FLAT TIRE AT 60MPH

[redlightron]

Last Week I attended Spyders in the Redwoods in Sonora and had a great time except for one problem. About 50 miles East of Sonora headed to Sonora Pass, I had a right front wheel sidewall blow-out at 60 MPH. It was straight up on the right and straight on the left side so I could only hope to go straight down the road. I also use Ride-on in all tires on the RT and I'm not sure if that helped but I will continue to use it. I'm told the bike did what they are designed to do in a case like this - I could have let go of the handle bars and just like the bike do it's thing but I didn't. I held on, let the gas off and didn't touch the brakes and started looking for a wide spot and sure enough, down the road about 100 yards was a spot on the left. I let the bike slow and guided the bike to a stop. Now trying to get a cell site in that area was not that easy but we did. 2 1/2 hour for the tow truck, 1 hour back to Sonora and than 1 1/2 hrs to the dealer. I had 4000 miles on the tire and must have caught a rock on the sidewall. I spent lots time getting it fixed and about $170.00.

[ARtraveler]

Glad to here that you came out of the ordeal without any personal injuries.

[WV Spyder Ryder]

I'm glad to hear you kept your cool and your control to safely get it stopped.

[Littlebadwolf]

Glad to see you acted appropriately and didn't get hurt.

[Bob Denman]

Lose a front tire on a two-wheeler; see what happens!
Glad that you were on three!

[SpyderAnn01]

Thank goodness it blew before Sonora Pass as that would have been mighty scary.

[harrypottar]

Glad you're safe, I had a front tire blow out on my Wing at about 70 on the interstate in Rhode Island. I was going straight at the time luckily and was able to keep it under control. The cars around me saw it and gave me a wide birth, one of the most scariest moments of my life...

harry

[NancysToy]

Glad you rode it out safely. I'm sure the Spyder VSS helped in coming to a relatively controlled stop. The Ride-On wouldn't have helped in the case of a cut-down tire or sidewall puncture, but it should prevent a sudden flat from a tread puncture. Just because it isn't effective 100% of the time doesn't mean it isn't worth using.

[Chupaca]

missed that ryde went to calaveras. Heard about it but from those who rode with you. Good to know things worked and you handled it so well...

[wukka]

Textbook execution of what to do during an emergency "sudden air loss" scenario. It's when you panic that bad things happen that result in accident/injury. Nobody wants this to happen, but if you can walk away scratch-free, it truly is a GOOD THING. Job well done...

[TicketBait]

Last Week I attended Spyders in the Redwoods in Sonora and had a great time except for one problem. About 50 miles East of Sonora headed to Sonora Pass, I had a right front wheel sidewall blow-out at 60 MPH. It was straight up on the right and straight on the left side so I could only hope to go straight down the road. I also use Ride-on in all tires on the RT and I'm not sure if that helped but I will continue to use it. I'm told the bike did what they are designed to do in a case like this - I could have let go of the handle bars and just like the bike do it's thing but I didn't. I held on, let the gas off and didn't touch the brakes and started looking for a wide spot and sure enough, down the road about 100 yards was a spot on the left. I let the bike slow and guided the bike to a stop. Now trying to get a cell site in that area was not that easy but we did. 2 1/2 hour for the tow truck, 1 hour back to Sonora and than 1 1/2 hrs to the dealer. I had 4000 miles on the tire and must have caught a rock on the sidewall. I spent lots time getting it fixed and about $170.00.

Glad to hear you came out unscathed, I did a search for the word Redwoods, and this was the first thread. Wanted to go this year but work got in the way.

I haven't heard much about the trip other that Seal floorboards sold out the first day. If you have any pictures or video to share that would be great.

Again Ron, glad your ok That can be scary at that speed.

[Knarfoh]

Glad you rode it out safely. I'm sure the Spyder VSS helped in coming to a relatively controlled stop. The Ride-On wouldn't have helped in the case of a cut-down tire or sidewall puncture, but it should prevent a sudden flat from a tread puncture. Just because it isn't effective 100% of the time doesn't mean it isn't worth using.

CLICK FOR LARGER IMAGE

Repairable and Non-repairable Areas for a Motorcycle/Scooter Tire"

*courtesy Ride-On website

[DoggyDaddy]

I heard about your ordeal from other riders at the event. My wife and I rode from Bridgeport to Sonora through the pass and it was a 2nd gear proposition most of the way until we reached the summit. The ride was great but definitely not a place to have a flat or other problem. Glad to hear that everything worked out O.K. for you. I understand that another rider lost his cooling system on the same trip.....sounds like bad karma for the ride!!

[Motorcycledave]

You did good, that is a very remote area.... You know here is an Idea for all to ponder.
I am a member of the ST Owners Club (Honda ST Owners) on their forum they have
a section where you can sign up and provide your contact information and what you are
welling to provide for stranded riders, such as tools, garage, parts, a bed, help getting repairs
use of your yard to camp out in, a trailer to transport a bike and stuff like that so when or you have
a problem like that one with the tire you can call the closest person on the list and get help....
What do you think?
Dave

Last Week I attended Spyders in the Redwoods in Sonora and had a great time except for one problem. About 50 miles East of Sonora headed to Sonora Pass, I had a right front wheel sidewall blow-out at 60 MPH. It was straight up on the right and straight on the left side so I could only hope to go straight down the road. I also use Ride-on in all tires on the RT and I'm not sure if that helped but I will continue to use it. I'm told the bike did what they are designed to do in a case like this - I could have let go of the handle bars and just like the bike do it's thing but I didn't. I held on, let the gas off and didn't touch the brakes and started looking for a wide spot and sure enough, down the road about 100 yards was a spot on the left. I let the bike slow and guided the bike to a stop. Now trying to get a cell site in that area was not that easy but we did. 2 1/2 hour for the tow truck, 1 hour back to Sonora and than 1 1/2 hrs to the dealer. I had 4000 miles on the tire and must have caught a rock on the sidewall. I spent lots time getting it fixed and about $170.00.

[Blue Star]

You did good, that is a very remote area.... You know here is an Idea for all to ponder.
I am a member of the ST Owners Club (Honda ST Owners) on their forum they have
a section where you can sign up and provide your contact information and what you are
welling to provide for stranded riders, such as tools, garage, parts, a bed, help getting repairs
use of your yard to camp out in, a trailer to transport a bike and stuff like that so when or you have
a problem like that one with the tire you can call the closest person on the list and get help....
What do you think?
Dave

On this site it is called Spyders to the rescue.

[ARCTIC]

Glad you made it through unscathed... Had you let go of the handlebars I think we would be hearing a different story...... Hopefully told by you

[liketoride2]

Last Week I attended Spyders in the Redwoods in Sonora and had a great time except for one problem. About 50 miles East of Sonora headed to Sonora Pass, I had a right front wheel sidewall blow-out at 60 MPH. It was straight up on the right and straight on the left side so I could only hope to go straight down the road. I also use Ride-on in all tires on the RT and I'm not sure if that helped but I will continue to use it. I'm told the bike did what they are designed to do in a case like this - I could have let go of the handle bars and just like the bike do it's thing but I didn't. I held on, let the gas off and didn't touch the brakes and started looking for a wide spot and sure enough, down the road about 100 yards was a spot on the left. I let the bike slow and guided the bike to a stop. Now trying to get a cell site in that area was not that easy but we did. 2 1/2 hour for the tow truck, 1 hour back to Sonora and than 1 1/2 hrs to the dealer. I had 4000 miles on the tire and must have caught a rock on the sidewall. I spent lots time getting it fixed and about $170.00.

In 45 years of riding I've only experienced one blowout, that being on a two wheeler and it was terrifying, although I luckily didn't go down and no ill effects resulted. Because of that I've often wondered how a Spyder would behave in the event of a blowout. I seems from your description that not much happened, that it continued to track fairly straight and was controllable (neither being the case in my two wheel incident). Is that correct or am I misreading your description?

Thanks for posting this. It helps to know what to expect in such an occurrence.

Mike
www.rtwrider.net

[Greg H.]

Good job not panicking, & bringing it to a safe stop!
Maybe, we can all take something away from your experience. I have never had a blowout. But; I hope if it happens to me, I can respond like you did.

[redlightron]

Thanks for all the comments and this event came out on the good side of things. Had this occurred in a corner the outcome may have been different but it didn't so ride on and have fun.

[bruiser]

A few weeks ago the rear tire on my RT went down. Fortunately we were only doing about 55 when I started to feel it go. If it had been a half hour sooner we were on I-40 doing 70 mph. It didn't blow but went down in a matter of seconds. I felt a severe vibration and heard a rumble so I slowed down and suddenly the rear started to get really squirrely real fast. I had a rear go down on my Honda 350 once and it sure puckered the lower cheeks.