Flat Tire - Repair Kits
 

I have an enfield 350 and would like to know what tire repair kit with an inflation device work on it incase of a flat?

Since I tour a lot, I am really worried about being stranded in the middle of nowhere. Any tips would be really appreciated.

Ride Safe !

Cheers!!

Tire repair kits are pretty straightforward -the best ones available are from REMA TipTop, available world-wide. They have patch kits of many varying sizes, and for tubeless and tube-type tires.

Add a top-quality bicycle push-pull pump, and perhaps CO2 cartridge system as well, and you should be well covered. I recommend 2 of BMW's tire levers, (or copies of) plus one more of similar size with a hook on the end to hook onto a spoke as a third hand.

See the links page for tire repair articles that will tell you all you need to know about how to fix a flat.

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Grant Johnson

Share the Dream!
at: www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

Thanks Grant for the speedy reply, I'll look into your advice, I am sure it'll help me a lot.

Hanif
hanifsama@rediffmail.com

Good advice above but I would suggest taking several spare tubes also. We have often had the valve assembly separate from the tube and no kit is going to fix this problem.


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http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~gumby

When repairing flats, the first thing you have to do is to break the bead which involves forcing the tire bead off inwards. Although most of the world seem to get along with make do tools and methods (boot heel, other bike sidestand, rock etc) there is a nifty bead breaker advertised at www.ctm-design.com/prolvr/index.html which would appear to make life a lot easier, especially for the lone traveller.

enjoy the ride
Tim
BMW R100GSPD

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Tim ('91 R100GS-PD)

Note that a bead breaker is NOT needed for tube-type rims, but could be very useful for tubeless RIMS. I specify RIMS because tubeless TIRES are often used on tube-type rims, and there is no difficulty breaking the bead there.

However tubeless RIMS have an extra ridge just inside the bead which helps prevent the bead from breaking in the event of a flat, and this is a good thing - but it makes it extremely difficult to break the bead by hand.

Having said that, most flats on a tubeless tire/RIM (with no tube) are repairable without breaking the bead at all. If the tire is badly damaged you may have to remove it to put a patch on the inside, and / or add a tube. Then the bead braker would be very useful!

With tube-type tires:
generally for long distance travel you will not run the tire pressure so low that there is a risk of pulling the valve stem, simply because with all the extra weight you must run higher tire pressure. Also note that the nut that is on the valve is supposed to be against the valve cap, NOT the rim! Especially for low tire pressure applications such as off-road. If the lock nut is against the cap, you will see the valve stem go at an angle, instead of straight up, and can fix the problem. (deflate, break bead, rotate tire in the rim http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/smile.gif

If the nut is against the rim, the valve is locked in place and yes you can rip the stem right out of the tube.

Due to the bulk of tubes, I carry one spare tube for each wheel normally, and plan on replacing it immediately if I use it. You can also get valve stem patches from REMA that will replace the stem - and I do carry one.

If I was crossing the Sahara or similar remote/difficult conditions, I would probably double that for the rear.

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Grant Johnson

Share the Dream!
at: www.HorizonsUnlimited.com