| Author | Message | ||
     Humblebueller |
Hello all. I finally bought my XB12SS last weekend and am having more fun than the law allows. I looked in the garage this morning to find I had picked a nail up in the rear tire. I plugged it and it is holding air. Should I replace the tire anyway? | ||
| Diablobrian |
absolutely replace that tire. I would not ride a plugged tire for any reason. | ||
| Xb9srider |
Replace it.  | ||
| Humblebueller |
Thanks for the input. I had initially planned to replace the tire and only plugged it to get it to the shop. | ||
| 99buellx1 |
Only thing keeping you from sliding down the pavement. Your call, but I wouldn't risk it. | ||
| Bigdaddy |
You can't go wrong with a replacement tire. That being said if it's out in the middle of the meat/tread I'd plug it and ride. Monitor the air pressure. I've ridden many a mile on plugged tires and carry a plug kit and some CO2 for roadside repair. YMMV G2 | ||
| Buellfighter |
I've used a patch called an umbrella plug. It's a combination patch and plug installed from the inside and never had a problem. | ||
| Xbjelly9s |
got a nail in a brand new rear tire and plugged it. rode 7500 miles with plug in it. | ||
| Diablobrian |
Radial tires can be damaged by plugging them. Belt separation can cause catastrophic failure. the plugs can start a tear in the belt that is invisible to the eye. On a car it's not that big of a deal in most situations. You just pull over and put your spare on. On a bike however, the results can be far more.....dramatic. I understand that a lot of people have gotten away with plugging their tires, and as an emergency measure to get you home it works. Still doesn't make the risk worth it for me. The best type of plug is the umbrella mentioned above, but ideally it is vulcanized into place causing a hard spot in your tire. | ||
| Nasty73z |
I rode the stock dunlop for about 2000 miles with a plug in it, and had one on my SV for like 400 miles. I don't think there is anything wrong with them if you check them all the time to make sure they aren't backing out. But if it gives an individual more peace of mind to replace it, then by all means they should. Your call. | ||
| Mr_cuell |
Just because you get away with something stupid doesn't mean it wasn't stupid (to paraphrase from someone over on the immortal exhaust thread) Buy a new tire. I smoked crack 7500 times and didn't die, not even once - you should try it too! | ||
| Xbjelly9s |
Agreed Nasty, your call MR., Stupid? Go back to church and quit passing judgements on people you don't know. | ||
| Patrickh |
umm, dunno about crack...but I would say as long as you aren't doing any track days you should be ok with a plug. of course no tire manufacturer would tell you that | ||
| Humblebueller |
I am taking the bike in tuesday for the 500mi service as well as to install the race kit. I rode 120 miles on it today and it feels fine, but I will more than likely put a new one on tuesday and just keep this one as a spare. Thank you all for the opinions. | ||
| Bigdaddy |
Humblebueller, You've got a pretty good sampling here. Like I said initially you can't go wrong with a new tire. My own personal experience with motorcycle tires, based on 26 years of riding, is that tire plugs work. I've plugged I don't know how many and not once have I ever had an issue with one. YMMV, G2 | ||
| No_rice |
i've been debating on weather or not to even get in on this conversation, but hey might as well. i plugged the back tire on my xb and rode it for probably 1000 miles that way and it was way past the wear strips. even to sturgis and up through the mountains playing. not saying i would recommend it but, sometimes you have to do things when your options are limited and you want to ride. although i do have to say i highly doubt if even i would plug a front tire. getting a flat on the rear is one thing that is alot easier to handle then blowing out a front tire. i have such bad luck with poking holes in tires if i never plugged any of them i would be broke from putting new tires on every damn month. put a brand new tire on, 20 miles later i had a staple jammed in it already. GRRRR!!! | ||
| Whodom |
Here's what Dunlop says about it. Since they made the tire, and are probably assuming legal liability for saying this, I think I'd trust what they say: (from http://www.dunlopmotorcycle.com/infocenter_faq.asp?id=12#faq ) Q: Can I have my motorcycle tires repaired? A: Some punctures in motorcycle tires can be repaired if no other damage is present. Dunlop recommends only individual permanent plug-patch repairs of small tread area punctures from within the demounted tire by a qualified tire repair shop or motorcycle dealer. Never perform an exterior repair and never use an innertube as a substitute for a proper repair. Your bike should not exceed 50 mph for the first 24 hours after the repair and the repaired tire should never be used over 80 mph. Dunlop speed ratings are voided by repairs. No form of temporary repair should be attempted because secondary damage caused by the penetrating object may not be detected and tire or tube deflation may occur at a later date. Dunlop does not recommend the use of liquid sealants. These are a form of temporary repair that may adversely affect ply material and mask secondary damage caused by the penetrating object. Reliance upon sealants can result in sudden tire failure and accident. | ||
| Crusty |
My experience echoes Big Daddy's. I've never had a problem with a plug; though I had a patched innertube let go once. If you can afford it, replace the tire. If you're broke, don't stop riding the bike. That's what I'd do. | ||
| Mr_cuell |
No opinion on people in that post so much - just an opinion on actions. Everyone has opinions, even people who go to church. Imagine that! That said, it's reasonable to form opinions of people by their actions . . . I think it is a stupid decision to risk your ••• on a tire plug. Everyone has their threshold of risk/reward. Yours is different than mine, and I think the decision to ride a bike in that condition, much less toot your horn about it, is stupid. Cheap, short-sighted, and ignorant to boot. I may not know you, but I know bikes . . .and that's what this thread is about. Tires are so much cheaper than skin, bones ect, that once the decision has been made to ride a bike on the road, everything reasonably within one's power to stack the odd's in one's favor is prudent. Exacerbating the risk by riding worn/compromised tires, without a helmet or leathers, or whatever is not wise in my opinion. And hey I am going back to church - on good rubber! | ||
| Bigdaddy |
Mr_cuell, I, too, know bikes and I think most of your commentary is unnecessary. I do like your paragraph about "Tires are so much cheaper..........." Very accurate and I couldn't agree more. The paragraph before that was your opinion and based on what you believe or maybe what you've experienced -- I really don't know nor do I care. When I ride on a plugged tire I'm being financially prudent not cheap. I'm not ignorant, well, about this issue anyway, nor am I short-sighted. I'll add, once again, that you can't go wrong with buying a new tire. G2 | ||
| Cmm213 |
I picked up a nail once in a brand new metzler rear tire on my old gsxr. I was pissed but I got it home and and took the rim and tire down to my local shop and had it taken off. We looked at it real good and he said he could repair it on the inside, he put a 1" by " inch patch over the hole and used some two step glue. He remounted the tire and I was riding the next day, it lasted the whole summer until I roached it in a parking lot doing smokey doughnuts. But like everyone else said its your butt, if money is not a concern get a new one. Have fun- I wish I could be riding right now! | ||
| Buellshyter |
Some of you people can really get in your panties in a wad over the most insignificant things | ||
| Buellfighter |
I don't believe anyone cares about your opinion of people who use plugs. The person simply asked if plugs work or not and not what you think of people (like myself) that use them! | ||
| Gowindward |
I plugged a rear tire last summer. It was near the end of the tires life. I put 500+ miles on it before the new tire arrived an online tire order. I carry a CO^2 inflater and a plug kit on the bike. I would hate to be out on the road a few miles or 100's of miles from home and puncture a tire and then be waiting for a tow or walking because I was too concerned about riding on a plugged tire. It's all about using some common sense. | ||
| Mr_cuell |
Yea, I shouldn't have been a smart •••. I retreat from that now, albeit too late. I do apologize to you Jelly and whoever else's time I wasted with the editorial comments. I have read through this ad-nauseum on a local list here in DC this past summer, and the end result was the same as it developed here - you can do it, but it is not as good as new. Even the manufacturer's say that if it is plugable, and plugged by an expert, you should not exceed 80. An XB that shouldn't go over 80 would be frustrating I think for any of us. In the future I will make a better effort to keep my wise cracks to myself.  (Message edited by Mr_Cuell on January 08, 2006) |
