manner that prevents a catastrophic blowout.  If they do lose pressure it is in a very controlled, predictable manner.

Use Slime in an emergency(fix a flat is extremely messy and practically useless)

Patch a tire properly by removing it from the rim and plugging it with a mushroom type plug.

The expense of doing this maybe better spent on a new tire, but that is your decision.

P.S.  ***I am only speaking from experience with rear tires, and would not ride on any front tire in which the internal construction had been compromised.***

[MendoDave]

Well if your doing it for sombody else then yea do all that stuff you don't want it coming back to the shop for that. But for your own tire just plug it and ride it.

[BastrdHK]

Alright, I guess I take the advice of mechanics too seriously.....

The point is there is an inherent amount of risk in everything we do.  In your opinion and based on your experience the amount of risk in this particular case is higher than mine.  I am providing information based on my experience. 

I have ridden a flat tire until the bead actually separated from the rim in an effort to reach a less remote area.  Safe...no....doable in an emergency yes.  For what its worth, I did not put a scratch on the rim and I'm loyal to Michelin for their excellent construction.  I still have the tire if anyone wants to see pictures.  It is quite amazing