| Author | Message | ||
     Buell_nm |
Recommendations? Anyone have AAA for their bikes? I'm asking cuz I got one on the way home yesterday, I was 50 miles from home on the side of the Interstate. After standing there and staring at it for 5 minutes,trying to figure out what to do about it. I ended up calling the dealership, and they came and got it, but that was during the day when they were open. I ride a lot alone and often at night. So it occurred to while I was waiting an hour for the truck to arrive that I really do need to be able to deal with this myself. I've seen the kits, but do they really work and which ones work better? | ||
| Xl1200r |
If the kits you're talking about are the ones where you plug the hole with the tar-covered piece of rope, they do work a lot of the time. But you loose a lot, if not all of the air in the tire in the process. If you have a way to reinflate, it would be an option so you could at least limp yourself home or to a repiar shop. i've only used these on car tires, and only while I was working at a garage so I never needed it for a roadside repair. I have no idea how well the fix-a-flat in a can stuff works for bikes. In either case, both methods would be temporary at best. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I bought a kit with the sticky "rope" plugs and CO2 cartridge inflator. It won't completely fill the tire, but it will be sufficient to allow you to limp home. The plugs work pretty well for a while, but I wouldn't want to depend on it as a permanent solution. | ||
| Nevrenuf |
i used one on the 83 cause i got a screw on a brand new tire and it lasted without incident. never had any problem with doing normal speeds but i don't think i would push it with riding twisties fast. | ||
| Aldaytona |
Pick up the tar covered rope plugs and you should start to hear the "Vonage" theme music playing in the back of your head............ Stop and Go, and Progressive make MOTORCYCLE tire repair kits. If your funds are that tight, buy the RIGHT repair kit and eat at Taco Bell for the rest of the week. | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
CO2 cartridges are SO last century... i have one of these, have used it a bunch, VERY well built, highly recommend it, about $99, takes up about the same room as a CO2 repair kit and three cartridges (anyone ever seen with their own eyes how little PSI three measly cartridges will put into a pancake-flat 180 meat?), plus i can also use it to air up the rear shocks on my Road King:  www.cyclepump.com it comes with every kind of electrical connection you can think of, all in a very nice ballistic carrying case, all nice and bulletproof. note how the air chuck locks on to the valve stem, very convenient. Al Lighton carries one of these with him at all times - you can't get a better endorsement than that.  Buell_NM, are you familiar with Aerostich? check out their website, or better yet order one of their paper catalogs (justifiably called "The Most Dangerous Book In Motorcycling"). they've got everything you need to keep you on the road and THEN some, including tire repair products. www.aerostich.com ride to lean, FB | ||
| Reepicheep |
I have two options with me in the tail bag... First, I have a small can of fix-a-flat tire slime type stuff. Got it in the bicycle section at wal mart. That will help with smaller holes / slow leaks, and is a low invasive solution (put it in, and your problem may be solved for the life of the tire). Or I can get home and pull the tire, and have it professionally patched from the inside. Secondly, I have the "gooey rope" patch kit. That will plug something like a big ragged hole from a screw that punched in the tire, then got ripped out when it hit the rear hugger (been there, done that). That kind of patch is fairly invasive to the carcas of the tire, so if that goes in, its just to get me slowly home so I can pull the wheel and get the tire replaced. I have a small bicycle hand pump in the tail bag as well, for either scenario. I have not tried it, but suspect it will really really suck to try and pump up a motorcycle tire with it... but it would work. Ferris has a lot more room for farkles, he probably keeps that pump right next to the espresso maker he always carries around on the road king | ||
| Oldog |
Ferris has a lot more room for farkles, he probably keeps that pump right next to the espresso maker he always carries around on the road king  I wonder if he had the tap installed on the bags as he said he would, Dont know why, just something else to drag on the road....} | ||
| Hughlysses |
I bought a cheap (~$15) auto air compressor at Walmart, cut the cigarette lighter plug off of it, and soldered on two small battery clamps. It's a little bulky (about 6" x 4" x 2") but you can cut the size in half by removing and throwing away the plastic housing. The actual compressor is about the size of a model airplane engine. I haven't been that pressed for space yet so I haven't bothered. The best thing about a compressor over CO2 cartridges is that you can use it for multiple repair attempts when necessary. | ||
| Slaughter |
Takes 2 CO2 shots to get anywhere near pressure. One will get you outta trouble but probably only about 12 psi in the rear. If the sticky rope doesn't work on the first try, you WILL have to call for a AAA rescue. When we're doing a long ride in a group and will be in areas without good cell phone coverage, we'll always take a 12V air pump (like Jerry showed above) - so that we have the option of properly inflating the tire and continuing. IF you don't mind carrying the bulky thing around, you can take one of the "mushroom" type plug installation tools and plugs. I wouldn't recommend that unless you're really in a large group and are running a LONG-assed ride and want to cover all bases. Tool is the size of a pop rivet tool. I used to carry sticky rope and a small hand pump for bicycles - and now I never bother unless I'm going out for a few days and some LONG rides. | ||
| Nevrenuf |
when we went out to sturgis, somewhere in kansas or something, there was a guy alongside of the road and sure enough had a flat. luckily had some fix a flat to help him up plus the portable pump to use with the ultra. went ahead and followed him into the next town so he could get it fixed up properly. right place and right time. | ||
| Garry |
I bought a kit at www.CyclePumps.com. $35. Includes some basic tools, the sticky rope plug kit and a 12V compressor. The guy offers the option of an SAE (Battery Tender) end which I took since I have Battery Tender leads permanently installed in convenient spots on my bikes. | ||
| Hughlysses |
IF you don't mind carrying the bulky thing around, you can take one of the "mushroom" type plug installation tools and plugs. I wouldn't recommend that unless you're really in a large group and are running a LONG-assed ride and want to cover all bases. Tool is the size of a pop rivet tool. Slaughter, there is a "pocket" version of the tool (Stop-n-go) that is much more compact, about the size of a large screwdriver handle. I have one and it works well. (Message edited by hughlysses on October 19, 2007) | ||
| Just_ziptab |
I carry a plug/ 4 cartridge CO2 kit under the seat of my XB12. It fills the area with room left over for one half of a cheap rain set and the stock tool kit. I've seen a guy use a manual pump that was the size of a magic marker. Worked fine but took about 30 minutes of pumping/rest to get filled up. | ||
| Bigblock |
I do a fair amount of riding and have had a few flats, I have found the rope plugs to be the most reliable for holding air, and you can always double them up if it doesn't work on the first attempt. The mushroom plugs have been hit or miss for me, the rope plugs seem to work better, even if it takes a couple tries. Those elctric pumps rock, I need to get me one. Metalstorm bailed me out with his on our way back from the GP this year, my rope plugs and his air pump. | ||
| Corporatemonkey |
I have to agree with Jerry. I have the full cyclepump kit. Granted it was not cheap, but these things rock. They are built like a tank, and pump a large volume of air. Just to give an example of their power. I used it recently to air up a tire on my parents RV. 100psi tire on a loaded ~50k lbs 45ft vehicle. It surprised me how well it did. When dealing with a flat bike tire, rarely can you get a perfect repair using gooey snakes, or mushroom kits. You usually still lose a little air. If you have to depend on a CO2 kit you will be disappointed. You need something that you can use to top up until you can get a permanent fix. FYI the cyclepump is now standard kit for the British military in Iraq. They use it in all of their large vehicles. | ||
| Rich |
I made up a kit with a small 12V pump, glue, rope plugs etc. I always take it if I'm going out of town, and have used it more than once. Big Lots had air compressors for $8 recently. | ||
| Jont |
Have used sticky ropes for ever, but get this. Buddy has a worn out tire with cords showing. We are headed to my house to change it 20 miles away. Picks up a bolt on the way out of town. Bolt leaves a hole the size of a nickle and the remaining tire is maybe 1/8 inch thick. Sticky ropes don't hold. Ona whim I sez "let's try some of that expanding foam insulation". One can fills a 180 tire about half full shoulda used two. With a 1/2 diameter hole and a tire half full of foam insulation the tire held for the 20 miles to my house. Pull the tire expecting to have a mess to clean up and just a puff of air and it's all gone. | ||
| Buell_nm |
All great stuff, thanks!! | ||
| Teeps |
Garry Posted on Friday, October 19, 2007 I bought a kit at www.CyclePumps.com. $35. Includes some basic tools, the sticky rope plug kit and a 12V compressor. Wish I would have seen this place (link) before buying a slime pump... the tubless kit is the ticket. | ||
| Jlnance |
Anyone have AAA for their bikes? Yes, I do. You have to buy the RV option if you want it to cover the bike. The regular and "plus" versions of AAA only cover cars. I just used the AAA card on a trip I am currently on. Not to tow the bike, but I got an $100 discount on new glasses after I lost mine in a snow storm. That wasn't quite what I envisioned using AAA for when I bought it. | ||
| Hdbobwithabuell |
CO2 pumps are GREAT!! For mountain bike tires. Takes about three of the standard size. Don't think I'd want to try and fill a motorcycle tire without a dozen. | ||
| Rasmonis |
I have AAA Plus RV. It is worth every penny, get it. I've been towed 3 times this year 57 miles each time, $0.00. I get free towing for up to 100 miles. No matter what vehicle I am in. Just make sure to ask for a towing service that knows how to pick up motorcycles. | ||
| Loucksgl |
Buell_nm ---The best tubless tire plug kit I have ever seen, and used, is the one BMW Motorcycles puts out. You get the glue for the plugs, the tool to install the plugs and three CO2 cylinders with a puncture cap that screws onto the valve stem. So, you ream out the hole with the install tool, attach the rectangle shape plug onto the install tool, apply glue and insert and push the plug into the hole. The plug is flared on both ends so that after it is inserted it can not be extracted back out the hole. It forms a "T" inside the tire. Screw the provided hollow pointed cap onto the valve stem. It is also threaded on the top just under the sharp spire point. Screw a CO2 cylinder onto the spire point. The point punctures the cylinder and contents empty into the tire. Three cylinders equal about 23 -25 lbs pressure. Enough to get you somewhere. I have driven the entire length of the Blue Ridge Parkway with a patched tire this way. Have used these three times on different bikes. |
