Puncture!

Evil Hans · World Chat Champion Joined: 08 Nov 2015 Karma :

I came out of work on Friday in the middle of a downpour of Biblical Proportions to find I had a totally flat front tyre on the tiddler (Bandit is in for MOT)

Now, on the Bandit I use strings in these situations but no such luxury on the 125 as it has tubed tyres. I couldn't see any obvious foreign objects so I guess it was an in-n-out. Probably ran over a hedgehog, something like that.

I got caught with a puncture a couple of years back and had to wait over four hours for recovery (I have subsequently ditched the AA). Since then I have been carrying around a little can of Aldi* emergency tyre foam.

So more in hope than expectation I pumped that little fellah into the front tyre, and ... amazingly I had some pressure. And it stayed there.

It was still pissing down and I was soaked and peed off, so rather than find a garage to pump it right up I headed home - nearly 20 miles - and it got me there no trouble. Pumped it up to the correct pressure and it's still inflated now.

<tl dr>
Emergency tyre foam. Works - under some circumstances at least - your mileage may vary. Literally.

*Other brands available
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Triumph Sprint ST 1050. And it's Red.

arry · Super Spammer Joined: 03 Jan 2009 Karma :

Actual cool story bro.

I need to get me some of that, having tubed tyres now with the Enfield.

P. · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

Is how I got home on my first bike with a puncture. Tubed front and tyre foam + 20mph max ride home. Managed to do a full 15 miles with no real issues but a bit of squirming.

Rogerborg · nimbA Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :

Huh, I would not have expected that. Good to know that it's viable.

In related news I have slow leaks from both the Nazi Tractor front and Racebike rear and in conclusion tubeless tyres can eat a jumbo sack of dicks.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

mudcow007 · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 Feb 2012 Karma :

it didnt work on my CG tube. i had to push the wee beasty 3 miles home

i did try riding with a flat front tyre (replaced tube an tyre afterwards) for about 10seconds an it was as scary as doing a prostitute without wearing a nodder

Evil Hans · World Chat Champion Joined: 08 Nov 2015 Karma :

Stoker · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 13 Sep 2014 Karma :

Slime. If you run tubed tyres,stick 16 oz of slime in each tube, then every time a thorn or nail penetrates the tyre into the tube, the slime will plug the hole once the foreign body is removed.

It only works on the tread areas, so snakebite type puntcures/sidewall ones,you are fucked, but I have removed a drywall screw from an almost new tyre, and the slime worked fine,working when i changed it ie no flats even tho shit sticking in tyre.

PS, still running the same slime-filled tube with a new tyre.

At the risk of committing a tefloniamism ,I would like to mention that I have used the pushbike version of slime for years, and during a towpath ride along the route of the old chesterfield canal, I removed over 30 thorns from my tyres, (hedgecutters had been out) and only had to re-inflate both tyres slightly.

tltr:, Slime.
Buy some, put it in your tubes, forget about punctures.