Man glad you are ok. I ride through that area all the time.
I have not worn a helmet for the past 20 years or so. My friends have been on me about getting one lately. Now I think your story has hit home.
Good luck on getting your bike back to the way it was or better.

 

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 . . .

 

Here is a big shout out from Big Lake, Alaska for a quick recovery...I too questioned wearing my gear but always chose to wear it regardless of temp or conditions. It paid off 10 August 2003 when I was T-Boned by a redlight runner. He was doing 51MPH at inpact according to Police Car Camera. Someone was looking out or me on that day....Heal quick my friend!

 

Glad you made it..... My biggest fear is going down hard in traffic.

 

Man, glad you're ok! I had a flat tire a couple of months back, Dealer fixed it for me, but did the same dumb *** job they did on ur bike... I felt the bike was EXTREMELY heavy on a turn, immediately stopped and checked the tire... neck valve was leaking! had to change the tire at my expense because of the great Frakin customer service we have in this part of the world!!!

Anyway, I am really glad u r ok!

 

I am glad that you had such a fortunate out come.

 

Happy you're not too hurt and alive. Sounds like we all learned something through your experience - CHECK YOUR TIRE PRESSURE, YOUR TIRE AND REPLACE THE VALVE CAP!

 

A fellow rider on his '08 RK went down by work last Friday, some rash on his fore arm and tricep, had his son on board he got a small rash on his knee. When the tumbling and skipping was done my friend looked around for his boy who was less than 2 feet away breathing heavily, he looked to his dad and:

"Wow, now I have a story I can tell at school!"

Boy is dyed in the wool a true rider! he is ready to go again and only 12!

 

First off let me say I'm glad your alright I hate hearing stories like this. Now let me tell you what i just went through....I put 21 / 18 combo with a 200 metzler combo on my 2010 street glide and rode it to daytona last week (250 miles each way and with the tire pressure at 42 max and at over 60 the back tire was flexing side to side on the rim and giving me a speed wobble that could almost throw me! I had over 6 people at daytona that came up to me and asked if I had the problem also, they put 50 PSI in the tire(42 MAX is what it's supposed to be) and it barely wobbled! I asked 4 tents selling rim and tire combos and they told me they put 50 PSI in that tire! SCREW THAT, I went to PM's booth they took the rim off balanced it said everythings perfect it's the tire, the first time they seen it happen it took them a month to figure out it wasn't their rims but some metzler tires just pop out with thin sidewalls and they flex to much for the heavy bikes. I went to metzler's tent and the rep tried telling me it was my bike and it was out of alignment. He said come with me to the next tent that installs tires and he said to the guy have you ever heard of problems with my tire and wheel set up and the guy laughed and said he sells all brands but wont put metzler's on that bike because he had to many people ride a hundred miles and come back telling him about the speed wobble. The metzler guy got mad and walked off and hid from me. I went to the wheel place I bought them from(just happen to be in Ormand beach and they said they have seen the problem before and I could go to a 180 and pump the tire up or switch to Avons. They are sending me new tires that aren't Metzlers right now. DON"T BUY METZLERS for a touring bike it's a crap shoot if you get a thick side wall! Now with all that being said....what air pressure were you running and are you sure the valve stem is to blame? I don't think a plastic cap would hold 42 or 50 PSI in if the valve stem core vibrated out, now maybe a metal screw on cap would. I'm making sure I have metal caps! once again thanks for telling your story you probably saved someone else who has read this post.

 

damn.... glad your ok man. Ill be keep'n my lid on...