What to do with a puncture and no center stand.

[KTiM]

Spent a very nice weekend in France with wifey but got a rear wheel puncture on the way back to the ferry.



Now, I was lucky enough to feel the flat only about 100 yards down the road from this field where the farmer had been dumping some building waste in the corner so I was able to use some rubble as a stand.





So it all ended happily ever after and the job of fitting a new tube only took about an hour from start to finish.



The only thing that I could have wanted was to have the correct size tube with me - I had a 21" and a 18" 'cos they were still in my puncture kit from when I had my KTM. Which was strange because when my split link on the chain of the KTM went AWOL somewhere in the middle of France a few years ago I was pleased to have a spare split link with me, but not so pleased to find that it was a link for the Africa Twin chain and didn't fit the KTM (FFS!).

Anyway, I was lucky to be able to use the stone to prop up the bike, so how do you take a wheel out without a center stand? Would I have been OK to lie the bike down on it's side or would I have had fuel p*ssing out?

I'd be interested to hear how any one else has got around this for future reference.

Thanks.

[chronyx]

I think there would have been a fuel p*ssage issue yes.

They normally say to lean the bike up on its side stand with someone holding it there, which I wouldn't want to try much, purely as I don't know if the stand would take it well. You wouldn't drop it as long as you keep alert.

[GeoBloke]

Nice job!! Riding partner got a rear tyre puncture in France as well and we wound up nicking some stones from a nearby wall (in the interest of International Relations we put them back when we were done. Also gave the farmer a couple of ciggies when we noticed he was watching us all along ). Built up enough stones beneath the bash plate to get the wheel off the ground.

At least it looks like you had the sun. Sod's Law kicked into action for us and it chucked it down 10 minutes after we'd stopped!

[Xander]

Nice Job!, you can lay it down and turn off the fuel tap, there will be some leaking but it is do able.. (done it lots on my XTZ)

Other methods.. are use a pannier, or in your case jesse top box, the Chris scott book has lots of ideas.. it is an amusing read too...

You know centerstands are not all they are cracked up to be,, in the Orkenys by rear barring blew out.(another story differ time). and I had to put a fully loaded Anubis on the stand.. and my back still hurts.

[mick]

when i used to green lane i made a tool to lift the bike on the side stand it fitted under the swingingarm screwed it it down it lifted the back wheel off the ground im sure i have seen something like it on one of the off-road sights

[Mutley]

WOW, that's what you get for being so damned organised. Come on, hands up, who has spare inner tunes tucked away for that inevitable moment?

How do you find space for important 'stuff' like that. I've just come back from Germany with 3 large Givi boxes, a Baglux tank-bag, a large rucksack & a case of wine on the rear seat. No room for an inner tube though.

Suppose I should really learn how to travel economically, ideally b4 camping on the annual meet up at Dent...

[KTiM]

when i used to green lane i made a tool to lift the bike on the side stand it fitted under the swingingarm screwed it it down it lifted the back wheel off the ground im sure i have seen something like it on one of the off-road sights

That's the sort of thing I was thinking of but haven't actually seen any.

WOW, that's what you get for being so damned organised. Come on, hands up, who has spare inner tunes tucked away for that inevitable moment?

How do you find space for important 'stuff' like that. I've just come back from Germany with 3 large Givi boxes, a Baglux tank-bag, a large rucksack & a case of wine on the rear seat. No room for an inner tube though.

Wifey and I are pretty well trained for packing light these days. She did three nights away with one pair of shoes Still had room for her trusty hairdryer and a make-up bag that seemed to take up half of the top box though!

We went away in the a few weeks ago, had so much space we didn't know what to do with it!

[doglegdon]

WOW, that's what you get for being so damned organised. Come on, hands up, who has spare inner tunes tucked away for that inevitable moment?

How do you find space for important 'stuff' like that. I've just come back from Germany with 3 large Givi boxes, a Baglux tank-bag, a large rucksack & a case of wine on the rear seat....

UM, actually me, (front and rear ones in my topbox), just in case the slime can't handle any over size punctures, they're my old ones, but at least a "get me home".

As regards the case of wine, it's nice to see someone has the right priorities here though!

[Mudwiz]

I'm with Dogleg here, a 21" old tube, ready slimed, sits in the bike all the time, with levers and a pump! (21 will fit the rear as a get you home)

I tend to lean the bike on things, and wedge any old rubbish underneath, but you've seen my bike??

If there's people, the push side stand trick, then let it sit on forks/swing arm is ok too.

[Splash]

Good Job!! and I thought I had a bad deal changing a tube in the pooring rain on the side of the motorway 5 minutes after leaving a services!!!! At laest I have a centre stand. Perhaps thats why I got the puncture and the two guys with me who dont have a centre stand didnt!!!

Still not bad after the trip to the Stella, all the off roading, to only get one on the way home!