My First Expensive Flat Tire (and a Question) ...

 

Riding around today in Jackson, Michigan (30+ miles from home).

Bike started oscillating and wobbling a bit.  I looked at the road
wondering, "Ae there grooves in it?".  Then I thought, "Am I being gusted by
wind?".  Not a big deal.  I was on a rural road doing about 50 MPH.  Nothing
to scare me.

Then it got lots worse to the point it was a genuine control issue.  I
pulled over to the side of the road.  Diagnosis:  flat rear tire.

Coincidentally, my new tires have arrived at the dealer and I'm due to have
them installed next week.  My bald rear was certainly a contributing factor
to the puncture.

Just by chance, there was a Michigan State Police car behind me, who offered
to help out.  I asked permission at the nearest house to park the bike until
I could make repair arrangements, then I pulled the bike in their driveway,
then the nice policeman gave me a lift to the Jackson bus station.

Caught a cab home to Marshall.  $65 + $15 tip = $80.

Mulled my options ...

Decided to drive back to Jackson and goop the tire with everything
imaginable and see what happens and if I could get the bike back to Marshall
under its own power.  On the way, stopped at Meijer and got truck size
"Fix-A-Flat", truck size "Slime", and some plugs.  I was pretty sure nothing
would work on a tire with a tube, but no real harm in trying.  My plan was
to ride the bike at low speed back to Marshall if I could stop the leaking.

Arrived in Jackson with an air pig from my basement and various slime and
plugs.

Found the nail that had caused the problem.  Pulled it.

Poured in Fix-A-Flat and Slime, pressurized it and rolled it around a bit.
Tire was spitting Fix-A-Flat and Slime.

Tried a plug.  The seemed to plug the tire, but the tube inside was still
leaking.

The owner of the house where I had parked it was a motorcycle rider himself,
and he was laughing at the tire spitting Slime and Fix-A-Flat.  He called a
flatbed tow truck for me.

The operator had had quite a bit of experience with motorcycles.  He used
straps to grap the handlebars near the mounts and tightened it down so the
forces were right in line with the fork tubes and compressed the front
suspension a bit.  He also secured the rear by putting a strap across the
seat.  Got a flatbed tow back to Marshall.  $130 + $20 tip for the driver.

So now I have a motorcycle with a flat rear tire parked in my parking spot.

My dealership is in Kalamazoo.  Sometime next week I'll remove the rear
wheel and take it in my truck to Kalamazoo and have them mount the new tire.
Then I'll put the wheel on and ride the bike to Kalamazoo and have them do
the front.

Fun, fun!

Question (and my only question):  I'm assuming that strapping down a
motorcycle by the handlebars and compressing the front suspension a bit on a
flatbed is very safe?  It seems like the forces would be handled by the
plate on top pressing down on the fork tubes (to which it is tightened) and
the steering tube bearings.  The potential for damage seems about zero.
Anything I should check or inspect?  This method of towing seem safe to me
...???

I'll be removing and cleaning my rear wheel tomorrow ...

Datesfat

 

wrote:


Oh, NO!!!! You didn't let the tow truck driver do *that* to your
Honda?

You'll need a whole new motorcycle now! Maybe you can sue the towing
company?

JK...

 

Datesfat Chicks wrote:


"Since I have tube-type tires, should I have taken a new tube and
installed it at the site, instead of a load of Slime?"

Yes.

--
   -bts
   -Friends don't let friends drive Windows

 



OMFG you didn't just break the bead and patch
the tube?  Everything you needed (aside from the
bead breaker, of course) was available at a bicycle
shop.  You can make a bead breaker from 2x4 wood
and lag screws... hell, lay the thing down and have
someone drive over the tire to break the bead.
You certainly found out how well tubes respond
to fix-a-flat etc... no more tube-type tires for me;
I want something that I can plug and get home on.

As for the tow... I've heard that compressing the
springs in the forks is bad... but that's how I carry
my bikes around, never had any problems.
__
Steve
.

 




That's how we deliver and pick up bikes all the time.
It's the accepeted method.
--
Bob Mann

Cap'n, ah need moor pow'r.