puncture repair

[demito]

Planning a longer trip and taking everything into consideration that could spoil the fun. Was thinking about tyres and punctures. Being a complete tyre illiterate.

How do you guys repair a tyre puncture? I don't mean temporarily repair with the BMW tyre repair kit. Allows for maximum X kms and Y speed, i.e. till the next workplace. When in the middle of nowhere, there obviously are no workplaces around so that could be difficult...

I was thinking about an inner tyre, but I kind of understood that I have tubeless ones. Do you put an inner tyre in the tubeless ones or do you put one of those repair patches (las for pushbikes) on the inside of the tyre?

Tnx for your replies mates!

Cheers

Demito

 

[Paul Narramore]

Demito

Any motorcycle shop should be able to sell you a motorcycle puncture outfit. You'll need a TUBELESS puncture outfit to go with your tubeless tyres. Don't bother with an inner tube; the purpose made tubeless repair kit is perfect for what you want.

There is a technique to repairing tubeless tyres and if this is adhered to, you will have a perfectly safe repair. It does involve an abrading tool, plugs and solution. I know American riders get very jittery when DIY repairs to tubeless tyres are mentioned and will often replace the tyre but I feel this is caution in the extreme.

There's probably a link somewhere showing in pictures how to repair tubeless tyres - but I don't have it.

 

[MasterDabber]

There's probably a link somewhere showing in pictures how to repair tubeless tyres - but I don't have it.

Demito. here's the link that Paul refers to.
But from your post I don't think this is what you need is it? You seem comfortable with how to use the BWM/Rema repair kit.

 

[Paul Narramore]

Thanks Master Dabber. I guess the subject of repairs to tubeless tyres has been done to death by now on this forum? I see that the BMW repair is a temporary repair yet the car type 'mushroom plugs I'm familiar with are a permament repair. I've seen literally hundreds of car tyres successfully repaired this way so why not use these instead?

 

[demito]

Paul, masterdabber,

tnx for the replies.

Demito

Any motorcycle shop should be able to sell you a motorcycle puncture outfit. You'll need a TUBELESS puncture outfit to go with your tubeless tyres. Don't bother with an inner tube; the purpose made tubeless repair kit is perfect for what you want.

There is a technique to repairing tubeless tyres and if this is adhered to, you will have a perfectly safe repair. It does involve an abrading tool, plugs and solution. I know American riders get very jittery when DIY repairs to tubeless tyres are mentioned and will often replace the tyre but I feel this is caution in the extreme.

There's probably a link somewhere showing in pictures how to repair tubeless tyres - but I don't have it.

Paul,

is this a kit similar to the one included in the BMW tool kit? According to the pictures referred to by masterdabber, the maximum speed is 60 km/h and the maximum distance is 400 kms. And then what? You wouldn't want to leave with three extra sets of tyres on the back of the bike (one set will be enough I hope). I presume that asking for a replacement TKC-80 in a remote chinese village in the mountains wouldn't get you "velly fal"

Or is this, as you call it, caution in the extreme? I.o.w. can you ride a tyre repaired with the plugs as referred to by masterdabber as any other tyre or is it another kit you are referring to?

Cheers

Demito

 

[demito]

wheel balancing

And additionally: what about wheel balancing after a puncture. Am I getting paranoia now?

 

[MasterDabber]

demito. this is the kit supplied by BWM as standard (at least it's standard on the 1150.. presume so for 1200 as well).

Varying views on how temporary it is and how much caution needs to be exercised.
Have a search on "puncture repair" and you'll see a lot of related posts.

There are also kits that fire a plug into the hole... I had a quick seach but couldn't find the thread(s) but they are there if you look long enough.
I haven't used the gun, but it seems a good, strong repair.

As to the BWM kit... used it twice. The second time the hole was so big it needed two plugs to seal it. I rode about 300 miles before that was properly fixed (replaced) and it stayed up... but I did ride pretty slowly that time as I never had too much confidence.

HTH
Derek

 

[Paul Narramore]

I'm sorry to repeat myself but I've no personal knowledge of the BMW repair kit. A conventional auto tubeless or motorcycle-specific tubeless repair kit IS a permament repair IMHO.

That's what I have on my Pan anyway.

Ultraseal is another product you might want to consider, but I've heard to many 'fors' and 'against' to come to a conclusion. Many years ago, I used a similar product in a car tyre which already had a puncture, a sort of get-me-home, and when I took the wheel the a garage to get it repaired I was told that the slime had made the tyre useless.

I know I'm going slightly off topic here as Ultraseal is put into the tyre to PREVENT punctures and the muck I used was put in AFTER getting a puncture. I think you must read all of the available points of view and make your own mind up.

 

[MasterDabber]

demito. just got back in and did another search for you....

The gun based plugger can be found here just scroll down,
There are several versions but the gun based one has received some favourable comments in the past.

 

[MikeO]

demito. just got back in and did another search for you....

The gun based plugger can be found here just scroll down,
There are several versions but the gun based one has received some favourable comments in the past.

I have a Tyre Plugger (link above) and it is an excellent tool which got me out of the poo on a couple of occasions on my recent trip to the USA. Take one, and a portable compressor, and you'll be fine. When choosing a portable compressor, don't waste your money on a Gucci stainless steel one - mine was about £5 from my local car parts shop IIRC. As for balancing - yes, you're getting paranoid .

Mike

 

[notadrop]

Ultrseal

Put it in each tyre as per instructions. It has sealed my rear tyre a couple of times in the past with no need to repair. Saved me a lot of hassle. I have heard some say it hasn't worked for them but that could be because they haven't 'shocked' the tyre [as per instructions in the box] if it seems to be bubbling out of a puncture hole.
See here.....http://www.tyresonline.net/shop_details.asp?productID=322

 

[demito]

I have a Tyre Plugger (link above) and it is an excellent tool which got me out of the poo on a couple of occasions on my recent trip to the USA.

Mike

Mike,

did you ride it like a normal tyre or rather carefully and stop at the first workshop to do a final repair (like the instructions say: temporary repair).

I understand from many comments I read on the forum that it could be a rather final repair as well. So warnings are just for covering the manufacturer in case it does go wrong.

What's your opinion?


Cheers

Demito

 

[demito]

As for balancing - yes, you're getting paranoid .

Mike

About me being paranoid, a little explanation:

I have bought my first bike october 2004. New 1150 GS adv (I liked the look ). I was sick of standing still during peak hours and so jealous of bikes passing by. Never had a bike before, don't know much about technical stuff, didn't even have a license. Yes I consider myself being a novice.

What I do know is since the day I bought it I have enjoyed it that much (rode it every day, but two because of too much snow) and have been made enthusiastic by the various forums, especially this one. Take it on some trips throughout the country every now and then and now thinking about a major trip .

I think I have gone through a process in just a couple of months whereas you guys are bikers since many years and many bikes thus many exepriences. Furthermore I have a wife that says I am crazy and keeps on telling me how dangerous it is. Better be careful.

Do you understand my ignorence and paranoia now?


Furthermore thanks to all of you supporting such great forum. For guys like me it's just nirvana!

 

[(RIP) willstatt]

Inner tubes

In my experience, if done properly, the tubeless plug repair will last the life of the tyre... all the provisos regarding speed and limited mileage, are there to protect the manufacturer, in case of mishap due to incorrect useage of one of their plugs. Same goes for Ultra seal... it will stay put for ever, and in any case, because it seals punctures as they are incurred, you often don't know that you've had a nail in your tyre for the last 3k miles... maybe even till you change the tyre! If you do notice that you have a nail or some other missile stuck in your tyre, but the ultraseal has plugged it. DON'T REMOVE THE OFFENDING ARTICLE!

As long as tyres are good quality items and aren't some old perished things that have been on your bike for ten years, then they're all pretty tough.

It is definately worth carrying a spare tube for each wheel. If you're unlucky enough to put a big hole or in your tyre, or tear it on a sharp rock or something similar.... a tube put in the tyre should enable you to get back to civilisation.

When the above tube is used then yes, you should limit your speed so that the tube doesn't overheat. Don't forget to take some tyre levers.

Will

 

[thornley]

Just a thought, if you carryout a temporary repair and then do not have a permanent repair or replacement you will almost certainly invalidate your insurance if you have an accident due to a blow out. I carry a BMW kit with the co2 bottles and have used it once to get me to a major town after luckily discovering a flat after stopping for an hour for lunch in the Rhone Alps. I then had the tyre replaced. I didnt fancy having a pillion and myself risking a moving blow out on mountain roads. I have in the past run for hundreds of miles using a can of tyre weld and been lucky enough to get home. I think my life is worth a new tyre and the wife's not insured!

 

[Paul Narramore]

Demito
So you've been riding for five months? Don't get paranoid about punctures. I'm struggling to remember how many I've had in forty years of riding - maybe three? Modern tyres are pretty tough things and you would be pretty unlucky to get one. However if you plan a monster MikeO US round trip then think again.

 

[Tim Cullis]

Stop & Go gun tyre plugger available for £40 from http://www.whitedogbikes.com/popup.cfm?p_n=135021&p_i=135021

Tim