Ever Had a Flat Tire?
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 816
Likes: 172
From: ALABAMA
Had one on a trip. Lucky we were only a mile away from the HD dealer.
Had road Hazzard insurance that paid to replace the tire.
Only thing is, I had just left the dealer when the tire went down. A few roofing nails could move a few tires on a slow day.
Had road Hazzard insurance that paid to replace the tire.
Only thing is, I had just left the dealer when the tire went down. A few roofing nails could move a few tires on a slow day.
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 191
Likes: 1
From: Japan
One thing i didn't see here, sorry if I missed it: Spokes do no mean tubes. As my 2013 Heritage has spokes and a tubless tire. There is a thick rim liner but that is it.
Having said that, I ended up with a flat earlier this year and as I was limping it to an air compressor, the bead popped on me. I ended up pulling the tire off and taking it to the dealer thinking it may have a tube and I should swap it out just incase since some black rubber was pinched between the rim and tire. The friendly Japanese looked at me funny. After it was swapped, they handed me the rim liner and said, "here is your old 'tube.'" The more you know....
Having said that, I ended up with a flat earlier this year and as I was limping it to an air compressor, the bead popped on me. I ended up pulling the tire off and taking it to the dealer thinking it may have a tube and I should swap it out just incase since some black rubber was pinched between the rim and tire. The friendly Japanese looked at me funny. After it was swapped, they handed me the rim liner and said, "here is your old 'tube.'" The more you know....
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,002
Likes: 190
From: Penticton BC Canada
So, in my decision making process on the Road King I am of course debating the standard or the classic. It seems there are a few differences, but maybe only two that seem important...at least to me.
Cruise control...never had it, not sure if it is that important.
Laced, spoked wheels...maintenance and what if you have a flat tire. Spoked wheels = tubed tire = towing to a repair facility or a roadside repair company.
So, I wondered. How often does a flat tire happen on an MC? I haven't had a flat tire on my pickup in at least 10 years. Can't remember the last time. Or on my wife's car.
I tend to replace tires when they start looking skinny. I'd rather spend the money and have good rubber under me. And it seems like that would be even more important with only two tires!
Just wondering if that laced spoked wheel, tubed tire should be a deal breaker on the classic....because I really like the look.
Cruise control...never had it, not sure if it is that important.
Laced, spoked wheels...maintenance and what if you have a flat tire. Spoked wheels = tubed tire = towing to a repair facility or a roadside repair company.
So, I wondered. How often does a flat tire happen on an MC? I haven't had a flat tire on my pickup in at least 10 years. Can't remember the last time. Or on my wife's car.
I tend to replace tires when they start looking skinny. I'd rather spend the money and have good rubber under me. And it seems like that would be even more important with only two tires!
Just wondering if that laced spoked wheel, tubed tire should be a deal breaker on the classic....because I really like the look.
It is possible to seal the spokes and run a tubeless tire on the spoked wheel. More than a couple guy's have done that on the Yammie Roadstar forum.
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 324
Likes: 21
From: Oregon
Had both types, while running at 40 mph and waking up to a flat.
Green slime and a mini air compressor stay in my saddle bag.
I have PM billet custom rims now, and have tubes in them as a safety issue.
Never leave home without the slime and mini compressor!
Green slime and a mini air compressor stay in my saddle bag.
I have PM billet custom rims now, and have tubes in them as a safety issue.
Never leave home without the slime and mini compressor!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 27,097
Likes: 4,676
From: Frozelandia, Minnysota
My '08 Wide Glide came with premium spoke wheels, I ordered mag wheels before I even took delivery of the bike.
There's always a lot of construction in the Phoenix area. With nails and screws falling off the trucks, I've been stranded by torn tubes before. Now I always carry a plug kit and 12 volt air compressor.
There's always a lot of construction in the Phoenix area. With nails and screws falling off the trucks, I've been stranded by torn tubes before. Now I always carry a plug kit and 12 volt air compressor.
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 165
Likes: 7
From: NC
More than a couple since 1984, some scary ones but most went flat sitting still. Worst one was two years ago, passing a car on the BRP the rear end got real squirrely as I passed. I assumed it was a bad tar snake and rode another 5-8 miles. Curves seemed more and more difficult and I thought, "Hmmm, that was no tar snake. Bet the rear tire is low." Well it was completely out of air, not really flat because the sidewalls had been holding it up. Stopped at an overlook and there was a guy there without any plugs or compressor but he suggested I just ride it back to Roaring Gap and repair it there. My first thought was I might make it a couple miles back in the other direction at least so off I go. Rode it ten miles to a service station and plugged the hole (very large nail), filled it with air and rode it 70 miles back home. Fine tire that was!
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 293
Likes: 23
From: Denver, co.
I got a flat on my previous bike, which had laced wheels, on about 700 miles on tires, when my wife and i were riding and i noticed the rear was getting a little soft and wobbly, pulled into a gas station and pulled out what looked like a staple wire,small one, so i'm not a fan of tubes anymore, but at least i know how pull my tire off now.
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Been years since flat on a bike, '06 FLHT came with spokes ( the actual bike I wanted had what I wanted & did not notice until I was halfway home, 1st new Harley & no way was I going to take it back), bought takeoff's from a forum member & have more piece of mind on rode trips. Carry plug kit & small compressor in saddlebags.
Wish I had crusie , throttle lock not as good.
Wish I had crusie , throttle lock not as good.
You can ride with a flat, have done it many times on my dirtbike (when I was young and used to use crappy tires). It is harder when on a heavy bike. Once you get up to the speed you can manage, the tire will not self-destruct. The hard part is getting it up to 45-50 MPH.
I ride daily commuting and I tour. I average 3 or 4 flats a year. Like Dirty Harry said "Do you feel lucky". I never leave home without tire repair tools. I put a set of cast wheels on my Street Bob because you are not fixing a flat on the side of the road with the laced wheels. If you never ride far from home and have someone that can pick you up Tube type wheels are not a problem. Smaller lighter bikes with a center stand or a prop stand for a dual sport punctured tubes are fixable. Always carry a spare tube though because sometimes they split. I carry a bead breaker because I have had valve stems rupture on tubeless rims too.