Blowout
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 162
Likes: 1
From:
RE: Blowout
Glad the outcome wasn't worse! Bones and scrapes will heal....
I had the same thing happen to the wife and I on a trip about 3 years ago. Speed was about 80 on the Interstate, prob 40 lbs. luggage, tire went flat almost immediately (BIG puncture). Almost had the bike stopped but it lowsided on the right, the tire (stock Dunlop) came off the rim causing the bike to flip onto the left side. Threw me off, broke my collarbone, scraped my wife's knuckles on one hand and I had minor road burn marks, not rash or unbroken skin on my back and 3-4 scrapes on the forearm from the rough pavement on emergency lane.
Now my question: what could I have done differently to have avoided going down? What I did was to let the bike slow on its own with very slight braking because at 80, it immediately began to fishtail and got worse as it slowed. The bike actually lowsided on both sides several times before it flipped. Both mufflers had severe flat scrapes on the bottoms. Bear in mind there was traffic and an 18 wheeler behind me so getting the heck out of the way and as quickly/slowly as possible was of utmost urgency. Had the tire not come off the rim, we prob would have just lowsided and not even been hurt.
I had the same thing happen to the wife and I on a trip about 3 years ago. Speed was about 80 on the Interstate, prob 40 lbs. luggage, tire went flat almost immediately (BIG puncture). Almost had the bike stopped but it lowsided on the right, the tire (stock Dunlop) came off the rim causing the bike to flip onto the left side. Threw me off, broke my collarbone, scraped my wife's knuckles on one hand and I had minor road burn marks, not rash or unbroken skin on my back and 3-4 scrapes on the forearm from the rough pavement on emergency lane.
Now my question: what could I have done differently to have avoided going down? What I did was to let the bike slow on its own with very slight braking because at 80, it immediately began to fishtail and got worse as it slowed. The bike actually lowsided on both sides several times before it flipped. Both mufflers had severe flat scrapes on the bottoms. Bear in mind there was traffic and an 18 wheeler behind me so getting the heck out of the way and as quickly/slowly as possible was of utmost urgency. Had the tire not come off the rim, we prob would have just lowsided and not even been hurt.
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 162
Likes: 1
From:
RE: Blowout
Tater, we ran over something that put a rather large hole in the tire. It was so big, you could almost see inside the tire through the hole, prob big enough to stick a 16 penny nail in! Whatever it was put a good size dent in my fender when it came out. Thanks and yes, we could have been worse off! Oh yeah, we were wearing helmets but neither had more than a couple of scratches on them.
Here's a pic of the puncture, a little fuzzy as it was taken while the bike was on a trailer:
Here's a pic of the puncture, a little fuzzy as it was taken while the bike was on a trailer:
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,183
Likes: 1
From: Lenexa, KS (KC)
RE: Blowout
Looks like you and your wife were very fortunate. You handled it very well.
Thanks for the pic. It helps to know that it at least was a road hazard and not a flaw in the tire.
Thanks for the pic. It helps to know that it at least was a road hazard and not a flaw in the tire.
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Blowout
Had that happen tothe wife and Iwhen a nail left my tire at highway speed and deflated rapidly. I noticed it getting musshy in the rear and decided to decelerate and apply the brakes lightly. Got the bike stopped without incident on the side of the road. By the time I stopped the tire was completely deflated. Not a real good feeling, but, glad westayed up. This is a good reason to look over your tire if you are going on a long trip. You may have a nail in it and not know. When that nail comes out at hig speed you are in for a real surprise. Glad the Lt and his wife are OK.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 50
From: Baton Rouge, LA
RE: Blowout
Never had a rear tire blow, just slow leaks from nails, but had a freak problem with a front tire once. In 1998, riding on the I-10 at about 60mph I felt the front of the RK weave a bit, as if a strong wind was hitting it down low. Looking down at the front wheel revealed it was completely flat, and maintained complete control until the speed got down to about 10 mph, when I almost lost it. The tire never broke its bead and no damage was done. What happened was that something, to date unknown, struck the rubber tire stem and sliced it, putting a small nick in the wheel on its way. It was a construction area and there was a concrete partition on the left and no traffic on the right. The nature of the striking object remains a mystery.
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Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Blowout
I'd be very interested in knowing from those of you who have experienced a blow-out at speed, whether you were riding with spoke wheels (the tires for which contain tubes) or solid cast wheels (which have tubeless tires and no tubes). I was taught that tubeless tires (cast wheels) deflate more slowly than tubed tires (spoked wheels), and are therefore safer.
Anyone care to comment?
PS: I had a rear tubeless radial go down on a BMW I was riding....while at speed. I was taught to gently apply the FRONT brake when the rear tire deflates, and was able to stop without incident.
Anyone care to comment?
PS: I had a rear tubeless radial go down on a BMW I was riding....while at speed. I was taught to gently apply the FRONT brake when the rear tire deflates, and was able to stop without incident.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,183
Likes: 1
From: Lenexa, KS (KC)
RE: Blowout
For what it's worth, I've been riding with Ride-On tire sealant in front and rear. Don't know if it would ever help in one of these situations -- maybe with a nail, but wouldn't with what most of you have encountered. Probably helps seal slow leaks more than anything else.