Stop&Go Pocket Tire Plugger

[3Phase]

The Stop&Go Pocket Tire Plugger kit works as advertised! http://www.stopngo.com/motorcycle.asp

I always check the tires before I ride and, naturally, I discovered that I had managed to make the streets a little safer for everyone by picking up a stray drywall screw with a brand new ME88 rear tire with only 600 miles on it.

The kit has a laminated instruction card complete with pictures but this was the first time I had to use the Stop&Go kit. It only took about ten minutes to read the directions, remove the screw, clean the hole, put in the plug, air up the tire and ride to the store -- fantastic!

I don't trust patches or plugs for long-term use so I will be replacing the tire ASAP ($150 for a new tire vs $150,000 for a hospital visit and a new motorcycle, maybe a little less for a nice closed-casket funeral) but the Pocket Tire Plugger got the bike up and running.

[GARTHXS]

patches

RI don't understand why a patch on the inside of the tire is no good it works fine for a car

[3Phase]

RI don't understand why a patch on the inside of the tire is no good it works fine for a car

Short answer: Stuff happens. Tire plugs and patches can fail and have failed.

Long answer: A repair plug that I installed in the rear tire of my bike failed and almost killed me and several other people. It was 100% my fault.

A failed patch killed two of my friends, husband and wife, on their motorcycle. When one tire goes flat cars are less likely to fall over at speed on the freeway and pin you underneath them while scraping off one side of your helmet and your skull on the concrete center divider. The tire patch was installed by their dealership. The flowers were installed by FTD.

New tires are expensive in the short term but much less expensive in the long term. The Stop&Go Pocket Tire Plugger makes an excellent temporary repair that will get you back on the road and it's easy to use.

[XS1100 Newbie]

Point made Scott!!!!

[Nubian]

Tube?

Short answer: Stuff happens. Tire plugs and patches can fail and have failed.

Long answer: A repair plug that I installed in the rear tire of my bike failed and almost killed me and several other people. It was 100% my fault.

A failed patch killed two of my friends, husband and wife, on their motorcycle. When one tire goes flat cars are less likely to fall over at speed on the freeway and pin you underneath them while scraping off one side of your helmet and your skull on the concrete center divider. The tire patch was installed by their dealership. The flowers were installed by FTD.

New tires are expensive in the short term but much less expensive in the long term. The Stop&Go Pocket Tire Plugger makes an excellent temporary repair that will get you back on the road and it's easy to use.

How about installing a tube after the patch work?

[3Phase]

How about installing a tube after the patch work?

Sure, a tube would work with a flat patch but things were a little more casual back in the day. Neither of my friends rose for Easter sunrise service this morning so I'll have to wait a while to ask them why they didn't have a tube installed after having the tire patched.

The Stop&Go plugs are shaped like rubber rivets and the head would rub against a tube so I would not use a tube with a plug.

[cywelchjr]

Sure, a tube would work with a flat patch but things were a little more casual back in the day. Neither of my friends rose for Easter sunrise service this morning so I'll have to wait a while to ask them why they didn't have a tube installed after having the tire patched.

The Stop&Go plugs are shaped like rubber rivets and the head would rub against a tube so I would not use a tube with a plug.

Also remember that any tire repair removes the speed rating of the tire. And putting a tube in a tire moves the speed rating down one step because of the added heat buildup of the tube.

I'll run a plug for a bit for local use if a tire is close to EOL until I order the new tire, but not for long trips and no sustained high speeds. I also have the stop and go kit. I do need to get a small pump though for on the road use. I do find it far more likely to get a puncture when the tire is close to the end of it's tread life than with a newer tire, probably because of the thinner rubber.

My last two punctures, were from (of all things) rocks. Stupid like triangle shaped rocks that got caught just right in the tire and then pounded through till the sharp point just barely pushed through the casing. Strangest thing I've ever seen. I've gone to checking regularly now, just to make sure, cause if I'd seen them in time, I could have prevented them from penetrating the tire. But my new front should have arrived today, just gotta get it mounted this weekend, pop the wheel off and drop it off in the morning and pick it up in the afternoon, or something like that.

[Yahman]

My last two punctures, were from (of all things) rocks. Stupid like triangle shaped rocks that got caught just right in the tire and then pounded through till the sharp point just barely pushed through the casing. Strangest thing I've ever seen. I've gone to checking regularly now, just to make sure, cause if I'd seen them in time, I could have prevented them from penetrating the tire.

A long time ago I worked for a tire shop, and a number of times I have seen punctures from rocks just like you described. IMHO it's good practice to pick the rocks out when you are inspecting them.

Larry

[3Phase]

Cy, Yahman: I hate those little rocks! I always try to take a quick look and pick them out of the tires when I stop for a break or fuel up.

I used to have a chart from a tire shop; one of those informational pamphlets they put out for you to read while they have the wheels off your car and the installers break for lunch.

The chart was a guide for de-rating the load and speed ratings when you put tubes, patches or plugs in tubeless tires. The load ratings went down a lot but it wasn't really useful for motorcycles except to make you paranoid while you try to ride slower. No one is really going to pull the fairing, ditch the bags/topbox or kick the old lady to the curb just because they had to put a plug in a tire and they're close to or over the de-rated load rating. Just get another tire ASAP.

[jetmechmarty]

I have the Stop N Go tire plugger and I've had to use it. It's a great "get you home" tool. The plugs aren't vulcanized and they will fail if you use them as they weren't intended.

Marty (in Korea)

[g15usmc]

i rode a plug for 500 mis once...scary thing to do...and so much slower due to paranoia... hope i never have to do that again...my zuki manual says, replace after 1mm or closer on front, and 3mm speeds above 80, and 2mm speeds below 80...who carries a measure stick when they ride?...