Flat tire...

[GeorgeInDallas]

Took a screw (hence, the name) in my practically new Pirelli Diablo rear tire.

Anyone know of a reputable-yet-extraordinarily-inexpensive motorcycle transporter to take my ST3 from Allen out to Randy's shop in Keller?  Probably next week sometime.

Thanks.

[♣ McKraut ♣]

i actually just used this about a week ago after discovering a screw in bryna's 919 rear tire... and about 15 minutes later we were good to go:  http://www.stopngo.com/motorcycle.asp#tireplugger  that $32 kit is SO worth the money 

[fastwin]

George,

Don't throw in the towel just yet! Are you planning on getting a new tire to replace the "screwed" tire? Pun intended. If the puncture is in the middle and not on the very edge of the tire it can be saved. I posted this very thing several months ago when Andy got a flat in a new tire on his 696. My friends at Action Kawasaki/Suzuki (east on I-30 from downtown BigD, take the Motley exit) use a galvanized patching method just like Discount Tire, etc. uses on auto tires. It's THE ONLY permanent patching job they will endorse and use. I had them patch my almost new rear Bridgestone on my GSXR1000 and I rode the shit out of it and never gave it a second thought. That patched tire saw 150+ many times over and I had no worries. Finally wore that set out and replaced them with Michelins. Looked at the inside of the patched rear when it was removed and it looked perfect!

http://www.actionsuzuki.com/index.htm

Ask for David Jones (service manger) and tell him I sent you. PM Andy and ask how it has worked out for him. I can't remember if he took in the wheel or the whole bike. Check 'em out, they're great guys and it beats the hell out of buying a new tire! [moto]

fastwin

[webspoke]

Maxim Honda did a nice job patching a screw hole I had on my hyper last year.  Just brought them the bare wheel.

[♣ McKraut ♣]

Maxim Honda did a nice job patching a screw hole I had on my hyper last year.  Just brought them the bare wheel.

that's pretty impressive that they don't even need the tire to do the patch job!! 

[muskrat]

I've heard of miracles but damn

[RED]

Rich, that's an excellent tire patching kit to keep with you on any ride. It just makes sense and the way they do it seems to work just fine. The one I carry underseat is an old t-handle/long plug/cement kit. It's patched many a VW tire back in the day but nothing like technology to make things better! Very cool. I will invest. 

[webspoke]

that's pretty impressive that they don't even need the tire to do the patch job!! 

Probably why it was so cheap!  Back on topic, George, if you need trailer transport we could probably work something out . Or if you need a place to dismount the rear for a fix closer to home I probably have all the equipment and some extra space to do so.

[andym]

As Brian said Action did a great job of plugging my tyre. It has been a few months and I have had no issues with it and I ride up and down the tollway everyday unless there is Snow/ice or rain.

I was lucky the tyre did not go flat with the screw in it so I could ride it there, they did it in about 30 minutes whilst I waited..

[greenohawk69]

I've used a tire plug kit on my M900 when I ran over some metal that put two holes needing patching.  This was on Pirelli Diablo's also and ran a few thousand miles on them (tire was probably was at its half-life) and worked great - had several runs @ 120+.  Only thing I would recommend is to keep an eye on your tire pressure as mine started to lose air towars the end, before eventual replacement. 

[fastwin]

From what I have heard (and personally dealt with) is the StopnGo-type plug kits are a temporary fix to get you home. I doubt any tire manufacturer would endorse them for long term use. If it holds air then great, but I would put my faith in a new tire or the galvanized patch from a shop long before the temporary plug fix.

I keep my tire-fix kit with me on long rides. It has a StopnGo plug kit, a small tube of rubber cement (helps the plugs seal), a CO2 fill kit and the best of all... a Cycle Pump! It's a mini air compressor with a hose and valve stem "latch". It plugs into the "pig tail" that I have hard wired for the Battery Tender. It also comes with a wiring attachment with clamps for the pos/neg poles on your battery, if you don't have the "pig tail" wired in. It saved Scott's butt several times on an Arkansas ride. He had a puncture that just would not hold a StopnGo plug. Bet we plugged it 4-5 times and would still have to stop and air it up. Finally Alan used a different plug kit and that one held for the duration on the trip. That Cycle Pump was worth 10 times what it cost after that work out! We never could have carried enough of the big 40 gram CO2 cartridges to do the trick... which is my back up the the Cycle Pump.

[Duc L'Smart]

sorry to hear you got screwed, George

[Pinocchio]

My unsolicited advice would be only to patch a motorcycle tire when on the road, and then, only long enough to get down the road to the nearest shop. I have no horror stories, but why risk a flat? Also, you should get a rear stand, a 1/2" break-over bar, and a socket for your rear wheel nut. Then order a 180/55R-17 tire online and take it and your wheel to the nearest Japanese bike shop to have it mounted. Do this and you will save the cost of the new tools by the second or third tire change....

[♣ McKraut ♣]

or, you can buy a $30 plug kit and call it a day...  bryna's tire is still doing just fine.  i, too, haven't heard any horror stories about plug kits, only good ones actually.

[TresGatos]

My 2c. If you ride 80 - 100 mph+, don't ride a plug.
Not worth the risk.
Ride safe, let's not loose another friend.