So off we go bright and early with the intention of riding around Lake Taupo. Distance is 150kms from home to Taupo then 160kms around the lake back to Taupo and then another 150kms home.
Things did not go quite to plan. We stopped in Tokoroa had a quick coffee then got back on the road again. About 10kms further on l'm thinking somethings not right. I usually just have to drop my shoulder to get the bike to turn in. Then on a straight l had to correct it as it wandered to the left. Just in sight is a gas station so l pull in, pop it on the centre stand and we start looking for the offending nail or screw. Nothing to be seen except a tiny little cut right in the centre of the tyre. I can feel the air coming out.
Go into the gas station "mate you got any air ?".....No !! I see a guy with mountain bikes in the back of his ute getting gas "mate you wouldn't have a tyre pump by any chance?" "Yeah sure" he says. In no time l had 40psi in it and off we went back to the two bike shops in Tokoroa.....both closed.
To the tyre shop."mate do you fix bike tyres l have a puncture" "not normally" he says. "But if you wanna take it out l can have a go" ....... he's real busy. "Got anything like a dog turd you can push in from the outside?" "Yeah man we have dog turds" he stops what he's doing. Five minutes later we have 38psi in the tyre and are ready to go. "Just be careful" "l'm going straight home, what do l owe you?" " she's all good bro, no charge" Get our helmets and gloves on and l see him bent down taking a wheel off, l pop a tenner in his top pocket "have a cold one on me" "thanks mate" and we were gone. Wonder if he knows how stuck we were.
Some people have blood that's worth bottling.
Bike shop Monday.
Good to hear there's still good guys around!
I use the Stop and Go Tyre plugs - they are a mushroom plug you put in from the outside rather than the inside.
https://www.gadgetcity.com.au/stop-&-go-pocket-tyre-plugger--for-all-tubeless-tyres-p-2450.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjrGxjqe_4AIVyxwrCh1q4wQzEAQYBCABEgImbPD_BwE&zenid=878992495f239839243bbfcb8edc3b88 (https://www.gadgetcity.com.au/stop-&-go-pocket-tyre-plugger--for-all-tubeless-tyres-p-2450.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjrGxjqe_4AIVyxwrCh1q4wQzEAQYBCABEgImbPD_BwE&zenid=878992495f239839243bbfcb8edc3b88)
I've had these plugs in for many 000s of kms without an issue and when the tyres are replaced checked them and they look much like the ones put in from the inside. Just don't cut off the excess too flush with the tyre as they seem to shrink back into the hole a bit. I try to leave a little proud and let the rest of the excess wear away.
That was a real downer Col, good you got home. Fingers crossed not me next.
The way I'm reading your story Col is you don't carry a puncture repair kit. Very foolish if that's the case.
Correct Pete and yes foolish indeed I have learned that little lesson and will address it :facepalm:
If l recall you use a small 12v compressor. Will also look at a pushbike pump. The fella today used the best pump l have seen. It was a bit big but l will investigate further.....and get some plugs. Black14 posted a mushroom plug kit that looks the goods.
Not so good but it's sometime so uplifting how folk can go out of thier way to help .
It restores your faith in mankind .
Get yourself a kit for under the seat I've also seen on ebay in the uk (maybe/should be available world wide) are mini usb charged compressors that would fit under the seat nicely. I'll try to post a link so you can see what I'm on about .
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F123536618519
:cheers:
Col, just get a plug kit, cheap as, totally illegal here but get you home. Those little usb charged compressors are 5 bucks. Work once or forever, who cares. Both fit under seat. Plugs from inside are legal here, would i leave one in a $300 new tyre, not sure. Do in cars with no probs. Was your tyre a Michy 5? Waiting for lasting ability of these, havent heard.
Yes Grog Mitchy 5. That tyre l reckon has done 12-13 thousand kms. Its been on a year. Probably half worn, l would'nt expect to get twice the kms. Its starting to square a little but still rides very well.
Punctures are a pain in the ass!!
Fair play to your man,great to see some decent lads out there.
Like the other lads said.
Get yourself a puncture kit and a little compressor.
Picked one up myself about 4-5 years the bike and it still going strong,using it on the car the odd time.
At least it was in the right part of the tyre!
Always carry a puncture kit!
:hat:
If I get a puncture it's usually shortly after fitting a new tyre ! :frustrated:
I have puncture kit but nothing to inflate.Your recos on pump to fit under seat appreciated. Kiwi, you stirred me into action. I saw a mini foot pump, any good you think. https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com.au%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F192691424688
Hard to say Grog. Am going to have a look in some cycle shops. The pump the bloke had yesterday was awesome, Fully expected to get a sweat up but he had it done in no time. Reckon it was a double action maybe pumping on the up stroke aswell as down. It wouldn't fit under the seat. But l think these things must also come a bit smaller.
Kiwi, im looking also, lets see what we come up with. I saw your caroliner in a pic, worked with sth african back in mid 80s, he was the first with one in Oz. Made him heaps renting it out and working with. Fixed so many wrecks with it, not sure but think he said he could get diagonal measures within 10mm. He was amazing , did all the Peugeot fills with lead, thats what they stipulated. No bog allowed. He once showed me how to run solder up hill, a metre i reckon. straight up. Clever bloke.
I have something similar to this - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Motorcycle-Car-Accessories-Motor-Bike-Compact-Mini-Tyre-Air-Compressor-Inflator-Pump-Free-shipping/32493488418.html (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Motorcycle-Car-Accessories-Motor-Bike-Compact-Mini-Tyre-Air-Compressor-Inflator-Pump-Free-shipping/32493488418.html)
Fits under the seat no problem and seems to work fine.
On the Road 5s, just about to ditch my first set after 20k kms of mostly commuting duty but including the relatively high speed 3.5k kms or so up to last year's MCR as well as a few 400-500km day rides out from home. They are pretty shot and should probably have been changed earlier - they are starting to follow white lines quite badly now, but the grip (in the dry!) is still good!
Will post some pics of the condition if you like.
I carry one of these compressors - not cheap but compact and very powerful
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Rocky-Creek-Motopressor-Motorcycle-Tyre-Pocket-Pump-Mini-Compressor-5yr-Warranty/292575869063?hash=item441ee17887:g:ctMAAOSwFq1bBbyu
Quote from: black14 on Tuesday, 19 February 2019, 07:06 AM
On the Road 5s,...
Will post some pics of the condition if you like.
Yes please. Maybe in a new thread so more can see it / find it / notice it :)
@ Black14 l started a Road 5 thread under tyres. Interesting you got 20k out of them but said could have changed earlier. I see mine being similar. Did your front and rear wear at a similar rate ? Mine look to be.
As requested,pictures posted in the Road 5 thread in the tyres section - http://gsx1400owners.org/forum/index.php?topic=2432.msg51259;topicseen#new (http://gsx1400owners.org/forum/index.php?topic=2432.msg51259;topicseen#new)
:hat: