I went Down Friday Evening.... I am blessed!!!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 28,845
Likes: 16,583
From: Wisconsin, USA
Interesting and entirely consistent with your account. This is why I asked
"Did you lose pressure first and then have it blow out?... "
In your account you stated:
These are the signs of a tire losing pressure. I'm really pleased everything worked out - and I want to encourage everyone reading this thread to take note.
The reason I'm so adamant about this is that I have a friend who was riding his bike up in the Vancouver BC area when he experienced similar compromised control. He rode on and eventually was unable to navigate a simple curve in a divided (thankfully) highway. He ended up with a compound fracture of his right leg with bone sticking out and grinding along the Jersey barrier. The Canadian docs wanted to amputate but his own insurance paid for him to be airlifted back to the USA. He still has his own leg mercifully. Know the signs - it could save your life. Tires can deflate while riding . . .
"Did you lose pressure first and then have it blow out?... "
In your account you stated:
These are the signs of a tire losing pressure. I'm really pleased everything worked out - and I want to encourage everyone reading this thread to take note.
The reason I'm so adamant about this is that I have a friend who was riding his bike up in the Vancouver BC area when he experienced similar compromised control. He rode on and eventually was unable to navigate a simple curve in a divided (thankfully) highway. He ended up with a compound fracture of his right leg with bone sticking out and grinding along the Jersey barrier. The Canadian docs wanted to amputate but his own insurance paid for him to be airlifted back to the USA. He still has his own leg mercifully. Know the signs - it could save your life. Tires can deflate while riding . . .
When I bought my FLHTCUI, I bought some chrome ones from another company and they broke off. I thought they were defective so I bought some more Victors. On the way home I experienced the same initial symptoms as the OP. Resistance to countersteering on right turn, then felt normal going straight 1/2 mile then resistance to left turn. I was dumber than OP and went another 3/4 mile. After even more resistance on another left turn I stopped immediately. I live in rural area and had no traffic to worry about.
The valve TPMs had ripped off front and rear but only front leaked down to 5 PSI. Because of the stiff sidewalls on the D402 it still held its profile. OP you are the second guy to have a blowout this month on HDF. The other OP was on DUNLOP E3s. I called Dunlop and they told me the D402 and the E3 have the same rigidity. Police tires have double the rigidity but cannot be used 2up.
I would be curious if Metzelers and Avons are speced to hold the heavy weight of a bagger when deflated.
I am interested in an automated TPM system like Doran. Anybody use them?
Oh yeah, I always check the age code.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete....jsp?techid=11
Oh, just noticed this thread is 2 years old. Worth bringing back.
Last edited by Ron750; Mar 31, 2012 at 06:03 AM. Reason: link posts wrong on Android
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,616
Likes: 17
From: Mid West
Man, so sorry to hear you went down and due to a tire failure, I have only dropped twice but that was twice too many and the aches that accompany only seem to intensify with age. Good to hear you made it with minor issues, the bike can be replaced, and good to hear if not for safety gear you came out for the better as even I ride without as much as possible but do still wear for general purpose.
Get back on as soon as you can, ride safe ride easy.
Get back on as soon as you can, ride safe ride easy.
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 76
Likes: 2
From: S.E. Lower MI
I had tires replaced (at dealer) and noticed the rear was not holding air. It was a slow leak and each day I checked I was down 3 - 5 lbs. I removed the valve core and re-installed and problem went away. Probably not the best work by the tire installer. That is why I was closely watching tire pressures after the change, and continue to today.
You can find Schrader valve core removal tools on the web. E-bay has some for sale. Here's a link to a site that sells them too. Good idea to have one on a valve stem.
http://www.purelycustom.com/p-175-sc...e-remover.aspx
You can find Schrader valve core removal tools on the web. E-bay has some for sale. Here's a link to a site that sells them too. Good idea to have one on a valve stem.
http://www.purelycustom.com/p-175-sc...e-remover.aspx
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,936
Likes: 310
From: coastal sc
I m glad youre doing well and hope for a quick full recovery. as for the tire there is a dot code on the side wall that will tell you when tire was made at factory. it is on every tire as far as i know. it will read week and year it was made .that may answer that question for you. and aid in legall matters as well.good luck and hope to see you back out there soon.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,294
Likes: 16
From: in a van down by the river in Ga.
Just last week we had a rider hit from behind by a drunk driver on I-20 at 5am He was not as lucky as you, sad to say. He was knocked/thrown from the bike into another lane and hit by an 18 wheeler. His bike was stuck in/on the front of a Honda element. He was an EMT and had just gotten off work at a local hospital.
Last edited by tidbit1; Apr 1, 2012 at 04:33 PM. Reason: spelling
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