Flat front tire while running on I40
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,022
Likes: 70
From: Greensboro NC
Flat front tire while running on I40
So I just had my new 21" front installed on the 07 FLHX and ran to pick it up from my buddies shop. Headed west on 40 and made it a mile or so when it happened...Hit a bridge joint and the front end started shaking like a leaf... Pulled off and did a quick inspection and all seemed ok. Jumped back on and hit the next exit and as I neared the top of the ramp I noticed/felt a friggin flat tire!!! Limped it to the nearest gas station (100 yds maybe) and filled it back up and back to his shop I went.
Ends up that some of the adhesive that seals the spokes got pulled to the lip when he installed the tire which caused a leak. Anyway that was my excitement for the evening.
Ends up that some of the adhesive that seals the spokes got pulled to the lip when he installed the tire which caused a leak. Anyway that was my excitement for the evening.
Former Sponsor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 10,968
Likes: 54
Tube it. I won't sell a sealed spoke rim for this very reason. Someone brought a DNA wheel in for tire mounting last week and it was sealed. The tire bead would not pop. Had to put a tube in it, and heat the tire with a torch until the bead sealed. Tubeless and spokes is a bad idea no matter who or where you are. I try to tell people this and most of the time they don;t want to hear it, but I'd rather run a tube than get a flat while rolling down the road.
Sorry to hear, but it does happen. Had sealed spokes which were good until I had the tires changed (surprise surprise) and then they leaked.
Sorry to hear, but it does happen. Had sealed spokes which were good until I had the tires changed (surprise surprise) and then they leaked.
Last edited by Hogpro; Dec 6, 2013 at 10:30 PM.
Glad you are ok! Fortunately I have not had an issue with tires while riding. I am sure it will happen sometime. You never know what will be on the road. I put a lot of miles on I-75 and there is always a lot of junk on the roadway...not to mention pot holes and cracks in the roadway.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,502
Likes: 6
From: Lapeer , Mich
have had a flat on the front and rear tires while riding , never even new it till I stopped , a blow out may be different but a nail or slow leak was not bad , plugged the hole , pumped back up [ with all the stuff in the left saddle bag ] finished my trip and had new tires put on when I got home
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 4,459
Likes: 2,896
From: Oklahoma
THIS is why I feel more comfortable with tires with stiff sidewalls. I read the reports of the smoother ride with the softer sidewall tires and and think it must be nice but is it worth going down especially with a flat front tire. Just a thought.
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Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 88
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From: California
Had a rear flat just after passing a car at 85. The rear flopped around a lot. Pretty scary. The problem I had was, Fix-a-flat did not work on a tubed tire. The goop just spewed out through the spokes. Bearly made it to a shop.
Club Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 2,697
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From: San Angelo, Texas
Tube it. I've never seen a "sealed spoke" wheel that lasts...not to say there isn't one, but since yours has already proven to be unreliable why risk it?
I buy a bike to ride, not to have to mess with all the time...but that's just me
I buy a bike to ride, not to have to mess with all the time...but that's just me