Bike Gods Hate Me....

[Kabish]

Did a 250 mile ride today in 115 degree desert... Tire survived, I think I might of died a few times though, 115 degrees in full gear is no joke...

Once again thanks for the help, you all saved me from buying a new tire.

 

[klunsford]

It appears that the nail is small, therefore I suggest using a DynaPlug tool for repair. The DynaPlug uses a small preshaped plug that does not require or suggest reaming the hole to a larger size. I have used this system many time without a single failure.

I think the site is:WWW.DynaPlug.com


That is what I used and it works great. Try the Dynaplug option.

 

[Kabish]

Don't think the plug was supposed to do this.....

Noticed this a couple days ago that the snake was gone.. Tire seemed to be holding air okay though but apparently it wasn't... I've noticed the bike feeling weird and I went wide in two turns which I've not done since I first started to ride. That should had been the tell tell that something was up with the bike, but I put it off as me just F'ing up. Today I was backing the bike out of the garage and I felt more resistance than normal when rolling it back. Got off and checked the pressure... was not even reading on the meter...

So that plug is defiantly not permanent as they "guarantee" it to be. And now I'm going to take a few seconds to check my tires every time I go out...

Think I'm going to go purchase the TKC70 tire, I do pretty much 100% on road and was really looking at the P4 Trails.. But only getting 4k out of a tire when I ride every day is a little much on a $220 tire. I don't drive agressive, well not that often at least, so the TKC70 I think would do me well.

 

[Dogdaze]

A word about the PR4 Trails, I found they are somewhat soft and wear rapidly, I only ride tarmac, but after 4k miles find them getting 'squirlly' over painted markings. I understand that the standard PR4 are harder in the center so may last a little longer.

 

[EricV]

The dyna plugs are very small in diameter compared to traditional sticky string tire plugs. Go buy a T handled kit at an auto parts store. Make sure the kit you buy has a reamer and an insertion tool. On the real kits, you ream the hole to clean it out and to get it to a size that you can insert the sticky string plug. Yes, it will require some effort. But, the hole will be clean which is very important for the plug to work. Done correctly on a clean hole, the plug vulcanizes to the tire, (look it up), and becomes a permanent repair. Note that the insertion method of the regular kit has you thread the string like a needle and it goes int double thickness making it effectively about 4-5 times the thickness of the Dynaplug string. And you twist as you pull the insertion tool out, causing a mushroom head inside the tire. Once hardened by heat and time, it's not going anywhere.

I've used the Dynaplug and had it fail three for three times. I gave it to another rider that wanted to try it and never looked back. I've used sticky string repairs for decades on car, truck and motorcycle tires and outside an occasional slow leak later due to an odd shape puncture or my poor job of reaming it, (at night, in the rain, on the shoulder of a super highway), and one hole that was just frigging big, I've run them to the tire's end of life w/o issue. big holes I have the inside patch/plug done or do that myself. Most shops won't repair moto tires any more due to fears of litigation.

If you replace the tire, bet on someone at the shop taking your tire home, fixing it as I described and riding it out.

 

[Spider]

Ditto what Eric said...the regular sticky string works best. In Houston, I pick up a nail every few months on one vehicle or another. Here's what I in carry in my cars and on my bike: http://www.tirerepairkit.com/.

 

[Kabish]

So I've learned that no one in San Diego session a tire that will fit our bike lol No one even stocked a 150/70 tire. I found ONE at Cycle Gear but it was the K60 and I don't know if I want a 50/50....

 

[WJBertrand]

Eric's got it right. I've had no luck with Dyna Plugs or Stop 'n' Go plugs but 100% success with the conventional automotive "gummy worms" particularly the red radial tire ones. If it weren't for these things I'd have gone broke on tires years ago. I get more punctures than anyone I know for some reason, both on my bikes and cars. I once finished a tire down to the TWIs with three plugs in it. If I get through a set of tires without at least one plug that's unusual for me. The only problem I ever had with a gummy worm plug was on a car when it developed a slow leak after about 10K miles. I just re-plugged it and carried on. My experience is that this is the worst case failure mode for these plugs. In contrast I once had a Stop 'n' Go plug suddenly spit out causing sudden catastrophic air loss. Never had that experience with a Dyna Plug as I was never able to get one to even seal up initially.

 

[Kabish]

Maybe I'll try a worm plug and see how that works out... Kind of on the fence, the stock tires look to have a ton of life left on them, they are a little over 4200 miles atm. At the same time I do want more street related tires but if they don't need replaced yet I'd much rather plug it and replace them in 4 months. I looked when I was at Cycle Gear but they didn't have any, might hit walmart tonight.

 

[EricV]

Wal-Mart will have them, but so will any auto parts store.

 

[Kabish]

Forgot there is an Auto Zone right next the dealer by my house. Damn those sticky worms sure as hell are sticky lol

Tell you what, using that was about 250 times easier than using the Dyno one. That one I swear I almost threw out a shoulder trying to push it through. Using the worm and reamer I was done in like a minute with absolutely zero force really needing to be applied. Had to push a little hard to get the worm through but not ANYWHERE close to the force it took to get the DynoPlug one in.

Still on the fence if I want to purchase another tire or just hold off. They have the Scorpion Trail II on sale right now for $159 which seems to be a pretty good deal. I've not really had any issues with the stock tires, in fact they out perform me by a long shot, but I do like to go into the canyon twisties and I think the Scorpion's would handle a little better.

Once again, thanks for all the advice guys!! ::026::

 

[EricV]

So I've learned that no one in San Diego session a tire that will fit our bike lol No one even stocked a 150/70 tire. I found ONE at Cycle Gear but it was the K60 and I don't know if I want a 50/50....

Did you try San Diego BMW Motorcycles on Kearny Villa Rd? The older GS bikes take a 150-17 rear, if I recall correctly. They are a good shop too.

 

[arjayes]

Kabish -

I have not been to this shop yet but have heard good things:

http://8ball.tires

Eric's suggestion is also a good one. And Fun Bike Center is basically next door to SDBMWMC if you haven't tried them yet.