Man Flat Tires suck
Road Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 882
Likes: 0
From: Milwaukee, WI
A couple weeks ago I had my first flat tire in over 35 years of riding! I was 60 miles from home on a late Sunday afternoon when I got a nail in the rear tire. To make matters worse the tire seal broke so there was no putting air in. I had a spare tire and rim (just put new tires and rims on) at home so I ended up changing the tire the next day in a gas station parking lot. What a pain in the butt. I upgraded my HOG Roadside Assistance Program!
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 15,321
Likes: 29
From: Phoenix, Arizona
Make your own kit.....Get one of those 12v air compressors from Walmart, take off the plastic housing and rob the guts out. It will fit in the palm of your and. Get you a 3 buck tire plug kit, put it all in a zippered bank bag and you are all set.
Forget about CO2 air supply kits. First, it takes a handful of those little tanks to fill a flat tire, that is if you don't fool around and bleed one or two off fumbling with the valve stem. Second, they shouldn't be stored in high heat. The inside of a saddle bag is like a dutch oven in the sun. Third, they can't be used like the 12v pump to simply pump up a low tire when on the road.
Forget about CO2 air supply kits. First, it takes a handful of those little tanks to fill a flat tire, that is if you don't fool around and bleed one or two off fumbling with the valve stem. Second, they shouldn't be stored in high heat. The inside of a saddle bag is like a dutch oven in the sun. Third, they can't be used like the 12v pump to simply pump up a low tire when on the road.
Banned
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,943
Likes: 0
From: Chicago.
I think everyone here is overlooking one point. You cannot plug a tire with a tube in it. If you have spoked wheels then there is a tube.
On the otherhand if you have an alloy wheel then you probably have a "tubeless tire". The tubeless tire can be plugged and even slimed. If you have an inner tube, you're screwed. Although spoked wheels look great, don't think I ever have a set on my bike for the reasons mentioned previoulsy. You can plug a tire in minutes, fill it up with air, go about your business and never have to worry about it again regardless of what the dealer might say.
On the otherhand if you have an alloy wheel then you probably have a "tubeless tire". The tubeless tire can be plugged and even slimed. If you have an inner tube, you're screwed. Although spoked wheels look great, don't think I ever have a set on my bike for the reasons mentioned previoulsy. You can plug a tire in minutes, fill it up with air, go about your business and never have to worry about it again regardless of what the dealer might say.
Banned
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,492
Likes: 2
wow what a week ... first day i get bike i get to experiance a lite rain ride . then a few days its colder then a witchs tit .. then today riding thru n.cali Gold Rush town of Coloma run over a 2 1/2 inch 1/4 inch allen bolt .. how the hell a big long bolt actually did what it did but all i can say is that sucked ... lucky i was close nuff to home (10 miles) to call someone to bring my truck , ramp and tie downs so i could take to shop . got all fixxed and now its dark and COLD lol . was the first nice warm day to ride and i get a flat then too cold to ride so go home .. someone said good luck to get a new bike and it rains when ya first ride it .. i dunno bout that now lol .. anyway just venting alil . never had a flat on a street bike before . never thought how screwed you really can be out there far from home middle of no where . . so whatcha guys do carry like a Plug kit in your tool bag when touring and what about tubed tires? anyway tomorrow gonna be nice day i feel a long ride coming on 
You did get lucky. If a flat comes on before you notice and your even going 35mph, your going down. I've had a number of flats over the years, noticed all but one. I was able to slow her down pretty good by time she went over. I carry a can of fix o flat but I am in the process of upgrading to a better system.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,033
Likes: 29
Most of the HOG roadside services stories that I hear are not all that favorable....Long wait times, tow truck drivers that are not experienced or equipped to haul bikes....ect.
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Road Warrior
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,290
Likes: 4
From: Payson, AZ
I think everyone here is overlooking one point. You cannot plug a tire with a tube in it. If you have spoked wheels then there is a tube.
On the otherhand if you have an alloy wheel then you probably have a "tubeless tire". The tubeless tire can be plugged and even slimed. If you have an inner tube, you're screwed. Although spoked wheels look great, don't think I ever have a set on my bike for the reasons mentioned previoulsy. You can plug a tire in minutes, fill it up with air, go about your business and never have to worry about it again regardless of what the dealer might say.
On the otherhand if you have an alloy wheel then you probably have a "tubeless tire". The tubeless tire can be plugged and even slimed. If you have an inner tube, you're screwed. Although spoked wheels look great, don't think I ever have a set on my bike for the reasons mentioned previoulsy. You can plug a tire in minutes, fill it up with air, go about your business and never have to worry about it again regardless of what the dealer might say.