bajjer9 Posted December 2, 2005 Share Posted December 2, 2005 So I am interested in real world experiences with plugging a motorcycle tire... Katrina not only brought with it death and destruction but a slew of construction crews with holes in their bags. I picked up a drywal screw in my brand new road pilot. I had to plug it because I cant afford another new one right now. I plugges a hole on my 82 nighthawk way back when and never had an issue. I also spoke with a couple local guys that also had no issues. Obviously I wont be going 180 with it in there but I was just curious how others have fared... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bartonmd Posted December 2, 2005 Share Posted December 2, 2005 This may be in the wrong forum, but I can't move it for you, so we'll wait for somone else to do it... Anyway, I've plugged a couple of motorcycle tires and kept the plug in there until my new tire arrived... Never had a problem with one done RIGHT... Meaning: 0. Put a work light on the part of the tire with the hole (get it warm) 1. ream out the hole good 2. ream out the hole again with rubber cement on the reamer 3. slather rubber cement all over the plug you're putting in (and put the plug in) 4. Cut the excess plug off with scissors if at all possible, or a really sharp knife (as opposed to moving it all around trying to cut it with a dull knife) 5. Air the tire up 6. Keep the heat/work light on it for a couple hours afterwords Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matey_peeps Posted December 2, 2005 Share Posted December 2, 2005 Plug! Plug! Plug! Plug! Plug! Plug! Plug! Plug! Plug! Plug! Plug! Plug! Of course there are people that say you will die doing this. I'm still alive tho. Be sure to put the plug on the INSIDE of the tire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bajjer9 Posted December 2, 2005 Author Share Posted December 2, 2005 DOH!! How did this get here?!?! Move along, nothing to see here..uumm Admin please move this to garage... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Obby Posted December 2, 2005 Share Posted December 2, 2005 This may be in the wrong forum, but I can't move it for you, so we'll wait for somone else to do it...Anyway, I've plugged a couple of motorcycle tires and kept the plug in there until my new tire arrived... Never had a problem with one done RIGHT... Meaning: 0. Put a work light on the part of the tire with the hole (get it warm) 1. ream out the hole good 2. ream out the hole again with rubber cement on the reamer 3. slather rubber cement all over the plug you're putting in (and put the plug in) 4. Cut the excess plug off with scissors if at all possible, or a really sharp knife (as opposed to moving it all around trying to cut it with a dull knife) 5. Air the tire up 6. Keep the heat/work light on it for a couple hours afterwords Mike +1 That's pretty much what I did when I plugged mine. I didn't use any heat, but I did leave mine sit overnight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willxx23 Posted December 2, 2005 Share Posted December 2, 2005 Of course there are people that say you will die doing this. Â I'm still alive tho. Â Be sure to put the plug on the INSIDE of the tire. Got about 5k on my PR rear since I picked up a nail and it's fine. +1 on the plug from the "mushroom" type that patches from the inside, a temp plug I wouldn't do for anything but the ride to the shop. :wink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K9XX Posted December 2, 2005 Share Posted December 2, 2005 Plugs are your friends. So long as the hole is nearer to the center than the edge/sidewall of the tire, there shouldn't be any issues. I rode a plugged rear Pilot Sport last year for a couple of months, no issues at all. I plugged it in my driveway with a flat repair kit. The only heat I used was from a disposable Bic lighter, after the plug was set and trimmed off. The flame sorta vulcanized the plug to the rubber. Now I use Ride On. I swear by it, as I have in other threads. The stuff is a couple of bucks each tire change. I have had 1 hole that I know of, and the goo plugged it instantly. I only noticed it when I was washing the Bird, very fine hole in the center of the tread, marked with a itsy bitsy tiny white mark from the goo sealing it :wink: The tire was still at 36 PSI too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arcticflipper Posted December 2, 2005 Share Posted December 2, 2005 Plugs don't last in South Africa, either the temp is too hot or our roads are just way too shit. It always ends up tearing a bigger hole. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willxx23 Posted December 2, 2005 Share Posted December 2, 2005 Now I use Ride On. Â I swear by it, as I have in other threads. Â Sean did you have Ride On in the front when you were coming home from NeXXt this yr? If I recall didn't you have a rapid loss of air pressure while riding at a high rate of speed? And if so how did it perform? :wink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlasticxxHead Posted December 2, 2005 Share Posted December 2, 2005 What is this "Ride On " you speak of.. sealaent from the inside.. or a plug type...?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EVLXX Posted December 2, 2005 Share Posted December 2, 2005 What is this "Ride On " you speak of.. sealaent from the inside.. or a plug type...?? Sealant from the inside! here... http://www.ride-on.com/motorcycle.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redbird Posted December 3, 2005 Share Posted December 3, 2005 Had a plug let go once. Not fun, won't do it again. This was not an applied from the inside patch/plug, nor one of the gun applied mushroom plugs. Standard plug applied as Mike described above minus the heat part. Still, it was enough to convince me plugs are for emergencies and nothing more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K9XX Posted December 3, 2005 Share Posted December 3, 2005 Sean did you have Ride On in the front when you were coming home from NeXXt this yr?If I recall didn't you have a rapid loss of air pressure while riding at a high rate of speed? And if so how did it perform? :wink: That tire was B A L D when it unzipped itself. I was past the wear bars when I left Towanda. I rode 1400 miles to my first stay over. Got up early and planned on making it home. Time was my priority, not a fresh tire Got about 400 miles and to the west edge of Nebraska when it let loose at 100 MPH :shock: We all live and learn, don't we :?: The Ride On really couldn't do anything with a 10 inch long rip down the center of the tire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willxx23 Posted December 3, 2005 Share Posted December 3, 2005 Sean did you have Ride On in the front when you were coming home from NeXXt this yr? If I recall didn't you have a rapid loss of air pressure while riding at a high rate of speed? And if so how did it perform? :wink: That tire was B A L D when it unzipped itself. I was past the wear bars when I left Towanda. I rode 1400 miles to my first stay over. Got up early and planned on making it home. Time was my priority, not a fresh tire Got about 400 miles and to the west edge of Nebraska when it let loose at 100 MPH :shock: We all live and learn, don't we :?: The Ride On really couldn't do anything with a 10 inch long rip down the center of the tire Gotcha :wink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ethang Posted December 3, 2005 Share Posted December 3, 2005 I prefer the beads. Plugs are uncomfortable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iceman_40 Posted December 3, 2005 Share Posted December 3, 2005 I've used the style of plugs that go from the inside a few times. The ones you push in just plain suck, they WILL come back out.... Never had a problem with the ones from the inside but I don't trust them. Would use it to get around but I wouldn't try anything over 60MPH just not worth the risk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OZDave Posted December 3, 2005 Share Posted December 3, 2005 Iv'e used the sticky thread type a number of times without any problems at all. I also do everything wrong according to the comments here :? a) Ride on the thing straight away. I think this beds the thread in better. Make sure there is a substantial loop inside the tyre so it folds down and sticks on to the inside of the tyre. This helps to resist pulling out. Don't ream out the hole unless it is very dirty. If it's a screw, for example, wind it out instead of tearing it out. Just make the hole big enough so a thread can be pushed in with a lot of effort and use the vulcanising fluid for lube. I keep checking the tyre for bulging and other signs of obvious delaminating or degrading, but I will use the tyre for it's full life. I think 'going to town' reaming the hole out does more damage to the carcase than it does help the thread to stick. Obviously an internal mushroom or plug patch is better but I usually don't get a flat next to a tyre shop. These are NOT the opinions of a tyre expert, but I've never had a problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete in PA Posted December 3, 2005 Share Posted December 3, 2005 Strangely, (knock on wood) I've never picked up anything in a tire since I got the Bird. (65k miles) Radials? On my previous bikes (all bias-ply tires) I've picked up numerous things. I always fixed those tires with the sticky rope fixes and never had a problem. They didn't have the speed capabilities of the XX though. I believe if you use the rope type on the XX and do some extended high speed riding the tire will heat up and combined with the centrifugal force it will come out. I've got the remove tire and do from the inside plugs waiting for my first hole on the XX. I believe they will be fine and at the most you should drop one speed rating for the fix. So darn, I'll have to keep it at 150 MPH extended. I can live with that. You didn't say if it was the front or back tire. That would change how I feel about the repair also. I could possibly tolerate a rope plug in the rear, but NOT the front. I would then keep my speed below 100 mph and watch the fix closely. For the record ALL my flats have been on the rear. The front runs it over while the object is flat and pops it up so the rear eats it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
testrider Posted December 3, 2005 Share Posted December 3, 2005 This is where a plug-n-go plug gun comes in handly. I bought one a few years ago and it's under my seat. With this plug gun, you can install a mushroom plug (came with the kit) from outside and the mushroom head stays inside the tire, in 30 seconds. I used it on motorcycle and car and worked wonder. Check it out: http://www.stopngo.com/Instructions/tirepluggers.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redbird Posted December 3, 2005 Share Posted December 3, 2005 I've got a plug-n-go gun under my seat as well. Still only for emergencies, IMO. The only repair I'd trust long term would be a patch/plug applied from the inside, and even then I'd only be tempted if the tire was brand new. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bartonmd Posted December 4, 2005 Share Posted December 4, 2005 I did forget to mention that I would ONLY plug a REAR tire... Having a rear let go on you is not bad to ride out, but I would NOT want to have a front let go on me! About the reaming, the reamer for my car is gnurled, which I wouldn't just ream the shit out of a hole, but the one on my bike kit is just almost fluted like a rifle barrel... That one, I don't think hurts... Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobicus Posted December 4, 2005 Share Posted December 4, 2005 About the reaming, the reamer for my car is gnurled, which I wouldn't just ream the shit out of a hole, but the one on my bike kit is just almost fluted like a rifle barrel... That one, I don't think hurts... mmmmmm all this talk about Mike's reamer.... :cum: We plugged Steve's tire at TeXXt.. and shortly afterward proceeded to test it up to 140mph. The plug held. No clue what Steve did after he got home, but it held up fine while we were out. That having been said.. I'd plug a tire to get me home, or get me where I could get it replaced. I've done it before on my Bird. But it's only for emergency use. Rear tires cost $130 from SWMotoTires. Since tires are what's between you and the road... do you really want to chance it? $130 vs $2000 worth of plastic.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBY28 Posted December 9, 2005 Share Posted December 9, 2005 I would not want a plug on a passenger car let alone a motorcycle. If you research this I think you will see the light. That is IMO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TechnoGecko Posted December 12, 2005 Share Posted December 12, 2005 Rear tires cost $130 from SWMotoTires. Since tires are what's between you and the road... do you really want to chance it? $130 vs $2000 worth of plastic.... +1. Rubber is cheap in comparison to medical, plastics, etc... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OZDave Posted December 12, 2005 Share Posted December 12, 2005 Yeah, I'm a tightarse (tightass for the US guys ) I think it depends on the tyre, age of the tyre and the type of riding you do. If the tyre is brand new I'll risk it, but not for continious high speed stuff. If the tyre is half gone then I'll bin it. Down here in Brisbane, Queensland the police get there arse hairs on fire if you do anything fun. Getting to be a real police state so it's fairly safe to use plugs IMHO. I'm using Pilot Powers at the moment and I think they are a little light to risk with plugs. If I was still on the OEM BT57's I'd do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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