15 replies to this topic

[Tram@RN TT Newbie]

Week 2 of my new 2013 xr650L. I decided to get her a little dirty on some very dusty roads, hasn't rained in a week and I was back on pavement heading home, I felt like I hit a mud puddle or either the back wheel was gonna come off. I immediately slowed down and stopped off to the side of the road. Could it be a flat tire? YES...lol. I wasn't prepared as it was just my 2nd week on my new bike, searched for the culprit but could not find any sharp objects except for the sharp little dark lines you see in one of my closeup pictures. No worries, just laughed it off, thankfully my wife was getting off work and I told her to grab the truck and the ramps and COME PICK ME UP! Took about 2 hours for my wife to come to my rescue. In the truck and tomorrow will take it to my Honda dealer to get it fixed. Time to search for easy ways to fix a flat when away from home. Lesson learned and no injuries



Of course my Glock 30 is in the picture, but that was not what caused the flat. However, it did make my 2 hours on the side of the road feel a bit safer

Edited by Tram@RN, 16 May 2013 - 06:51 PM.

[Tram@RN TT Newbie]

Oh yea, I just can't help but post a Glock 30 with my xr 650L, love both lol.

[condershire TT Member]

I had the same thing happen on a group ride, of course I did not have spoons, pump, patch kit, etc so my wife and daughter came and picked me up.

After 4 flat tires in a 2 month period, which cost $35-$50 to get fixed at various cycle shops each time, I got smart and learned to do it myself.  It is much easier than you think, once you get past the fear of scratching up your rim (my biggest problem) and get the technique down, you'll wonder why you ever paid for the service (get the bead in the center of the rim!).  I'm no young buck, either, just turned 40 after a 20 year stint in the Navy which wore me down considerably!

The biggest mistake I see the shops make (which accounted for 2 of my flats) is not using talc or corn starch to lubricate the tube on installation.  For a freeway rider like me, it would seem that the heat and possible movement of the tube in the tire can quickly lead to pinhole leak in a tube.

I use the commercial patches you can buy at Autozone, etc and some vulcanizing cement.  You'll hear folks swear up and down to not patch the tube, I'm at 5 patches on my rear tube and I'll take the chance...  I knew a KLR rider who had 13 on a 1 year old tube!

I now carry 2 spoons. A small compressor, a patch kit, valve stems and remover, and a spare tube.  And I no longer worry about it!

Edited by condershire, 16 May 2013 - 09:55 PM.

[condershire TT Member]

Oh, one more thing, if you don't already have them, BUY AND INSTALL RIM LOCKS!!!  After my first flat where the valve stem ended up getting ripped off the tube, I installed one on my rear tire.  After a pinhole leak left me with a flat at the hospital, the rim lock allowed me to limp home!

I switched over to the Motion Pro Lite Lock versions (front and rear) as they made it easier to balance the wheel.  Contrary to popular belief, rim locks work well for street use, I would not ride without them!

Edited by condershire, 16 May 2013 - 10:02 PM.

[reduceus TT Bronze Member]

I use heavy duty Airseal  in my tubes,  have had several nails that have gone through the casing into the tube - pulled them out and no problems. You do need to check the tyres on a regular basis.
I also have a fender bag that contains two two tubes and tyre levers, also have a high pressure hand pump. Living in "The Bush" I make sure that I have the best chance of getting home as getting transport here can be an issue. Better safe than sorry.

Edited by reduceus, 16 May 2013 - 11:29 PM.

[AlloyToy TT Member]

Please explain the whole rim lock thing in detail......do any of the XRL's come with them?? Stops tube from slipping??

[reduceus TT Bronze Member]

This may help ....

[heart_of_darkness TT Bronze Member]

Yes, get some tire irons, some talcum powder (for the tube and inside of the tire), some windex (for the tire bead), and some rim locks.  Watch all the youtube videos on changing tires.  The first try will be frustrating; keep the Glock inside so that you're not tempted to shoot the new innertube.  But after two or three tire changes you'll get the hang of it and will even be comfortable doing it on the trail.

Rim locks will let you ride out of the woods with a flat tire, if slowly.  Dual rim locks per wheel will let you ride out at close to normal speed, but make for slightly more difficult tire changing.

[AlloyToy TT Member]

but what is the function of a rim lock???

[Horri TT Titanium Member]

Function of a rim lock..

Allows you to run much lower tire pressures on your dirt bike in tough conditions thus giving you more traction..If you didn't have rim locks the power of the bike would spin the tire on the rim which in turn will probably rip the valve stem from the tube thus giving you a flat tire..Other major advantage is if you do get a flat tire the rim lock/locks will hold the tire on the rim so you can still ride the bike. Without them the tire detaches from the rim and all but makes the bike impossible to ride or control,,With rim locks you can still ride the thing at a good speed on the road or dirt for a hell of a long way,,I've personally ridden for over 50ks on the road with a rear end flat using rimlocks.. You just move your butt closer to the tank to allow slightly less pressure on the back end of the bike..Tire should still be good to use when you get home..would never be without them on a dirt bike..essential kit..

Edited by Horri, Yesterday, 10:08 AM.

[heart_of_darkness TT Bronze Member]

A rim lock does as its name suggests.  It locks (by clamping) the bead of the tire to the wheel's rim.  That stops the tire from spinning around the rim or coming dismounted.

[AlloyToy TT Member]

Thanks guys So a few questions not to beat this to death......Now I have no rim lock but there is a plugged hole 180 degrees opposite my valve stem. If you add two rim locks how do you stagger the third? at 90 degrees from the first rim lock? What does all this do to the balance of the wheel and it's performance on the roads and highways? Do you guys balance your wheels???

[Horri TT Titanium Member]

You don't need 3 rimlocks..two is ample..Can't say where you position the second,,bikes not with me at the moment so I have nothing to look at in that department..No I don't balance wheels ,,a shop would if you took the wheel in to have a tire change or whatever..I'm not too fussy and just put up with a bit of wobble if there is any..Older times of riding with slightly buckled rear wheels makes me unworried/immune to a bit of imbalance :-)

Edited by Horri, Today, 01:46 PM.

[Snoman002 TT Member]

OK, I have to admit, I don't think I could change a tire or tube on my bike, at least not with my Pirelli MT-90s. I have changed a few tires in my day (literally, a few) and this was BY FAR the most difficult tire I have ever delt with.  I had 24" long spoons and I felt I was going to rip the cords in the bead area of the tire trying to get it on.

I would really like to pull my tube and put more talc on as it runs way warm even at 35 psi, but I'm quite afraid to attempt to take this thing off and have to pay another $25 to get it put on again.  Plus I would like to put a rim lock on.

What are my options here guys?  Is it the MT-90's just being a bugger of a tire, or is it me?  Some shorty spoons?  I'm actually quite frustrated at being defeated by this tire.

Edited by Snoman002, Today, 04:15 PM.

[Horri TT Titanium Member]

Some tires are just total pigs of things to get on a rim. I've had the same problem with various tires I buy..About the only thing I can add is to make sure the other side of the tire is pressed into the sort of curved area inside the rim so it's not holding back your efforts. You sort of need to stand on the first side on to force it as far into the rim as possible then flip her over and have a go at the other edge..If that opposite side is sitting way up on the outside edge of the rim it just makes things harder. Can also help to leave a tire out in the hot sun for an hour or so prior to install to aid its stretchability..I haven't been beaten by a tire yet in the getting one on area although I did have to cut one off a rim because I simply couldn't break the bead to get it off..even drove over the tire with my car wheel hoping that would break the bead and she still wouldn't budge so it was out with a knife and a set of snips to cut it off..

Rim locks can also be buggers to get in if the tires over tight in the fitting department..Prepare for a few crushed and battered fingers trying to get those suckers in there holes..The rubber protective bead on the inside of the rim also occasionally has to go over the top of the rim lock if it hasn't a hole through it to take the locks shank so that adds to the hassle and crushed fingers..

Edited by Horri, Today, 06:35 PM.

[heart_of_darkness TT Bronze Member]

AlloyToy, on 21 May 2013 - 05:21 AM, said:

Thanks guys So a few questions not to beat this to death......Now I have no rim lock but there is a plugged hole 180 degrees opposite my valve stem. If you add two rim locks how do you stagger the third? at 90 degrees from the first rim lock? What does all this do to the balance of the wheel and it's performance on the roads and highways? Do you guys balance your wheels???

The plugged hole is where you'd put a rim lock.  Dual rim locks are generally run slightly offset from 180 degrees opposit each other (to account for the slight weight of the valve stem, which is at about 90 degrees off from either rim lock).

You'll need to get some significant practice changing tires before you attempt one with two rim locks.  Very few people run dual rim locks.  Serious enduro guys used to, but most now use a tubeless or mouse insert instead.  A single one is enough to ride out on a flat at moderate speeds.