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From: bob@vaxwaller.UUCP (Bob Palin)
Newsgroups: net.cycle
Subject: Re: Tires, or lack thereof...
Message-ID: <258@vaxwaller.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 7-May-85 12:11:05 EDT
Article-I.D.: vaxwalle.258
Posted: Tue May  7 12:11:05 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 11-May-85 00:31:17 EDT
References: <566@hou2e.UUCP>
Organization: Varian, Walnut Creek, CA
Lines: 34

> What does one do when one gets a flat tire on ones motorcycle?  I guess
> I know the answer, but I'd like to hear it just to be sure.
> 
I suppose the answer is obvious, take the wheel off and walk or hitch a ride.

Last year on my annual trip around these western parts I got a flat on my
Sabre while fully loaded and two up, fortunately we were at a gas station
when it occured.  
This was the second flat I have had, the other being at home,
and on the first ocasion I took the wheel down to the local dealer and
he installed a tube warning me that motorcycle tyres could not be fixed like
car tyres.  
However, as the nearest motorcycle dealer was several hundred miles
away I persuaded the gas station mechanic to patch my tyre right there ( he 
wasn't keen on working on an alloy wheel and made it clear that he would not 
be responsible if it was damaged ). Anyway he fixed it just like he would a 
car tyre and off we went.  I covered the 700 miles home quite quickly 
( over 80mph fully loaded at times ) without any problem.

So, has anybody had a problem with tyres fixed at gas stations ?  It appears
to be much cheaper than paying a cycle dealer to install a tube, specially
as the tube is an expensive one made for tubeless tyres.  I rode more than
7000 miles on that fixed tyre with no hint of trouble so what is the problem ?

An additional thing I learnt in that episode was about the use of those
pressurised flat fixers you can get in a small can.  I had one with me and
tried to use it before letting the gas man fix it.  I don't know if this
stuff really works but it didn't this time.  Part of the nail which
punctured my tyre was still sticking out inside the tyre and would re-open
the wound every time the wheel went round.  This was not apparent from the
outside so if you try to use this stuff make sure the offending weapon is
completely removed ( I leave it up to your ingenuity to discover how ! ).

Bob Palin, Varian Instruments, Walnut Creek, Ca.  (415) 945-2278