My first flat...

[pawpaw01]

happened this morning.  I was running 80mph when the rear tire went flat, really quick, I didn't even know what was wrong until I got her stopped.  It did go into a pretty wild wobble & I feel very fortunate that I did not lay her down.  I will admit that this is the most fear I have felt in many years.  My son-in-law came with a trailer and the bike is loaded and safe at home for now.  I have the tire replacement coverage from the moco so I guess we will see if they honor it now, of course the local dealership is not open until Tuesday, perhaps I will be over the shakes by then...  I was only about a half hour into my ride, and I had checked everything out prior to leaving the house.  I hope I do not EVER have to experience that again.
Remember, Ride Safe...

[ChopperBob66]

Glad to hear you were able to keep it upright. It is definitely a scarey feeling.

Last year, wife and I left the house to go on a ride. Stopped to get gas. Wasn't paying attention to the meter on the gas pump. Was looking inside the tank while filling. When it was full, I turned around and put the nozzle back in the pump, then looked at the pump meter. It read $6.66. The wife says, "you can't leave it like that, 666 is bad luck". I just laughed it off. Got on the free way, and at about 70-75 mph, after about 10 miles the bike felt really wierd. Went from the fast lane all the way over to the slow lane and got her stopped. Back tire had gone flat. Lucky it was light traffic, and felt lucky not to lay it down. She says, "I don't hear you laughing about 666 now." I do my own tires, so after we got it home, got the wheel off, and tire off the rim. The inner tube came out in pieces. I searched the inside of tire for any punctures, but found nothing. The tube had just exploded. Wierd, never saw that before.
Anyway, hope your dealer replaces it for you.
Bob

[Mark222]

Sounds like you handled it pretty well.  I have lost 2 at about the same speed over the last 20 years or so.  I found it was better not to fight it, but rather just ride along with it taking off speed and moving right.  Glad you are ok, hope they treat you right on the replacement.  The 2nd one I lost was maybe 300 miles into a new tire, and I am sure they pinched the tube when mounting (spokes).

Mark

[Bakon]

Always seems to happen ag higher speeds after filling up and getting back on road. Junk on side of highway and lots is amazing if you really take a look. Hate the quick pull off on the berm for rainsuits. Always expect a flat right after.

[texaskatfish]

pawx2 sounds like ya dun GOOD with the cards dealtcha!

I don't believe I've had a rear or 2 go flat faster than 45-50 on surface streets..............scary but manageable
I DID lose the front at speed on my 1st 750/4/Honda - roundabout 65-70 eastbound on I-10 in the fast lane next to the wall (no shoulder - well mebbe 2 feet)............this one didn't go flat it POPPED...........to this day I cannot splain why I did what I did.......I threw her down on the left side and stood on the motor with my right foot and both hands on the right bar (dont recall just where my left foot was)...................amazingly she slid straight ahead and did not flip---------- and some gent in a 240Z behind me slapped his flashers and grabbed handfulls of gears and kept the dogs off me without runnin me over! When I finally stopped I hadda unlace my right boot - tread was melted to the head....(not to mention cleanin out my shorts)....we got her stood up and she still ran on #2 & #4 (ground off 1 of 2 sets of points in the slide).............managed to limp her home................to this day I say what many will - that I should NOT have forcably put the bike down like dat.....................but somehow it worked out

as for road debris - the tiny hunks off of gators (aka blown car or truck tires)............have them steel wire shreds stikkin up - will play hell with a bike tire right qwik!

SO - anyone got "the procedure" for a front tire goin flat instantly? mebbe Phu.................what does one teach for that circumstance?

[Tsani]

SO - anyone got "the procedure" for a front tire goin flat instantly? mebbe Phu.................what does one teach for that circumstance?

Pray if time permits!

I have had rear flats and two blow outs at speed. Bad enuf. Had a leaker in the front once. Fronts are rare Thank God.  By the time I got it stopped and over it was done. As far as I know it's luck of the draw, pay attention, play it loose and hope. Blow out on the front, roll of the dice as far  as I know.

[Panzer]

             
        Nice handling.

[mp]

That's why mag wheels are good- Hardly ever a sudden blowout like tubed tires.

[pawpaw01]

I went to the local dealer today.  They looked me up on their computer and said for me to bring the bike right on in, so I did.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed until I get her back home with a new rear tire and no out of pocket charges.
Remember, Ride Safe...

[Princess Butt]

I remember in my earlier days (did I just say that!), I knew two people who lost a front tire: one on a Yamaha 650, the other on an Electra Glide. Both of them said the same thing: NO FRONT BRAKE! Just roll slowly off the throttle and ease to the shoulder, let it coast to a stop.

I've been lucky, but I carry a plug kit and compressor just in case. I love tubeless tires on cast rims. Did I mention I love tubeless tires on cast rims?

[pawpaw01]

Well, the dealership called and said that my baby was ready to be picked up.  They replaced the rear tire and also the rear wheel, and they even washed it too.  I did not have to pay or sign anything, just go & bring her home.  After seeing so many bad dealership issues on the forums I must say that I am quite satisfied with this.  This just goes to show that some dealers are OK.
Remember, Ride Safe...

[GlockRocket34]

PawPaw,

Glad it worked out OK, and most important, that you made it out alive.

I had my front tire on my 02 FXST go flat rather quickly. Halloween day, 2008. Just got on I-95, got up to 70-75mph. There was a few chunks of gravel from some repairs. I felt the front tire pick up a vibration. I looked over the handlebars to see if the brake rotor was wobbling or what. Then the bike started to handle squirrley.  Start praying... hope the Boss remember who I was... For some reason, I stayed calm enough to lightly use the rear brake pedal, give it a little gas and shade over to the should. When i got down to 20 mph, the front rim was slipping around on the tire. Came to a stop and thanked said Boss upstairs, then rode it two miles on the rim to the next ramp. My son came with my Avalanche, a lift, tools and my spare rim/tire. Changed it in the parking lot of the convenience store, then rode it to the shop. Mechanic couldn't believe how lucky I was.
The tire had only been 4 months old, but it picked up an arrowhead-shaped stone, and it was forced thru the tire at a rain groove. Go figure. 

Glad everyone has lived to share their stories-- its best to read it ahead of time than try to figure it out if/when it does happen.

Jeff        GlockRocket34

[clay_mover]

I hav been using this ride on tire sealant for a few years now, suppose to seal up to a 1/4" hole. I doubt it would do any good on tube type tires though.

http://www.ride-onshop.com/link.cgi?affiliateID=85

[06RoadGlider]

glad you got her stopped safely
I had my rear tire go about 100kms south of Whitehorse Yukon Canada. Well lucky one of guys I was with had tire plug kit and small hand pump. So we plugged tire and drove south on Alaska Hwy to next town (Watson Lake). Thinking I could get new tire NOT ok then tube and patch on inside of tire NOT Could not find anyone that would touch it. So we headed south again with small compressor that plugs into cigarette lighter. Anyway we stopped in every town for air and asked about tire or repair, did not get it fixed until Edmonton Alberta. I put in 8 plugs, stopped every 1/2 hr to add air and it was about 2000kms from Whitehorse to Edmonton.
I now have total white hair. Put it this way when I shut the bike off for good the scotch never tasted so good.
JJ