[/IMG]
Flat Tire Repair - Spoke Wheels
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 336
Likes: 0
From: Kansas City
IMHO nothing dates a bike like mag wheels. I switched to laced wheels that I sealed with aircraft fuel tank/pressure deck sealant. I've been running laced wheels tubeless for 5000 miles so far without any trouble.
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: Medford, OR
I continue to wonder why there are not more used rims out there as people part out bikes. I'm sure there is a reason, I just have not developed good research abilities.
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: Medford, OR
Me too. Love the timeless look of the laced wheels, but it comes at a price. I just can't imagine pulling off a wheel on a dresser along side a busy roadway to patch a tube. For one thing, you would have to get one end of the bike off the ground and level. Until somebody comes up with the ultimate painless tube repair kit, it's AAA/RV amd Road America for me too.
My last flat cost me over $350. and I was lucky that a local took the time to actually give the info to a tow truck Co. I waited hours. And no, I simply can't carry tools to repair a flat. Even though it's a Sporty, I'm 73 years old with bad knees. And, I suspect that even if I was younger I wouldn't carry all the tools necessary.
I understand I could go to tubeless rims...I just can't justify the at least $1500. Not on a bike worth around 5 grand.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 756
Likes: 133
From: Connecticut
Yeah that's the thing. You can ride 50 miles through the Adirondacks before you hit a Town, and even with AMA/HOG road service, no cell signal gets you no help. I think I'm going to be adding a can of that fix a flat to my tail bag this year.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,348
Likes: 247
From: Florida
Here's a link to one process for sealing rims, looks a bit time consuming but looks like it works:
http://cyb.smugmug.com/gallery/72508...65979239_UFqYE
http://cyb.smugmug.com/gallery/72508...65979239_UFqYE
Account Retired
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 3,245
Likes: 12
From: Here
+ 1 Sitting here laughing my azz off reading this thread. Thinking about the many many thousands of miles I've ridden on spoke wheels with no problems. Mine aren't any harder to clean than the 28 spoke alloy rims I had on my 09 EGC, Plus, You hit a deep pot hole with one of those mag wheels and see what happens. Each to their own, But I like the looks of my spoke wheels. JMO
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 215
Likes: 0
From: Queen Creek Az.
Here's a link to one process for sealing rims, looks a bit time consuming but looks like it works:
http://cyb.smugmug.com/gallery/72508...65979239_UFqYE
http://cyb.smugmug.com/gallery/72508...65979239_UFqYE
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
From: Republic of Texas
I was in Europe a few years ago and I noticed that some of the scooter riders actually carried a spare tire with them. Apparently the scooters used the same size tire on the front and rear and they could get away with that. Those tires are smaller, so I guess they can get away with it. Of the 3 flats that I've had over the years, only 1 of them required me to call for a trailer to load the bike into it. The other 2, I just got on the side of the road and idle walked the bike to the nearest highway exit. Of course it ruined the tire, but it didn't damage the rim (surprisingly).
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
From: Republic of Texas
I also had another case where I hit a chunk of concrete that had dropped down from an overpass that they were working on. It bent the rim, but the tire did not come unseated until I put my brakes on a few miles later. I hit the chunk of concrete at 85 also. It wasn't that big, maybe grapefruit size. It the air abruptly left the front tire, I ended up having to lay the bike down to keep from going over the railing of a bridge and falling 150 ft or so to the river / sandbar below. Turned out that it had bent one side about a half inch or so out. Considering how cheap I was back then, I have to think that I probably tried to bend it back and reseat the tire. That's been about 3 decades ago, so my memory is a bit fuzzy on whether this was successful.
I'm not a fan of spokes though... I want something that is as easy to maintain as possible. I would rather spend my time riding than cleaning, so I guess I'm just lazy. I would prefer a solid rim like was seen on the Fat Boy previously. I don't know if Harley still sells the Fat Boy with these rims. With my FLHP-I though, the rims are not that visible, so no one really notices how dirty they are...
http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/photo...STF-FLSTFI.jpg
EDITED: That link doesn't work anymore... One of the problems with posting a link to another site... There's no guarantee that it will stay around...
Last edited by grumman581; Dec 22, 2011 at 01:28 AM.
Stage IV
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: MONTGOMERY TEXAS
Hard to believe what I'm seeing on the size of the "pot hole". After recovery you should have either become sole owner of the road contracting company or set for life through the city, county,or state depending on who owned the road. Even '78 the bare minimum in town would be barricades and flare pots. Glad to see your still "doin' it". That would have been a stretch for most mx bikes now or then.