Punctures in tubed tyres

[karlp]

May be a silly question but.

Just bought an F800 GS Adventure model.

Is there any way of preventing / reducing punctures in these tyres.

I have heard of 'Slime' etc but read mixed reports or is just get the old levers out and repair as normal.

Ready for the flak

 

[Tarka]

I use and like Ultraseal (at the risk of opening the old larger than oil thread debates).
I`m not sure if it`s now called Punctureseal,but the stuff I like is the one that`s kind of pinkish stuff.
I also carry a can of Tyreweld sealant/inflating foam stuff.

Heavy duty tubes are worth considering too,if you venture off road.

 

[rodooo]

Ultra seal very good

 

[jonnie comet]

May be a silly question but.

Just bought an F800 GS Adventure model.

Is there any way of preventing / reducing punctures in these tyres.

I have heard of 'Slime' etc but read mixed reports or is just get the old levers out and repair as normal.

Ready for the flak

Not a silly question at all....

I think it's a shame that BMW 800s don't use the same type of spoked wheels as the 1200s, so that you can use tubeless tyres. Wouldn't put me off the 'bike, but I would prefer to run tubeless tyres.......if nothing else, tubeless tyres are easier (for me) to fix at the side of the motorway in the p***ing rain......

 

[cookie]

carry a spare and know how to fit it

 

[Mad_Accountant]

It's just my opinion but I personally would never run tubed tyres on any vehicle that I own. I have suffered two rear wheel blow outs on bikes and I never want to repeat that experience.

I choose an f650 over an 800 for that very reason.

Having said that correct pressures and not running over worn tyres lessens your risk.

Or buy a 1200

 

[stephen.stallebrass]

One very important thing you can do is to gaffer tape your rims... my rim tape disintegrated in Siberia and I got a shit load of punctures. Eventually leading to a shredded tube.

Punctures Galore

And as already stated use HD tubes, carry spares, a good repair kit and knowledge of how to use it. A buffer/stitcher combo tool, a bead buddy and a valve stem puller will make the job a LOT easier.

It's just my opinion but I personally would never run tubed tyres on any vehicle that I own. I have suffered two rear wheel blow outs on bikes and I never want to repeat that experience.

Just asking but don't you get blow outs on tubeless tyres? Tubed or not, a blow out results in the same mess in your pants!

Lots of advantages of tube tyres (and a few drawbacks)...

 

[Jonnie Boy]

What is a buffer/stitcher tool? and what does a bead buddy do?

I just use tyre levers and swearing!

 

[rodooo]

Bead buddy keeps the tyre down in the well of rim.

 

[enabb]

I just use tyre levers and swearing!

Works for me.....sometimes a bit of blood seems to help to...

 

[karlp]

It's just my opinion but I personally would never run tubed tyres on any vehicle that I own. I have suffered two rear wheel blow outs on bikes and I never want to repeat that experience.

I choose an f650 over an 800 for that very reason.

Having said that correct pressures and not running over worn tyres lessens your risk.

Or buy a 1200

I have a 1200 LC as well which has tubeless.

 

[karlp]

So looks like Ultraseal or normal

My intention is to do more offroad than on road.

Probably gravel tracks rather than serious offroad

Visit Spain and Morocco etc

 

[stephen.stallebrass]

What is a buffer/stitcher tool? and what does a bead buddy do?

I just use tyre levers and swearing!

Buffer = roughs up the surface of the tube for better adhesion. In cheapo kits its a bit of plastic or sand paper, sometimes a little button size bit of metal.

Stitcher = you roll this over the patch to apply loads of direct pressure for better adhesion of the patch. Having done this it also makes peeling the plastic off the patch easier and doesn't lift the edge of the patch from the tube (common problem with bad patching)

The bead buddy helps hold the tyre in place, its like 3rd hand, and means you can use 2 levers easier and more effectively.

The key is loads of lube (i use WD40, others use windex) and a good technique, if you're breaking a sweat you're probably doing it wrong. Practice and patience makes perfect. A bit of talcum powder on the tube will reduce friction and therefore reducing heat inside the tyre.

Getting the dam valve stem back through the hole in the rim can be a total PITA, especially with HD tubes and or strong walled tyres, like the K60s, as space is tight so the valve stem puller is invaluable.

 

[Jonnie Boy]

Bead buddy keeps the tyre down in the well of rim.

Always wondered what they did thank you.

 

[Jonnie Boy]

Buffer = roughs up the surface of the tube for better adhesion. In cheapo kits its a bit of plastic or sand paper, sometimes a little button size bit of metal.

Stitcher = you roll this over the patch to apply loads of direct pressure for better adhesion of the patch. Having done this it also makes peeling the plastic off the patch easier and doesn't lift the edge of the patch from the tube (common problem with bad patching)

The bead buddy helps hold the tyre in place, its like 3rd hand, and means you can use 2 levers easier and more effectively.

The key is loads of lube (i use WD40, others use windex) and a good technique, if you're breaking a sweat you're probably doing it wrong. Practice and patience makes perfect. A bit of talcum powder on the tube will reduce friction and therefore reducing heat inside the tyre.

Getting the dam valve stem back through the hole in the rim can be a total PITA, especially with HD tubes and or strong walled tyres, like the K60s, as space is tight so the valve stem puller is invaluable.

Ahh.. I carry a strip of rough emery cloth for the buffer.

Last puncture, a nice man, on finding me with my bike in bits opposite his drive offered a cup of tea... I cheekily asked if he had a beer..... result he did!

The bottle doubled as an excellent stitcher

Must get a valve stem puller though! Tis a right pain trying to locate the stem in the front rim!!

 

[bowser]

It's just my opinion but I personally would never run tubed tyres on any vehicle that I own. I have suffered two rear wheel blow outs on bikes and I never want to repeat that experience.

I choose an f650 over an 800 for that very reason.

Having said that correct pressures and not running over worn tyres lessens your risk.

Or buy a 1200

good advice but not terribly helpfull if you already have the bike with the tubed tyres!!!

 

[Mad_Accountant]

Just asking but don't you get blow outs on tubeless tyres? Tubed or not, a blow out results in the same mess in your pants!

Lots of advantages of tube tyres (and a few drawbacks)...[/QUOTE]

Tubed tyres are a zillion times more likely to suffer a rapid deflation. With a tubed tyre a slow puncture is often the advanced warning of an impending incident, always investigate a slow puncture - there will be a reason.

Most vehicles these days run tubeless tyres, they are so much safer it is a prime consideration for me. That knocks out the 800gs (and 800 adventure) also the classic R1200R. My 1992 r100r has tubeless on spokes as with the 1200 GS spoked wheel variants

If it doesn't matter to you ignore everything I have just written.

 

[stephen.stallebrass]

Ahh.. I carry a strip of rough emery cloth for the buffer.

Last puncture, a nice man, on finding me with my bike in bits opposite his drive offered a cup of tea... I cheekily asked if he had a beer..... result he did!

The bottle doubled as an excellent stitcher

Must get a valve stem puller though! Tis a right pain trying to locate the stem in the front rim!!

I was using the wd40 can to rubbish effect. I'd never seen or even heard of a stitcher before I saw a master tyre repair guy in Siberia use one; it makes it so much easier.

Sorry a bit but a quick story:

On that particular occasion I didn't have it in me for another bloody puncture repair and so, purely for the craic, I flagged down a car transporter (it was actually the 3rd lorry to stop and offer help - the second lorry got on the radio to the transporter who stopped). We loaded my bike up and he hauled me to said tyre guy who repaired it in an instant. In fact he repaird it twice (it punctured again on re-inflation). He did it for free, as well as feeding and watering me. There were other times like this too. Happy days.

I met loadsa people because of punctures... they're not the hiccups in the adventure, they're the start of the real adventure

 

[Timolgra]

I met loadsa people because of punctures... they're not the hiccups in the adventure, they're the start of the real adventure

Doesn't it just

On serious trips with tubed tyres I carry tubes as a back up.
Good job too

Again, no tube and you're fecked

Of course and 'Adventure' is only misery, discomfort or anxiety with hindsight....so have foresight

 

[Ogmios]

One very important thing you can do is to gaffer tape your rims... my rim tape disintegrated in Siberia and I got a shit load of punctures

Worst crash i've had was due to a loose spoke and a headlight rim getting flicked into the wheel causing instant blowout and me doing a Superman through the air and landing on me face.
Our film maker had some 'issues' with spokes on the Gambia trip.

Below - me fitting Honda C90 spokes into his Honda CD185 Benly rim in the middle of Rabat, Morocco.