Breaking your front tire bead on the trail Solo ??

[Zepfan]

My worst nightmare and how to avoid it.

How would you fix a flat front tire on the trail in the desert with no trees?

Can't use the kick stand ??? or.... ?

Is there a light weight C clamp device you can buy or something?

How much do one of those little air cartridge's inflate a tire.
Should I carry a pump too? You'll never re set a bead on the trail, you have to go tube I imagine.

I always carry tube's, patches, plugs, irons and air cartriges on overland trips. I've never had to fix a MC tire flat on the trail.
I'm gonna do some REMOTE rides on my way to and from Ouray.

I can't figure out how to break a bead on the front tire. You can do the rear with the kickstand solo.

 

[snakebitten]

But you do have pry bars? Right? I know it is a silly question. And I saw your haul! (stacked knobbies on the tail box)

All alone leaves a lot of room for wonder. So I don't have the guaranteed answer. Just faith that you would figure it out with what you find on the trail.
With a riding buddy, you DO have the kickstand available.

A C-clamp is a decent idea. I have used them to get stiff walled tires ON the rim.

 

[coastie]

I would use my plug kit and CO2.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Dallara]

My worst nightmare and how to avoid it.

How would you fix a flat front tire on the trail in the desert with no trees?

Can't use the kick stand ??? or.... ?

Is there a light weight C clamp device you can buy or something?

How much do one of those little air cartridge's inflate a tire.
Should I carry a pump too? You'll never re set a bead on the trail, you have to go tube I imagine.

I always carry tube's, patches, plugs, irons and air cartriges on overland trips. I've never had to fix a MC tire flat on the trail.
I'm gonna do some REMOTE rides on my way to and from Ouray.

I can't figure out how to break a bead on the front tire. You can do the rear with the kickstand solo.

I don't ponder breaking the bead to insert a tube. Instead I carry one of these in one of Brady's "Storm" brand bags in the cubby underneath my AltRider luggage rack (used to carry it in the bottom of the left side Yamaha case before the Brady bag):

https://www.bestrestproducts.com/c-10-cyclepump-and-gauge.aspx

And then to plug the tire I carry a repack assortment of some of the following "Stop-N-Go" plug kits so I can handle most any puncture:

https://www.bestrestproducts.com/p-47-stop-and-go-pocket-plugger.aspx
https://www.bestrestproducts.com/p-297-universal-tire-patch-kit-strings.aspx
https://www.bestrestproducts.com/p-236-universal-tire-patch-kit.aspx
http://www.stopngo.com/motorcycle-atv-tire-repair-kit/

I carry the "kit" I've made up from various items in those, along with some spare valve cores, other tools, etc. in one of these:

http://www.advmotorrad.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=59_81_82&product_id=131

Though before I got that I carried them in a nice little "e-bags" bag in the bottom of the left side Yamaha case with the BestRest CyclePump.

These are available, too, though I have never tried them. Some folks swear by 'em:

http://www.yamahasupertenere.com/index.php?topic=7346.0

But you still need a good, reliable pump. I have gone through lots of cheapie ones, like the "Slime" one, and so far nothing compares to the BestRest unit. That said, tons of folks love these from Aerostich:

http://www.aerostich.com/tools/tire-repair/pumps-air-compressors/aerostich-mini-compressor.html
http://www.aerostich.com/tools/tire-repair/pumps-air-compressors/aerostich-compact-tire-repair-kit-with-mini-compressor.html

I've tried CO2 cartridges and IMHO they're useless. The kits that have them seem to come with only two or three cartridges, and with the volume in today's modern tires those won't even get the water warm. No way they'll seat a bead if needed, and even if the bead's still seated you'll get no more than very minimal pressure. A pump is far more reliable and useful, and you only have to buy it once.

If you really feel you have to worry about breaking a tire bead out on the trail, here's a few options for you:

http://www.stopngo.com/products/Motorcycle-Tire-Bead-Breaker.html
http://www.aerostich.com/tools/tire-repair/tire-repair-tools/beadpro-bead-breaker-levers.html
https://www.bestrestproducts.com/p-35-beadbrakr.aspx
http://www.motionpro.com/motorcycle/partno/08-0439/
http://www.motionpro.com/motorcycle/tools/category/beadpro/

I've repaired a few tires out on the road with the rig I carry, and if there is one thing I've learned it's not just to have the stuff out there to do it, but knowing exactly how to use all of it... Which means practicing a bit with it. Decades ago, when I first fooled with a tire repair kit out on the road we were fixing a buddy's tire, and I had a kit I bought but never opened. We opened it up and discovered it didn't have any instructions. Since a couple of the items didn't look anything like tire repair tools we used at the shop we fumbled around a bit, taking about three times as long as we should have. Fortunately we were in no hurry and we all had a good laugh about it.

Now I only carry stuff I have taken out, used, and practiced a bit with. Last time somebody had a flat out on the road it took longer to take the tire repair gear out and pack it back up than it did to do the tire repair and pump it back up.

Hope this helps!

Dallara



~

 

[True Grip]

Pluric knows how or at least i remember pics of him trailside. Maybe he will show up and give us some pointers. I had a hard time breaking the bead on my front K60 using my cycle hill changer, i can't imagine changing these K60 with just spoons. I just plug and go and have been lucky so far.

 

[Zepfan]

I've used the kickstand to break the rear tire bead.

Maybe you can get a rock to place under forks and then use the kickstand for front also.

 

[motocephalic]

faced with the same challenge one day, in the wee hours of the morning, I found a small piece of wood , a sturdy flat branch would work, but I used a flat piece of 1x4 and put all the pressure right in one spot and she slowly peeled off. The trick is to maximize the pressure in a fairly small area right on the rims edge. They sell a pop off tool to do the same thing that is good to keep onboard.

 

[AlsoRan]

You may want to have a donor hose in order to re-seat the bead. Otherwise I'm not sure you could inflate the tire once repaired / replaced. Probably too late to get one before Ouray though.

 

[scott123007]

I think Dallara covered all the bases with what you will/should need. I think in a real world situation a reality check is in order though. First, why would you be breaking the bead of your tire to fix it. If you hit something that destroyed your tire to the point that you had to break the bead to fix it, you would be replacing your tire, or worse yet, you would be in no condition to be repairing it anyway. If you do get a puncture, it is very likely the bead will not be broken before you discover it, and in that case, you repair it with a "snot cord" as I call it, and blow it up with any number of available compressors as Dallara suggests, and be on your way.

 

[Karson]

I think Dallara covered all the bases with what you will/should need. I think in a real world situation a reality check is in order though. First, why would you be breaking the bead of your tire to fix it. If you hit something that destroyed your tire to the point that you had to break the bead to fix it, you would be replacing your tire, or worse yet, you would be in no condition to be repairing it anyway. If you do get a puncture, it is very likely the bead will not be broken before you discover it, and in that case, you repair it with a "snot cord" as I call it, and blow it up with any number of available compressors as Dallara suggests, and be on your way.

yeah i took two of my three motion pro spoons out of the toolkit after fighting the new front k60 a few weeks ago. i would be crazy to take the k60 front tire off in the middle of nowhere, without a garage and tire lube, but i do have the ammunition to take the whole wheel off. i'll be using my AMA or Progressive tow service, where there's a 99.9% chance i'm in cell coverage. I did keep the spoon that has a 27mm socket on the end, though.

 

[pluric]

Pluric knows how or at least i remember pics of him trailside. Maybe he will show up and give us some pointers. I had a hard time breaking the bead on my front K60 using my cycle hill changer, i can't imagine changing these K60 with just spoons. I just plug and go and have been lucky so far.

You are right on the K60s. At least the rear. Last time I bent my rear rim I thought I would just
pop the tire off in the garage to send the wheel to Woody's. Just using normal tire irons
I was working up a pretty good sweat and holding my own with any sailer or truck driver out there
on the vocabulary.


Normally a sidestand works great. If you are solo use the center stand while the bike is tilted slide
the tire under one leg and let the bike back down on tire. My last few flats were with tubeless tires
and the rim was bent to where it wouldn't seal to hold air. I had to break the bead to put tubes in.
They do make an alloy C clamp that isn't too heavy to carry. Just the size to fit over the tire needs
to be rather large.

At home I do have a bead breaker. A bench vice works well too.

Practice makes perfect..... ::008::

You do have to watch for the smartasses that photobomb the process.

This is where I now carry a spare 18" tube. Stretch for the front,, stuff for the rear.
It's just a fender bag with the metal fender clips cut off. Also has room for a socket set.

Another reason to carry a spare tube. Just like running out of gas, suddenly you are
in a very weak negotiating position. ???

 

[Dallara]

~


There's always this, too, if all you want to do is carry tire irons...

"Easy Peasy Bead Breaking - Tire Levers Only - ADVrider"

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=458452

Never tried it, but there's guys that swear by it. I'd sure practice it at home first to make sure it was possible on the trail before I relied on it.

Then there's this clamp rig from Australia - http://www.tyrepliers.com.au/New/BB105.html

And this appears to be a US version of much the same - http://www.happy-trail.com/Products/pHappy-Trails-Tire-Bead-Breaker-font-colorFF0000br-fontwas-strike75strike-font-colorFF0000now-b5997bfontp__HTPTBB-1.aspx

Then there's this tried and true technique and tools - http://advrider.com/forums/showpost.php?p=19707332&postcount=9

Just FYI...

Dallara


~

 

[pluric]

Or just carry all this.....

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/zZhszvMjvjg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Click on some of the additional video clips when it's done.

 

[wfopete]

http://www.motionpro.com/motorcycle/partno/08-0519/

 

[jaeger22]

+1 on the motion pro bead breaker tool. I have a press in the shop that makes short work of breaking beads but the motion pro bars are almost as quick. I changed the last two tires with them just to make sure I would know how to use them. I always carry them on a trip now just in case.
I have had several flats I fixed with the plug kit but about 3 years ago I had a flat on the way home from the west coast and still about 700 miles out passing through Jackson MS. The tire was cut and not repairable. I first found a dealer with a tire but no one to change it. : Then found another dealer across town that did have everything so had to ride with the tire flat about 15 miles through town. I was very lucky I was close to a large city at the time. After that, I always made sure I have a plug kit, pump, and tire tools. You just never know. . .

 

[True Grip]

http://www.motionpro.com/motorcycle/partno/08-0519/

That looks like a nice piece of kit. I've dreaded the cut tire luckily I've always been able to plug. Those look like they would fit in my tool roll too. Thanks Jaeger its nice to know they work.

 

[Ironhand]

A "Bead Popper" and a rock used as a hammer would work. It wouldn't be pretty, but...

 

[viewdvb]

1. Sealant or plugs are far easier than trying to demount the tyre. They can be used without wheel removal too. I favour sealant. It may not completely seal but will get you home with occasional top ups.
2. If the tyre damage is severe, a tube is the only way to limp home. Problem is, even if you have a means of breaking the bead, it is asking a lot of the average inflator to reach the pressure needed to reseat the bead. That said, it mostly works if you give the inflator time.
3. If using an electrical pump, keep the engine running as it can drain the battery with the prolonged use required. If you can, rest the electrical inflator occasionally as they are prone to overheating.

 

[Dallara]

1. Sealant or plugs are far easier than trying to demount the tyre. They can be used without wheel removal too. I favour sealant. It may not completely seal but will get you home with occasional top ups.
2. If the tyre damage is severe, a tube is the only way to limp home. Problem is, even if you have a means of breaking the bead, it is asking a lot of the average inflator to reach the pressure needed to reseat the bead. That said, it mostly works if you give the inflator time.
3. If using an electrical pump, keep the engine running as it can drain the battery with the prolonged use required. If you can, rest the electrical inflator occasionally as they are prone to overheating.

Amen to all but the sealant part, IMHO...

I spent years in the motorcycle business and searched high and low for a decent tire sealer. Through all those years I only found one, made by an outfit in Louisiana of all places... Water-based, easy to clean up after and get out of the tire when it was dismounted, never gummed or balled up, etc.... It worked great. Only problem is they went out-of-business back in the 1990's. I've tried every one I could find since and they all can be a PIA, and literally all are a real mess cleaning up when you pull the tire.

I favor good quality plugs and a good little compressor.

Great points about using the compressor... They can zap a battery fast if you aren't running the engine, and if one reads the instructions carefully that come with any of them you will note they all recommend *resting* the pump every few minutes. I can readily attest they do get *HOT* when they're running, and then even after only a couple of minutes.

Dallara



~

 

[BadKarmaPa]

I change all my own tires at home using just the tools I carry on the bike. I break the bead (even on K60's) by working my way around the tire with tire irons and soapy water. Eventually the bead pops loose. I do use a 5 gal. compressor to set the bead on new tires.
The only tire I've had to send to the shop was a 17" rear K60. I got it half way off, smashed my finger trying to get the second bead off the rim and said screw it. Those K60's CAN be a bitch.
On trips I carry rope plugs, a 19" tube and a Slime compressor. If the beads not broken, plug it. If the bead breaks, tube it. I've never had to use the tube but I don't trust any small packable gizmo the seat a bead.