Does anyone have experience with a particular tire plug kit that they found to work well? I am not asking for yes/no opinions on plugging a tire! That's covered in a post right before this one. I currently carry a regular automotive tire plug kit, tire irons, and a small foot pump on long trips, but am worried that I may have trouble seating the tire with a foot pump if the bead comes off the rim. Also, any experience with "fix-a-flat" on a motorcycle? I haven't had a flat on a street bike yet, but would prefer not to be helpless on the side of the road when it happens!
I run with this one (click me) that I bought from a local dealer. I just added another 2 of the 12 gram Co2 catridges to it, as 3 is not really enough, (made for atvs I know)....however, 45 gram Co2 replacements for the street bike kit Click here are pretty hard to find besides ordering thru them. Not to mention they want 30 BUCKS for two of the 45 gram refills! I can buy 12-16 gram replacement at most bicycle shops for around 2-3 bucks a piece. My kit already saved me once....away from home. I probably would not use fix-a-flat on my bike, I would just use the kit that I have primarily. ATV kit I have... street bike kit
The Pashnit site had a tire repair kit, a very nice gauge, and an electric pump at a discount. I carry these, but I've only had to use the pump so far (kow). A bit noisy, but it works right off the bike battery.You might want to check it out.
Mushroom heads v. Reg'lar Ol' autostyle Just a quick experience. I don't know the brand, but I bought a cheap small mushroom style to plug a brand-new (800mi) rear that picked up a screw, center tread, slow leak in garage. Used it with proper installation tools/directions. Did not hold air pressure. Hole was a little jagged, my assessment. Had to remove it and use the old stand-by I already had. The kind with the rubberized cord that gets pushed in and then pulled out. It held. (Is holding with no miles but sitting in garage-this happened last fall) I've used the old-style ones on car tires 4-5 times in last decade and they have always lasted for the life of the tire. I'll be carrying a kit with the old one in there. Blew 30 bucks or so on an Stop n Go from Aerostitch- nice kit- was stolen before I could use it.
I use one like the one above, but it only cost around 25 bones. You can also get a plug kit at Wallmart for less than that. But you would still need to get the Co2. I have used mine 4 times so far, the last time was Monday. Get as much Co2 as you can keep on your bike. Better to have to much than not enought...
A footpump??? :shocked: I guess you want a goooooooooooooooooood workout bud.... :strong: Next to impossible to seat a MC tire with a foot pump. If you have a tire with the bead off the rim, you best carry some starter fluid, and a lighter......done that with car tires in the ole days....not recommended for the light hearted. :kaboom:
I use the standard automotive plugs. Also have a CO2 pump. I've had to use the plugs once on a back tire. I road about 3,000 miles with that plug in the tire. Never lost air or came out. I would not recommend fix-a-flat, doesn't always work very well. Also, if you ever do, make sure you tell the shop when getting a new tire, because that stuff is still wet in the tire.
Never had to seat a tire with a foot pump yet. Only thing that might work is a ratchet strap around the tire. Thanks for the starter fluid idea. On the side of the road in the middle of nowhere, that's the best idea I have come across.:thumbsup:
Good to hear that the automotive plugs can work fine since that's what I've been carrying! I really wouldn't want fix-a-flat goo in my wheel, but I had considered it mainly because of the fairly high volume of air in the can (enough to inflate a car tire to ~'teens psi).
i got this one Stop & Go Tubeless Tire Plugger Kit With CO2 :: New Enough Motorcycle Hard Parts also picked up a small electric pump that i carry on longer trips
Dont be shy about co2. You'll need a metric buttload of 12 or 16 gram co2 cartridges. Once upon a time I had a flat on my VFR and I used 13 of the 12 gram co2 carts and 1 of the 16 gram carts and it got my rear tire to 44psi. The tire was all the way flat, down to 0 psi. Right now I carry 18 of the 12 gram carts on board.
This is a pic of my flat repair kit. The blue plastic things are actually self vulcanizing rubber plugs. Dip in the cement, insert into tire, and voila! The long extension is because I dont know exactly how I'd put the inflator on the front tire. So I threw the long extension in there for ease of inflation. The rear isnt a big deal.
Get the small air pump from slime or one like it and have that under the seat. CO2 packs can leave you stranded for not enough air, why chance it. Any small plug kit with glues and tool will be enough to get you going again.
