Blowout at 80 MPH
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 547
Likes: 1
From: Old River-Winfree, Tx
Let me tell you a story about my fathers day ride with my lovely bride. I rode the route from east Texas down to Galveston across the ferry to Gil crest into Winnie and about to head home when I goosed it to get on IH 10. I was moving in front of the traffic doing about 80 when the bike a 08 ultra classic started to wobble, not knowing if it was front or rear i shut down accelerating and the wobble got worse. My wife yells out whats happening and i said hold on, I realized since my windshield is now in my line of vision instead of me looking over it by about an inch that the rear tire went flat,quickly. I am a firm believer of ride-on and i didn't hit anything but damn it was scary I pulled over to the right shoulder of the road and called my son. I waited for him my wife in the mid day sun about 98 high humidity and I was sweating profusely.
A deputy with Chambers county pulled over on the feeder and asked me if everything was alright and if I needed help. He asked me where my son was coming from and I didn't remember He told me to get into his car put the air on high and got me and my wife a cold drink. He was a life saver as I was slowly getting heat stroke, exhaustion or whatever. He waited with me and my wife until my son came with a trailer . I am now waiting to see what went wrong with this tire.
This deputy was a tribute to law enforcement around this wonderful country and particularly in Texas.
A deputy with Chambers county pulled over on the feeder and asked me if everything was alright and if I needed help. He asked me where my son was coming from and I didn't remember He told me to get into his car put the air on high and got me and my wife a cold drink. He was a life saver as I was slowly getting heat stroke, exhaustion or whatever. He waited with me and my wife until my son came with a trailer . I am now waiting to see what went wrong with this tire.
This deputy was a tribute to law enforcement around this wonderful country and particularly in Texas.
Best news is you and your bride are safe!!!
Billy G
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,395
Likes: 25
From: St George, UT
It happened to me in
Burlington, Washington. I had just had the rear tire replaced on my 02 Ultra and was headed south on I-5, maybe 15 miles from the shop, and the rear blew out. It turned out the tube (laced wheels) was defective and had split at the seam. Fortunately, the shop was still open (about 5pm) and they came and picked me up, put a new tire and tube on, and I was on my way. It really startled me since I had JUST had the tire replaced.
I used to own a 79 BMW R-65 and it loved to kick up nails with the front tire and catch them with the rear tire. I think in the three years I owned it I had three blowouts on the rear. I finally quit being cheap and put a real rubber tube in it.
You did the right thing; don't do anything abruptly, stay off the brakes and let the bike slow down and gently move it to the side of the road. Its a tough ride, but doable.
I used to own a 79 BMW R-65 and it loved to kick up nails with the front tire and catch them with the rear tire. I think in the three years I owned it I had three blowouts on the rear. I finally quit being cheap and put a real rubber tube in it.
You did the right thing; don't do anything abruptly, stay off the brakes and let the bike slow down and gently move it to the side of the road. Its a tough ride, but doable.
Banned
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,259
Likes: 5
From: NW NC
Having had 2 rear flats exactly 2 months from one another I feel your pain but was doing 45 first time and 65 the last. Anyway good job of maintaining your composure, especially with a passenger. Very nice to hear an LEO good story for a change as well.
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