Second Ride, First Puncture

Closed Thread Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Sep 29, 2007 | 12:18 PM

Pitts2112

Thread Starter

Road Captain

Joined: Jun 2007

Posts: 727

Likes: 0

From: A Boston Yankee in Surrey, England

Second Ride, First Puncture

So far, it's a 50% success rate on going out for a day's ride and getting home. I got my '06 Sportster Custom on Wed and put about 150 miles on it Thursday. Went out to do the same today and got to about 40 miles and the handling started getting all squirrelly. It wasn't dangerous (I was only doing about 30 through a small English village) but it just felt like I was riding on jello. So I pulled over to find the rear tire (naturally) completely flat. So there I am, only about 5 miles from home, stuck on the side of the road with a flat and the damn pub's closed!! Not fair!! [:'(]

But, luckily enough, I heard someone riding dirt bikes in the village somewhere, so I mosied on over to hopefully find someone in the place that knew a thing or two about bikes. As luck would have it, it was a couple of kids on little dirt bikes but their dads were there with them. One of them is a builder who lives about 50 feet from where I met them so, to make a long story short, he offered to put my bike in his van and give me a lift home. What a great guy! There's a case of beer on its way to his place for that little favor!

I get home to discover that the insurance policy I took out on the bike on Wed comes with breakdown assistance included. I probably should have read the stuff when it came in! Turns out I didn't really need to be stranded there at all had I read it. [:@] Oh, well, it's all worked out in the end and I'll get the tire replaced by them tomorrow morning and be back on the road by lunchtime (I hope - we'll see as this is my first experience with this sort of thing).

Good start to a biking life, I guess!!

Shawn

Sep 29, 2007 | 12:31 PM

OldFenderGuy

Ultimate HDF Member

Joined: Sep 2005

Posts: 8,641

Likes: 26

From: Ozark Country

RE: Second Ride, First Puncture

Kind of like me.... If I didn't have bad luck I wouldn't have any luck. [8D]

But actually, I've been riding Harley's non-stop for the past 37 years, and have only had 1 flat tire from a puncture...

(After saying that, I'll probably go out today and have a flat).. [:@]

Sep 29, 2007 | 01:41 PM

tourman

Cruiser

Joined: Jan 2007

Posts: 131

Likes: 0

RE: Second Ride, First Puncture

Yup, Sounds like my luck to! I now carry a repair kit & electric air pump

Sep 29, 2007 | 05:52 PM

Donnylee

Stellar HDF Member

Joined: Aug 2007

Posts: 3,159

Likes: 1,079

From: Brandon, Mississippi

RE: Second Ride, First Puncture

Yes a definate bummer.....But you got to love good people like the guy that helped you! Definately worth the beer....Though some will shame you for it.....He could have gotten drunk killed somebody, Blah blah Blah....... LOL'S!

Sep 29, 2007 | 06:23 PM

themensh

Ultimate HDF Member

Joined: Aug 2007

Posts: 5,331

Likes: 56

From: north of Daytona

RE: Second Ride, First Puncture

Sorry about your tire.....but you may have met a friend for life.
I have experienced punctures......and have usually been on tubeless tires....easy fix with a plug.
Now I have tube type tires......not looking forward to the next one!
Bravo for you listening for a bike in the distance!

Chuck

Sep 29, 2007 | 06:28 PM

ChromeJunkie

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Dec 2006

Posts: 9,918

Likes: 4,685

From: West Texas Sandhills

RE: Second Ride, First Puncture

I just installed an new front tire a couple of weeks ago, only to find a nail init. It isn't flat,and I am afraid if I remove it, it will go flat. I have wheel and tire coverage, butby according to the service folks at the local dealer, they will only replace it with an OEM Dunlop....I have an Avon and would rather buy another one than replace it with a Dunlop D402.

Sep 30, 2007 | 05:31 AM

PapaTravis

Elite HDF Member

Joined: May 2006

Posts: 4,391

Likes: 10

From:

RE: Second Ride, First Puncture

Quote:

ORIGINAL: ChromeJunkie

I just installed an new front tire a couple of weeks ago, only to find a nail init. It isn't flat,and I am afraid if I remove it, it will go flat. I have wheel and tire coverage, butby according to the service folks at the local dealer, they will only replace it with an OEM Dunlop....I have an Avon and would rather buy another one than replace it with a Dunlop D402.

If it is not in the sidewall, just plug it. Some here swear by it, and have no problem with a plug until it is time to change the tire due to wear. I use to install car/truck tires. I have seen tires with multiple plug hold up for tens of thousands of miles. You might not want to take the risk, as you only have the two tires on a bike. But, if it were me who just replaced a new tire, I would plug it, and just keep an eye on it (when not actually riding it, of course, LOL