Dangerous to fix a MC flat with a plug?

[Neville McNaughton]

I have used the sticky string type for years and never a failure, in one case putting two in the same hole because it was so big, rode for three days and finally made it home and pitched the tire, all this two up and in the wet. Plugs work, for a new tire that has happened near home removed the tire and used an automotive type that pulls through from the inside, rans two track days and never missed a beat.

 

[Wolfhound]

I bet I've put a 1/2 dozen sticky strings in the sidewall of my ATV tire before and used it quite a while....

 

[tyronewildman]

How about this one after plugging with stickey string and then ran another 4K miles. Hard miles, that is.

Works for me, every time. That's me & my sons bike..Later,,,,De

 

[Mogambo]

How about this one after plugging with stickey string and then ran another 4K miles. Hard miles, that is.Works for me, every time. That's me & my sons bike..Later,,,,De

Where have I seen this guy before? Hmmm. Very familiar. Now I've got it...JUNIOR SAMPLE!!!

I'm just kiddin you. And for the record................you haven't aged a bit!

What'd you expect? I'm from Pittsburgh.

 

[Bounce]

What's the "lus sign" hand gesture? Something about how lucky he was to not lose air just by it passing through the paper-thin remains of the tire carcass? (that is cord showing all the way 'round. right?)

 

[Gcopter]

I always remove the tire and put the patch plug from inside to out. If the tire balances fine then I ride it. Never had one fail but never put them near the side walls. If your doing a track day dont ride the plugs for pushing the bike to the limit you need a full even contact. The last tire I plugged went to the wear limits.

Think the Plug actaully outlasted the tire..

 

[crizyal]

How many of those small cO2 cartridges should a guy pack for a (just in case tire fix it kit)?

 

[Mogambo]

How many of those small cO2 cartridges should a guy pack for a (just in case tire fix it kit)?

A million.

Just kidding. If at all possible, I would suggest either an electric pump or a small foot pump that you can pick up at PepBoys or AutoZone. I don't think volume wise, that the foot pump takes up all THAT more space than the quantity of CO2 cartridges, and then you have an absolutely unlimited supply of air. When you are out on the road in the middle of nowhere, there is no rule or law that says you are only going to get ONE flat. It's not like you get one flat and can say, "boy, I'm glad to get THAT out of the way. Now I'm safe." With the foot pump and a good supply of sticky strings.............bring on the nails baby.

 

[leebunyard]

Just kidding. If at all possible, I would suggest either an electric pump or a small foot pump that you can pick up at PepBoys or AutoZone. I don't think volume wise, that the foot pump takes up all THAT more space than the quantity of CO2 cartridges, and then you have an absolutely unlimited supply of air. When you are out on the road in the middle of nowhere, there is no rule or law that says you are only going to get ONE flat. It's not like you get one flat and can say, "boy, I'm glad to get THAT out of the way. Now I'm safe." With the foot pump and a good supply of sticky strings.............bring on the nails baby.

I agree. IMHO, those CO2 cartridges are a waste of time to fool with. I used to carry them when I was racing off road Enduros and they are a pain to carry and to use. For a tire the size of the rear on an FJR, you'd need a ton of them to fill the tire. I bought a foot operated bicycle pump from Wally Mart for $10, it has a tire gauge that is surprising accurate (tested against a digital Michelin tire pressure gauge) and I can fully pump up the rear Avon on my FJR in less than 5 minutes. Piece of cake. And the pumps' small size stores easily in the hardcase on my FJR. Along with the sticky string plugs, some rubber cement to use with the strings, I don't worry about flat tires.

Lee in the Mountains of Northern California

 

[Feejer/Weejer man]

Search for the electric pumps. Hooks into your outlet and never ending supply of air. "Slime" which is a nice inexpensive compact pump or the cambell hausfield wallyworld pump stripped are two of the most popular on this site.

 

[HaulinAshe]

Had a flat on the rear just tonight. My first one on the FJR. Used about 1-1/2 of the big 45 Gram CO2 catridges. The tire had a cut in the middle. Ran over something metal that cut clean through but didn't stay in the tire.

I have to say that I was damn glad to have the CO2 catridges. They worked good for me. It was about 40F and my cold ass was glad to have them. I would expect it to take at least three 45 gram cartridges to do the rear.

Am considering pulling the damaged front and taking it to a tire shop to see if they will "hot patch" it. Anybody have any suggestions or feedback about that type of repair?

It's an almost brand new Diablo and I hate to just toss the tire.