Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Harley-style ride...(trailered!)

Well it was bound to happen and it finally did. I got stranded on my Amerimaster.
For the second time in just under a year i didn't get to ride her home.
The first time was because i wrecked near Deals Gap, and with broken bones and broken bike i simply couldn't ride home. This time it was a "simple" flat tire.
I did a turnaround in the dirt on a rural road and shortly thereafter i noticed she was handling kinda funny. I stopped and looked at the tires and sure enough the rear was going down quick. So with my girlfriend holding on tight, we took off for the convenience store a mile back down the road.
Just as we pulled into the parking lot, i felt the tire come off the bead. Doh! In an instant things had gone from bad to worse!
So i run in the store and grab two cans of fix-a-flat and go through the motions. No luck with can #1. Duh... the tire is off the bead.
With no ratchet strap or other device to try to squeeze it back into position i started looking for something to use as a makeshift bike lift. Nothing to be found.
My last-ditch effort was to turn the fuel off and lay her on her side, then tried to pull the tire onto the bead and shoot the second can of fix-a-flat into it at the same time. Of course the result of this monkey-humping-a-football kind of exercise was that the tire came off the other bead. Ugh!
Did i mention that the temperature was 90 degrees and the humidity was too?! So you can imagine my attitude was beginning to scare my girlfriend, especially when i said i was thinking seriously about throwing a match to the gas that had now trickled from the gas cap.
Instead, i went back into the store and grabbed a six-pack of my favorite ice cold beer, slammed three of them down really quick, then made the call... My trusty steed was gonna have to ride on a trailer!
So my buddy shows up two hours later and we load her up and get on the road. Oh the humility! At least it was after dark by then.
Well we get back to the shop where i could re-seat the tire and air it up only to see a half quart or so of fix-a-flat come spewing out of a one inch slash right in the middle of the tread like the tire was taking a whizz. Dang! That tire had served me well for eleven months and 8000 miles. I hated to see that all that good tread that was left was gonna go to waste. It's just too big of a hole to risk using a patch or a tube.
The good thing is i have another new Kenda on the way for $73.98 to the door, and it should arrive tomorrow. Oh, and after sitting overnight the tire is holding air. That means i get to make another (hopefully better)burnout video.
I know, this is a really long post just to say i had a flat tire, but i'm really bored at work today...

Iam always ready to listen to your adventures, you'd be surprised at what a guy can learn. And ohh!! by the way. i put a new kenda on mine a month ago.
So i get an idea what to expect.

Three or four of us in our group, including myself carry one of these kits with us in case we need it or a friend needs it (and they have). Be sure to add a tube of contact cement to the kit and replace any pieces (worms, glue) of the kit you use.

http://www.slime.com/product/29/Power-Sport-Smart-Spair-%28%2350001%29.html

A couple of worms and glue would have repaired that tire enough to limp you home, (before you broke the bead).

I agree. But having put over 58000 miles on her without a real breakdown has caused me to be a little bit slack when it comes to carrying emergency supplies. I used to carry everything i would've needed for that situation. Her reliability has caused me to become complacent. Seems all she ever needs to keep going is fuel!

That third picture is going to give me nightmares

Still, at least you got a beer

Bike looks sweet though...like to see some pics when she's healed up.....

http://www.rhinotire.com/

Anyone tried this stuff it looks impressive but do not know the cost although cheaper then replacing a perfectly good tire with a hole in it I suspect. Good for getaway vehicles as well I suspect.

Sure glad you didn't bugger up the rim on that wheel!

I feel your pain with having to lose a tire with only a few thousand on it. Happen twice to me on my sporty, only this with a tube tire there is no fixing it fix a flat.

Yous mag guys have it easy. Also, tossing a match at it might have popped the tire back on for ya. If you could contain the blast to inside the tire. Old farmers trick?

no offence, kenda is a bad tire, I have run chin sheng high max for a very long time on many bikes and they have been great. but i hope your new kenda does serve you well.

cheers