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2015 Slim. I took the bike for a spin after weeks, then put it in the garage. Next thing I know the rear tire is flat. I tried to pump it up but it wouldnt get air at all. I noticed there is a leak right at the valve stem, right where the stem connects to the wheel.
So how much trouble is this now? I thought I order some valve stem, the 90 degree type and change them myself.
I have to buy some tools to break the bead and reach behind the stem. I really prefer not to tow the bike.
Ordered couple of trigger clamps to break the tire and a set of valve stems. Will see if can fix it.
Just a thought....
Did you locate the actual source of the leak...?
Is it at the base of the valve stem at the rim?
Or could it be the valve core itself...??
Sometimes the valve cores work loose or become damaged..
You might try getting one of the valve core tools (they're cheap).
First just try to tighten up the valve core... still leak?
Pop in a new valve core (again, very cheap).
Then if it still leaks you will have confirmed it's the stem itself.
It will have cost you only a little time, a little effort, and at a cheap cost. After those few easy, cheap checks, you can now spend the time, considerable effort, and money to break the bead and change the entire valve stem.
Again, just a thought..
Last edited by hattitude; Jul 19, 2025 at 06:28 PM.
Is it a metal stem? Try to tighten the hex nut on the outside, and also check the valve core as said above. I had a slow leak for a long time on my front tire, and a quarter turn on that outside nut fixed it. Been fine for years now.
Tube or tubeless? Spray some windex to pinpoint the leak.. valve cores are easy to replace. Tubes are a different story.
that bike is 10 years old, what's the date code on the tire? Could all the rubber be past it reliable date?
If you’re in a place where-as you can’t replace the valve stem yourself then there’s only 1 thing to do. (See below as I’ve been there)
In my case I was returning home from a road trip when my “tubed” front tire went flat.
The tube had less than 1000 miles on it and was told by the shop the valve stem split at the tube so just a bad tube that took a 1000 miles to fail.
Last edited by Bluraven; Jul 20, 2025 at 06:41 AM.
I change my own tires, so what I would do, might not make sense for you.
Just breaking the bead isn't going to be enough, your going to have to at least spoon one bead over the rim to get enough room to get your hands in there to change the valve stem if tubeless, or pull the tube out if tubed to change. Yeah, you might be able to clamp the bead pass the wheel well for a valve change depending on the tire, not something I would do.
For most riders, the easy way is to remove the wheel from the bike, and take it to a motorcycle shop to fix.
If youre in a place where-as you cant replace the valve stem yourself then theres only 1 thing to do. (See below as Ive been there)
In my case I was returning home from a road trip when my tubed front tire went flat.
The tube had less than 1000 miles on it and was told by the shop the valve stem split at the tube so just a bad tube that took a 1000 miles to fail.
Changed them on the side of the road before, ain't no fun.
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Tire Leaking from Valve Stem
