Practical Puncture repair?

[LazyRider]

I would like to hear from members who have had practical experience at mending punctures on the road.

How easy is it to brake the seal of the tyre from the rim. Can you do it with a boot, or do you need a ‘breaker’? What size tyre leavers do you recommend? What rim lubrication do you use? How easy is it to get the tyre central on the rim? Is it possible to repair a front tyre puncture without removing the wheel?

And any other useful tips you may have.

p.s. I have a Transalp

[Mudwiz]

I did 2 front wheel punctures on Saturday at the national. Both were pretty straightforward, no issues with breaking beads, etc, only slight problem was seating the tyre on reinflation. We just rode them, and a check a couple of miles later they were seated.
As far as lube goes, I carry WD40, so a squirt of that if required.

It always helps though to have done it a few times in the garage, before you need to do it for real, best way is to start fitting your own tyres, after having seen someone do it!

Good luck.........

[LazyRider]

I did 2 front wheel punctures on Saturday at the national. Both were pretty straightforward, no issues with breaking beads, etc, .........

That is encouraging Was you able to locate the puncture and repair the tube without taking off the front wheel? How did you brake the beads and what size tyre irons do you use?

Thanks

[Mudwiz]

Breaking the beads was with a heel! TKC80 and Metz 6days, both were warm from riding though! If push comes to shove, pop the bead under the sidestand and lean on it, if that doesn't work put the wheel back in the bike and use the brakes/engine to start it moving (loosen the rim lock if you use one).

I habitually take the wheel out, can be a bit tricky in the wilds with no centerstand, just be willing to balance the bike on the forklegs.

Finding the holes was also easy, 2 compression punctures, comes from running too low pressure on rough big rocks too fast! I use slime so find where the green stuff spills from, otherwise pump air in and feel/listen. Even easier if there is a stream near by.

I carry a spare 21" tube, will do back too, as a get you home, and a puncture repair kit. (And lots of other stuff too, but thats another story)

Tyre levers are the posh ones from racespec, Buggnati ?? about 8" long, and I need 3 for and easy repair.


If you check some of the national meet photos it shows it in action. Will try to find the link!

Have a go, you know you want to!!

[jasonbc]

[quote=LazyRider;205798]I would like to hear from members who have had practical experience at mending punctures on the road.

i had a puncture on the front wheel of my varadero once, i fitted a power socket and now when doing long distance i carry a 12v compressor. it's enough to get some wind in the tyre and get you to a tyre centre or dealer

[samben]

I did 2 front wheel punctures on Saturday at the national. Both were pretty straightforward, no issues with breaking beads, etc, only slight problem was seating the tyre on reinflation. We just rode them, and a check a couple of miles later they were seated.
As far as lube goes, I carry WD40, so a squirt of that if required.

It always helps though to have done it a few times in the garage, before you need to do it for real, best way is to start fitting your own tyres, after having seen someone do it!

Good luck.........

no wonder you had problems reseating your tyre. i saw the state of your rim

[LazyRider]

Mudwiz - Have a go, you know you want to!!

It is the very opposite - I don’t want to have a go! - It is 50 years since I used to mend punctures at the side of the road and even 20 years ago I rode my XT600 down to the Picos Mountains a couple of times and did not worry about getting punctures and never got any, but tempus fugit, which brings us on to:

Jasonbc - i had a puncture on the front wheel of my varadero once

In recent years my touring bikes have all had tubeless tyres and have been able to quickly and easily plug the tyres. I too carry a small electric compressor and have needed it - on one day whilst touring in Turkey, I had three punctures in the rear tyre of my Varadero - tyres running at normal pressure - all successfully plugged. When I got home I fitted Ultraseal. In the subsequent 5 years of ownership I got two more punctures that was dealt with by the Ultraseal.

I have now moved onto a Transalp - the Varadero got too big for me - it is a great bike, much nicer than the Varadero for running about in the UK - where I can rely on the AA to sort things out for me - but for continental touring, with those wire wheels! I suspect that I am past it.

[FatFergie]

I've done it and I carry a repair kit although I've lost my tyre levers which were flat melco about 20 cm long, I've still got my home levers ( one dunlop and two round melco which are better than the flat type but more awkard to fit on the bike. I've never had a problem breaking the bead, I now use tyre soap and I'd always take the wheel off.
I've never found it easy and I dread getting a puncture but it's been years since I have and I did that one at home.

[atgreg]

you can do the front wihout taking the wheel off if you can patch the hole but if its to big to patch you have to take the wheel off to replace the tube anyway and to be frank doing with the wheel still on a pain in the ass and it only takes 5 mins to take the wheel off anyway. I can replace a font tube these days in 20 mins from wheels stopped rolling to going again, rear takes bit longer. practice is the key, 3 levers defineately make it easier. i tend to not bother patching the tube by the side of the road, I just replace the tube , and if im on a trip I'll patch the tube that night wherever Im staying ready for the next days rding

[RainMan]

I stash a 21" tube under the seat along with a small compressor and clip the flat tyre levers to the underside of the seat, works a treat. As Mudwiz says, the 21" tube will get you home in the back wheel. The spare tube also saves you having to muck about with patches and glue.