Tire repairs on the road, 2006 FLHRI - Harley Forum

RCSmithJr · #1 03-04-2008, 06:50 PM

I ride an '06 Road King and was wondering about emergency tire repairs; such as... What is the best fix? As an automotive instructor who has repaired tires for about 35 years (car & truck only), I do not like to plug tires. As a matter of fact, it can damage a tire and make it unsafe. Has anybody had a problem doing a roadside repair using plugs? What is the best tire repair kit to carry,besides a trailer? Thanks for any info. Jr.

shovelmike · #2 03-04-2008, 07:07 PM

You're absolutely right, RC. Plugs in tires are a makeshift, somewhat iffy proposition, especially on a bike. It is simply a way to ride in a very cautious conservative manner to a place where you can purchase a new tire. Last flat I had I resorted to my road service and had it hauled home. I have since stocked the bike with a small compressor and a patch kit with rubber plugs and sticky string. If I'm not really, really happy with how the repair looks I may still call for the tow when the time comes.

JCourneyaP · #3 03-04-2008, 09:29 PM

I have plugged a few car ties and rode em till the tread was worn. I guess it all depends on the puncture. Some I would not bother to plug. I would plug a bike tire to get were I needed to go. Personally I would get a new tire. If I left the plug in I would find myself inspecting it every time I got off. I wouldnt trust it on those skinny tires.

Wrightturn · #4 03-04-2008, 10:08 PM

I have a kit on the RK but no point on the Dyna (tube). Managed to run over a 7/16 open end wrench and destroy a nearly new Dunlop rear. Too much damage to plug. Still haven`t used the kit. Still have the wrench.

Inspect tires before every ride. I pluged a Michelin on a Mercury. When I got to the tire dealer to have the plug removed and patched from the inside the dealer refused to do it. Gave me an article indicating the solvent used could cause seperation of the tread. I left the plug in and forgot about it for another 10k miles.

frisco-rigid · #5 03-04-2008, 11:18 PM

Hi RC

With respect for your knowledge and experience (first-hand experience commands respect),, you have prob forgotten 10x more than I'll ever learn about fixing tires..

My experience is just diff.. I've now plugged two sickle tires and not thought twice about running full tilt boogie.. Wore one out like JC and Wright..
I carry rubber plugs and those fiber rope looking thingies and the N2 or is it
CO2 bottles that come with the kit..

Holy crap-- now I'm gonna worry bout my plugs, I need a jelly doughnut..!

botzman · #6 03-05-2008, 07:15 AM

Picked up a screw years back in S. Carolina. Plugged it and rode home 700 miles. It was a Sunday and no other option. Had to get home. AVeraged 70-75mph with no problems. If it would have let loose maybe some problems...LOL. Changed out tire when I got home. Plug still looked good though. Botz

#7 03-05-2008, 01:48 PM

September, 1969. Riding a '69 Norton Commando "S" across the Texas Panhandle on the way to Southern California. Had a sudden deflation on the front tire almost like a blowout and the tire came off the bead at 75 mph. The bike was swerving all over the road and out of control. I couldn't put the front brake on and had to put both feet on the pavement to keep from going down so no rear brake either. I finally coasted to a stop just using engine compression. There was just a good sized puncture in the tire and tube so I got out my little tire patch kit and glued on a nice tube patch. Pumped up the tire with my little bicycle pump and was on my way in about 45 minutes. Everything's cool... right?

A day and a half later as I was coming into SoCal on Rt. 66 I decided to take the cutoff from Amboy towards Twenty Nine Palms. It was 9:30 am and the temp was already in the mid 90's so I figured by taking the "shortcut" I might be able to beat the mid day 115 degrees anticipated. I figured wrong and the temp quickly soared to blast furnace conditions. Suddenly the front tire went flat again with the same wild gyrations I'd had in Texas but I got her stopped without going down. When I pulled the tube out I could see that the glue on my patch had melted and had actually turned into some slimey gooey substance that I couldn't even reglue a new patch onto. Holy She-ite!

Turns out nobody in their right mind takes that road in the day and I saw only three vehicles go by in several hours.

The first, a guy, stopped, looked at my situation, laughed and took off.

The second, an elderly couple stopped and gave me a gallon of water and warned me to not sleep on the ground if I couldn't get going (and I was still thinking I could fix the tire). They said the area was full of rattlesnakes and tarantulas and they'd come right in the sleeping bag with you at night . They recommended sleeping on top of the bike. Oh Gawd!

The third was the tow truck driver from the little gas station in Amboy. He quickly decided that he'd have to take me and my tube back 30 miles to Amboy even though he was wanting to go to Twenty Nine Palms. So we went back, cleaned the goo off the tube with lacquer thinner and put a hot patch on the hole. Then he took me back to my bike, helped me get it together, wished me good luck and took off for Twenty Nine Palms. Now that guy was a truly decent human being! A real brother!

There's some lessons in this story. Glean what you will.

tipper1 · #8 03-05-2008, 05:07 PM

I like Frisco I have plugged a 140 Mte on my wide glide at 500 miles on tire, never thought twice just replaced with diff wheel and 150 met 9500 miles later. Plug is still in it on orig wheel sitting on top of my beer & tequila fridge. Belive I speeled that wrong...

Wrightturn · #9 03-05-2008, 08:47 PM

Wow ! Major flash
Norton S high comp. mine was a 1970
Used to carry a hot patch clamp and hot patches. Small pump and spoons.
Avon tyres.
Sunoco 260
Electrics by Lucas

Maximum stuff under the seat. Never needed any of it on the road.

#10 03-05-2008, 09:08 PM

Hey Wrightturn

Yeah, I loved that bike. Fast, smooth, sounded great, and handled like no other bike of the day. I saw one at a local bike show in San Jose this year. It was in a booth for a Norton club. It seemed so small to me I couldn't believe my eyes. My FXR4's frame looks like a knock off of the Norton frame. Maybe that's why I like FXR's so much.