argh! flat tire :(

[vondalyn]

I went for a nice long ride this weekend. Up the Poudre Canyon on highway 14 to Walden then south on highway 125 to Granby and then south to Winterpark, over Berthoud pass to I-70 and got off on Central City Parkway and down highway 6 into Golden and back home to Boulder county.

A couple things.
The F3-S's top speed showed as 115 (which was for a few seconds down a hill), the digital readout is 1-2 mph faster than it's going, so probably around a steady 113 mph. Some folks were curious about the top speed.

Most of the roads I traveled were great, but the road between Rand and Granby is not ready for motorcycles yet. Ran into a patch of rocks that had come off the hillside onto the road and I tried to weasel my way through them without hitting any. Unfortunately I had a glancing blow off of a double-fist sized rock with one of my front tires. I didn't run totally over but it definitely got hit. I expected an immediate flat, but it didn't happen. I got home safe and didn't see any damage that night or when I gave the spyder a nice bath on Sunday morning. Rode up to a nearby Harley dealership (they're the only shop open around here on Sundays) and then had a late lunch and came home. I didn't notice anything going on with the spyder. Later in the evening the tire was flat. We put air in it and let it sit overnight with the jack under it in case it went flat again. It did. Took the wheel to Discount Tires this morning to see if they could find the leak and fix it. Unfortunately it's a hole in the sidewall and it looks like it's probably from the rock rather than anyone at the HD store doing mischief, so I'll be headed to the dealership with my wheel to get a new tire put on.

 

[ARtraveler]

Glad you made it back safely before the tire went down. Saved a lot of grief and also some bucks for you. We also have a lot of roads where falling rocks can cause damage. I have gone down these roads and they were clear, only to return and find rocks (one time a large watermelon sized one) in the lane. Fortunately, I was able to dodge and there were no oncoming cars. These things always seem to happen just where you round a blind curve. :yikes:

Sidewall damage usually results in tire replacement rather than repair.

Thanks for the top speed report. I have also found that actual is usually about 2 mph less than indicated when it comes to speed.

 

[den1953]

Good Thing

That you weren't stranded out in the boonies or worse, luckily the tire deflated later back in civilization. I don't imagine a car tire would have done any better with a hit to the sidewall like that.

 

[Chupaca]

Great..!!

sounds like a great ryde. Aside from the rocky road you must have had a good time. Love those moments when I can let her go flat out. Sadly sidewall damage is the kiss of death for a tire here. Hope your re shod and back on all three...:thumbup:

 

[nakerr]

On 2 wheelers I have always gone with the thought that any tire damage or flat meant replacing the tire. Is this not required on a Spyder? What happens if a front or the rear tire goes flat?

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

WELL MAYBE

On 2 wheelers I have always gone with the thought that any tire damage or flat meant replacing the tire. Is this not required on a Spyder? What happens if a front or the rear tire goes flat?

IMHO it depends , .....on a sidewall replacement is the only option.....on two wheel MTC's replacement is also the only option .....on the Spyder however , the tires are more like car tires than like real Mtc tires. If you got a flat on your car and the tread was good would you trash it ????.....With tubeless tires " BLOWOUTS " are not really an issue .....Tires only go flat IMO....some quicker than others but they don't blow off the rim so to speak.............With a car tire on a Spyder ....I would patch it or plug it ...........Mike :thumbup:

 

[Bensonoid]

Patch and plug for my tires.