FOAK: Punctures and repairs

So I seem to have developed magnetic tyres because they are picking up
every sodding nail and screw in West London. I've had 2 new back tyres
in 3 weeks and I'm getting sick of being stranded.

So, what's the general wisdom regarding carrying a repair kit? Which
type; the plug type or a can of sealing stuff?

I never feel confident on a tyre with a plug and always want to just
get it home or to a tyre fitter.

 

Ballistic says...

Plug them. I've done thousands of miles on properly plugged tyres with
no problems at all. In fact, I've never heard of a professionally
plugged tyre failing prematurely, but have heard about badly executed
roadside repairs failing.

Temporary plugs are good enough until you can get the bike to someone
who can do a proper 'tyre off' job.

--
Lozzo
Triumph Daytona 955i SE
Suzuki SV650 K3
Honda CBR600 F-W
Suzuki GSX-R750L
Yamaha SR250 SpazzTrakka

 

Lozzo wibbled:

Wot 'e said. Never had a problem with a professionally plugged tyre.

 

Seconded. I have a little kit with a couple of sparklets type gas
canisters a podger [1] type thing and plugs. It works perfectly, because
since I have carried it round with me I have never had a puncture.

So TBF I can't vouch for their efficacy, I have however, had very
unsatisfactory results in the past from the 'Finilec' type stuff.

[1] For Champ's benefit, not really a 'podger' at all as it has a
little hook/slot in the end, but it's such a wonderful word. Although
'bodkin' would be even better in this case. I see you can even get a
'ratchet podger' these days.
--

+-------------------------------------------------------------+
| Pete Fisher at Home: |
| Voxan Roadster Gilera Nordwest Yamaha WR250Z |
| Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 |
+-------------------------------------------------------------+

 

I've used Ultraseal on the Blackbird and the previous 1200 Bandit and would
use it again if I had a puncture in a new tyre. I did about 1200 miles to
and around the IoM in 2006 touching 150 mph fairly regularly two up with
full luggage and never had a concern once. I had ultraseal in when I did
this

I wouldn't use any of the other fluids you can get and I never found that it
increased mileage as the makers say. However, it saved me hundreds in
replacement tyres over the years.

Mark

 

I never ha the confidence to use my repair kit, but happily ran an
Ultrasealed rear tyre on the Triple for several thousand miles
(basically from a couple of hundred miles > totally shagged)

--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
116 Giulietta 3.0l Sprint 1.7 156 TS 145 2.0 Cloverleaf 156 V6 2.5 S2
Triumph Sprint ST 1050: It's blue, see.
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

 

Bear says...

You know what you were saying about Rossi getting spooked by his
tyres...that's you that is. Never noticed a difference, and can't see
how there can be one just cos a tiny tiny portion of the rubber is
different.

--
Lozzo
Triumph Daytona 955i SE
Suzuki SV650 K3
Honda CBR600 F-W
Suzuki GSX-R750L
Yamaha SR250 SpazzTrakka

 

Bear says...

Hve you everseen just how few 'radial wires' there are in a tyre
carcass, it's not many at all and they are quite well spaced?

Any decent tyre shop doing a plugging job will refuse to do the job if
any of the wires have been compromised, or will be by the repair. If
you're talking about the cords in the fabric/kevlar part of the carcass
construction, that's a different matter.

--
Lozzo
Triumph Daytona 955i SE
Suzuki SV650 K3
Honda CBR600 F-W
Suzuki GSX-R750L
Yamaha SR250 SpazzTrakka

 

Bear wibbled:

bzzt!

It's all in yer 'ead

 

What he said. I rode to the south of France and back on one.

 

So have I, on professionally plugged tyres, but I think the OP was
asking more about the best 'get you home' (other than man in van)
strategy.

So should he carry a plugging kit or a sealing squirter?

--

+-------------------------------------------------------------+
| Pete Fisher at Home: |
| Voxan Roadster Gilera Nordwest Yamaha WR250Z |
| Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 |
+-------------------------------------------------------------+

 

I've never had a new tyre on for more than 500 miles before they get nailed
or screwed, so I've ridden for thousands of miles with plugged tyres. Never
had a problem with them failing.


--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

All my plugged riding has been done on tyres plugged at home (a roadside
repair with cups of tea available) and that included 5000 across Europe and
Scandinavia last year.

Both.


--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

I used one of those after puncturing a nearly new tyre. I soon got fed
up of cautious riding and treated it as normal. When the tyre was
eventually changed 4 - 5K later I and the tyre fitter both tried to
pull out the temporary plug and couldn't shift it YMMV.

 

My plugged tyre was first sealed with squirter )