Tire/tube failure

[desert1]

Today I went to Pro Cycle, tire and wheel in hand, the same (front) tire that deflated very quickly at 65 MPH on my way home from "Ride Northeast" last Tues. Naturally not seeing any nails or cuts in the tire itself I was curious as to what happened to make it collapse so fast. One mechanic looked at it and noticed the tube neck was broken away from the tube itself also the tire bead had a sharp bend in it as if the wire inside were severed, either condition I suppose could have been the probable cause or riding it the last 5 miles to my brothers home on the flattened tire may have damaged tube or tire......anyway, trying to control the bike at that speed, downhill, was something I never wanna Xperience again.......
Bruce Doucette

[sixtysix]

Bruce,

Sorry to hear about that...I had a flat front on my bandit last year that went down quickly, 6" spike through tread and side wall. No fun at all. Glad you are OK

[GsBike]

Loss of air

Bruce, I had the same thing happen to me yesterday on my 79'F!

I rode about 45 miles (mainly highway) and when I got in town at the first light I noticed the rear tire loosing air...next light it was totally flat. Pulled over, put the bike on the center stand, inspected the tire, and there were no nails or obvious damage. The PO put new Bridgstone tires on this spring (less that 250 miles on them).

Was there any conclusion to why your tire went flat? I know mine has a tube and I haven't look at it closely yet for a cause.

Anyone else have a problem like this with tubed tires?

[sixtysix]

Only a very few 79's would have tubes in them, does rim say tube fitment or tubeless on it?

[desert1]

front flat

My front tire went flat in about 6 or 7 seconds at 65 MPH going down hill on a big sweeping right hand turn, never having had a flat on the front before I just hung on for the ride, no braking no down shifting....the bike wanted to turn left and as the bike slowed the oscellations in the bars got kinda "maniacal" like wrestling with a bear!
The cause of the blowout was the neck of the tube separating from the tube itself....either wear or fatigue....not sure...scared the crap outa me !
Bruce
78XS1100
Alpha

[fusionking]

Tubes suck!!!!!!!!!!(IMHO)

[GsBike]

Tube / No tube?

Gary, I checked last night and I didn't see anything but numbers and symbols stamped on the back tire rim. I'm thinking the tire should have a tube because the rim has three stems (two solid ones that are opposite one another on the rim and the third is where air is added) - I guess it needs a tube??

I pumped air in the tire and sprayed it with water. Air was leaking out from around one of the silid stems. I took the tire off and I hope to have a shop look at it. I'm concerned that if the cause is not determined then it might happen again but this time, like Bruce, I'll might be going 65!!

[Snow]

If it has 3 stem sized holes, its pretty much guaranteed that it requires a tube and rim locks/strips or whatever they are called. You *can* put valve stems in each of the holes and run a tubeless, but you can also skydive without a parachute.

[GsBike]

Tube..

I agree, Snow. I'm taking the tire to a local shop today so they can have a look. Hopefully, the PO just didn't put a tube in it and the problem will be solved with the addition of one.

[sixtysix]

The other two holes had rim-locks in them at one time. I would get a tubeless rim from somebody. If you lived close to me I have a bunch of them, but not worth my time to go out and package/ship one to you, since it would also mean I would have to get the tire off.

[GsBike]

O.K. - Just got the tire back from the shop. The mechanic said the tube was blown and he just had to put a new one in, however, he did not have a good reason why the tube blew. The tire still has the rim-locks also. It still bothers me... I didn't hit a large pothole, strike a curb, or do anything that might have caused damage to the tire yet the tube blew!! I think it's time I got a tubeless rim.

Thanks for the offer, Gary. I live in Baltimore so it would be a hike to swing by. But, if I find myself up north in the near future I'll drop you a line.

One more question - Do all the tubeless rims only have one stem (if they don't have 'tubeless' stamped on them)?

[Snow]

AFAIK, all XS11 (US at least) tubeless rims have only one valve stem hole and will be stamped "tubeless" or "tubeless type rim", can't remeber exact wording.

[desert1]

Next time

Next time I'm replacing either tire on my bike, the tube is being replaced as well, for the Xtra $10. its gonna make me feel a bit safer.....
Bruce

[Jeff]

Had my first high speed flat today..... thankfully it was the rear. I had just passed thru a construction area and accelerated back to speed after getting thru. Suddenly the back end got really squirrely and it felt like there was a hinge in the middle of the frame. I let off the throttle and coasted it to a stop.

I haven't yet determined exactly what caused the flat but it looks like it may have been a small gash in the sidewall. On the bright side.... I needed a new rear tire anyway. LOL Now all I have to do is find the time to jerk the rear wheel and find me a new tire for it.