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26 Jul 2009
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Registered Users
HUBB regular
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Join Date: May 2009
Location: Norway
Posts: 27
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what is the best way to fix a flat tube tire on the road
usally i have a box with foam with me, but is there anything else to buy that will work better or that is more longlasting? without the need of removing the tire?
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26 Jul 2009
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Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: West Yorkshire UK
Posts: 1,785
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Simple answer no.
The foam will fail on about 50% of punctures and will always leave you with a tyre that will slowly leak air. Tyre fitters will curse you for using the stuff and may refuse to help you unless you buy new tubes or even a new tyre. IMHO, bin the foam.
A better solution is Gloop or Ultraseal. These are liquids you put in either straight after a tyre change or straight after a puncture. On 90% of puctures they get you going and are good for days if not weeks. You still have the issue with tyre fitters and they stop patches sticking, so you will end up throwing away the tubes. The limit is a hole that won't stay still. Get a nail that works about in the tyre and makes a flap of V-shaped cut and they simply don't work.
The only solution that is 100% effective and will result in you carrying on the ride with the certainty of getting where you want to go is tyre irons and a spare tube or patch kit.
Do you need the 100% certainty or are you going to be in places where the tyre guy will come to you after a simple phone call?
Andy
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26 Jul 2009
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Gold Member
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: london, uk.
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, before it gave out Ouch! This issue has real relevance for me as of late. On the A2 autobahn halfway between Berlin and Magdeburg (heading west) my rear tube (an old one by the looks of it - on there since i've had the bike)developed a tear which left me stuck by the autobahn for some 3 hours whilst i waited for Adac to attend to me    . I must add i had the tube out twice (how hard is it trying to isolate a puncture being buffered around by all the passing trucks with the attendant noise on a fenced-in section of the road - answer Very) but the patches i applied just couldn't hold the air in. So the Adac chappy stuck some foam in which got me going to the outskirts of Magdeburg (40km'ish on the back roads before it gave out again) where i eventually located a new tube. Annoying thing is that i didn't take a spare tube as it was a pure road-trip and a straightforward puncture shouldn't have been a problem... Sod's Law and all that!
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26 Jul 2009
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Registered Users
HUBB regular
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Portalegre,Alentejo,Portugal
Posts: 71
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The foam stuff hardly ever works. Personally i always use HD tubes but carry normal spares as they don't take up so much space and are quicker to fit. The time it takes to find and patch a hole on the trail or by the roadside is normally far greater than replacing the tube. You can then patch the original tube at your leisure.
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4 Aug 2009
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Contributing Member
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Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Oxford, UK
Posts: 994
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Carrying tyre changing gear & spare tubes etc will be one of the best decisions you can make.
Learning to repair puncture or replace tyres by the roadside will be one of the most useful skills a bike rider can have.
Practice at home & work out what works for you.
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4 Aug 2009
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Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
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Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: London,England
Posts: 358
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Hi
my bike has an 18" rear and 21" front
If brinigng a spare tube I heard it is better to bring just a 21" as this can also be used in the rear if necessary.
Has any one tried this and does it work
Thanks
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Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...
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Membership - help keep us going!
Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.
You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.
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