Topic: Front Flat at Speed and Bobby Almost Bought It

[BobbyR]

I mounted a new front tire. I could not find the nice thick Metzler Natural Rubber Tube I bought for it. I bought a Dunlop which seemed a bit thinner and made of something, but that is not important, it was my own fault. I must have pinched the tube by accident.
 I took it for a ride to break in the tire by doing the Nascar wobble on some local roads to scrub the whole surface. I got tired of that after a half an hour. I found myself on a road I liked to I figured the motor needed some cleaning. I basted across nice straight bridge at 70 something. When I left the Bridge I let off and was probably down to 40, the road kinda moves to the right.
The bike started drifting left, and was not responding.

 I wanted to pull over and see what was up and then she went totally out of control. I was trained a long time ago to just do what you can.

As I fought with the bike, I knew I was going down, I could not steer but somehow I could stay upright, so she headed for the dirt and I was going with it. This was another thing I was taught.

 I just held her straight and the speed kept dropping and all I wanted to do was hold her to a point that when she went over it was slow enough the armor in the jacket, my gloves, and helmet would  take the brunt, since I was prepared to dive. Somehow I got her stopped in the dirt on the side of the road.

DO not #$%* around with your front tire, I have had a rear flat at 75 and it was controllable. Without a front, you have #$%*. If you have old tires, change the front of you are short on cash.

I pulled the front wheel and an put the old Metzler tube back in. I ordered a new tire and tube since I cannot trust the tire even though it looks as good as new inside and out. My sweet ass is worth more than $100 bucks.
   

[72500john]

last time i had a front tire give out was many years ago on a dirt bike. screwed me up bad. put me out of riding for the summer and a few doctor visits. glad you are ok.
p.s. thanks for the babe thread.

[seanbarney41]

wow, that sounds terrifying! you are the second member this month to have this happen (front tire failure at high speed)  I know what you mean about a flat front and steering...cuz I got this parts bike with a front tire that won't hold air and it's virtually impossible to steer it around the shop just pushing it.  Too bad you didn't just pop a wheelie and walk that baby all the way home    Really glad to hear you're alright though.

[scottly]

Glad to hear you're OK, Bobby. I've never had a flat on the front on the road, knock on wood, but I've had one in the dirt, and remember how scary it was.

[70CB750]

Glad you are OK!

[754]

 Had a front go flat at 75mph at a remote place on the Interstate.. had to keep it up with my feet.. interesting & puckering.. I ended up on left shoulder of the road.. seconds later a cop appeared on a frontage road about 1230 feet away, asked if I was OK.. wierd huh// Twas near dusk took a good chunk of the next morning to hitch a ride in a semi to a nearby town.. bought 2 tubes, changed them, getting the balancing goop out is a real treat..not!
  My record 5 flats in 10 days...!

[heffay]

Glad you made it Bobby.

I've had a front flat on the 350f leaving a coffee shop late at night, so I didn't notice it before I left, it made itself apparent pretty quickly though, haha. 

Was on the back of my dad's r100rt heading out on a trip from Manhattan, KS to Pueblo, CO when I was about 12.  We got about 10 miles and the rear went flat.  That was kinda scary as we headed into oncoming traffic on a blind curve.  With all our gear and me on the back, that bike did not want to do what it was told!

[BobbyR]

It does go bad quick and it is a crappy feeling. One thing I was taught. If your craft cannot do what you want it to do, work with what it will do. I guess i remembered that.  Also, the Devil was not ready for me yet.

The take away for people who think you can run around on old tires is that you can, until it fails. When it does it will be as bad as anything else you encounter on the road.

[TwoTired]

You ended the event upright?  Well done!  And, glad you're ok.

One thing I was taught. If your craft cannot do what you want it to do, work with what it will do.

Was that your helicopter pilot training?

You know, it's a strange dicotomy.  On the one hand, it makes sense to have the newest, best tires on your machine, and to keep the maintenance fresh.
However, you have just given us an example of "new" maintenance yielding an induced problem.  Whereas, the old tire hadn't yielded a catastrophic (or puckering) event.  I'm not implying a moral here, just an interesting observation.

I have one bike with a 20 something year old continental tire on the front (pretty phenomenal tread wear, all things considered).  Yes, I know nothing lasts forever.  But dang, it has a pretty good history of working reliability.  I'm not saying anyone should do as I do.  I just marvel at the continued service of something that has proven to work well...so far, of course.    It seems strange to actually WANT to see the "wear bars" become prominent.

Cheers,

[andy750]

Ive had about 6 front tire punctures and Bobby describes it very well and is spot on with what to do. Initially, you will notice a slight drop in handling and the slow steering around corners (if a slow leak). Once you notice this pull over immediately! At high speed there is no such warning and it just goes...you have about 3 secs to get the bike stopped safely without falling over.

One of my most memorable front tire punctures happened in Mexico while riding though the mountains that were covered in the agave plant (used to make tequila). I had picked up a hot 18 yr old Norwegian soccer chic in Oxaca the day before with promises of high speed riding and she was really into it. She wore the hot chic uniform of little tight tank top, short short hot pants and sandals  . We had been having a great time carving it up and were now racing down off the mountain heading into the sunset. We were on a long straight down about 80 mph and she was holding on tight when all of a sudden I felt a twitch from the front end and knew immediately that the tire had blown...I wrestled that bike to a stop as fast as I could, heart pumping, using all the strength I had to fight it going over and headed into the gravel-strewn ditch.

When we had come to a complete stop (still upright) she leaned over and asked "why are we stopped?"

cheers
Andy

P.S Well done Bobby! Next time have a hot girl sit on the back of your bike to stabilize it
 

[andy750]

I have one bike with a 20 something year old continental tire on the front (pretty phenomenal tread wear, all things considered).

Clearly a bike that does not get a lot of rides or sees a lot of corners. If it did your tires wouldnt last so long  Thats not reliability in my book rather not being used for their intended purpose. Its not just about age of the tires its about how many miles they have seen and what sort of riding you do (as well you know)

[madmtnmotors]

When we had come to a complete stop (still upright) she leaned over and asked "why are we stopped?"

LMAO! I could actually hear her voice as I read it...

Glad you guys reeled em' in! 

[jamesb]

glad to hear your okay.i have heard horror stories about front tires blowing out.it's one of my fears of riding.

[Damfino]

p.s. thanks for the babe thread.

See there Bobby? You almost buy the farm and the first thought on most of our mind's is - "Did I thank Bobby for starting 'The Babe Thread?'"
Many years from now, your obituary will state - "Man that started 'Babe Thread' passes quietly in his sleep surrounded by scantily clad women."

Glad to know that beside's the tire & tube, you probably just needed to change your shorts!   

[mjstone]

wow, that sounds terrifying! you are the second member this month to have this happen (front tire failure at high speed)  I know what you mean about a flat front and steering...cuz I got this parts bike with a front tire that won't hold air and it's virtually impossible to steer it around the shop just pushing it.  Too bad you didn't just pop a wheelie and walk that baby all the way home    Really glad to hear you're alright though.

I'm the other guy with a 70 mph front tire blowout.  Mine didn't end as rosy as yours.  Glad to hear you made it through safely.

MJ

[BobbyR]

glad to hear your okay.i have heard horror stories about front tires blowing out.it's one of my fears of riding.

James, be afraid, be very afraid. It is not something you want to do twice.

[BobbyR]

p.s. thanks for the babe thread.

See there Bobby? You almost buy the farm and the first thought on most of our mind's is - "Did I thank Bobby for starting 'The Babe Thread?'"
Many years from now, your obituary will state - "Man that started 'Babe Thread' passes quietly in his sleep surrounded by scantily clad women."

Glad to know that beside's the tire & tube, you probably just needed to change your shorts!   

  I like the "Man that started 'Babe Thread' passes quietly in his sleep surrounded by scantily clad women."

[BobbyR]

wow, that sounds terrifying! you are the second member this month to have this happen (front tire failure at high speed)  I know what you mean about a flat front and steering...cuz I got this parts bike with a front tire that won't hold air and it's virtually impossible to steer it around the shop just pushing it.  Too bad you didn't just pop a wheelie and walk that baby all the way home    Really glad to hear you're alright though.

I'm the other guy with a 70 mph front tire blowout.  Mine didn't end as rosy as yours.  Glad to hear you made it through safely.

MJ

MJ, sorry about the wreck. From what I experienced the chance of a good ending is pretty low. endto j

[BobbyR]

You ended the event upright?  Well done!  And, glad you're ok.

One thing I was taught. If your craft cannot do what you want it to do, work with what it will do.

Was that your helicopter pilot training?

You know, it's a strange dicotomy.  On the one hand, it makes sense to have the newest, best tires on your machine, and to keep the maintenance fresh.
However, you have just given us an example of "new" maintenance yielding an induced problem.  Whereas, the old tire hadn't yielded a catastrophic (or puckering) event.  I'm not implying a moral here, just an interesting observation.

I have one bike with a 20 something year old continental tire on the front (pretty phenomenal tread wear, all things considered).  Yes, I know nothing lasts forever.  But dang, it has a pretty good history of working reliability.  I'm not saying anyone should do as I do.  I just marvel at the continued service of something that has proven to work well...so far, of course.    It seems strange to actually WANT to see the "wear bars" become prominent.

Cheers,

Yes Lloyd we were trained well, and some of it was to get you to react properly in your head, as much as your hands and feet. If they had an inkling you were freezing, they handed you a rifle and a pack.

Yes, It was my fault. The tire was getting older and I could feel that odd wear pattern the 750s get in the front tire. I was in a hurry, I did not puff up the tube and I pinched it. It held all night, but I guess the stresses of riding opened it up. My bad and it only cost me money.

As far as your 20 year old tires, you are the last person I would need to explain the science to. I now only have one bike and I ride it around a lot in the Country on windy roads and come home on the highways, and and of course I am probably going too fast on both, so I swap out tires every 6 years.

Oh well, I learned my lesson for sure.

[demon78]

Now you know why they gave you a pucker string. Glad you survived Bobby.
Bill the demon.

[jgmmgood]

Good job and good luck on keeping it right side up! 

I was riding a Suzuki 650 Turbo back around 1993 through Danbury, CT.  The bike was my brother-in-laws and the front tire was in rough shape.  Rode it from Pittsburgh to Boston with a friend on his Fazer.  Anyway, I figured I would change the front tire in Beantown as thanks for letting me borrow the bike.  Should've changed it in Pittsburgh.....Doing around 70 on I 84 in the dark and surrounded by cars when the front went.  That thing pitched port and starboard like a bull ride.  I have no idea how I didnt die that day.   Somehow got it to the shoulder and my buddy who was in front saw it all in his rearview.  Took me 30 minutes to stop shaking.  The guy at the tire shop the next day had to relate that "you only have 2 tires, dont take a chance". 

[Lamp]

Stories like this are a big reason why I'm glad to be running comstars with tubeless tires. One less part to go wrong. Glad you able save yours and ride another day!

[TwoTired]

Stories like this are a big reason why I'm glad to be running comstars with tubeless tires. One less part to go wrong. Glad you able save yours and ride another day!

Unless you have Comstars made for tubeless tires, that's a bad idea.  Tubeless tires need a special landing area for proper bead lock, and not all Comstars have that.  You don't want only the air to hold the bead in place.

[BobbyR]

Stories like this are a big reason why I'm glad to be running comstars with tubeless tires. One less part to go wrong. Glad you able save yours and ride another day!

Unless you have Comstars made for tubeless tires, that's a bad idea.  Tubeless tires need a special landing area for proper bead lock, and not all Comstars have that.  You don't want only the air to hold the bead in place.

I had considered making modifications I had read about here and there to seal my spokes and run tubeless tires. I agree with TT.  Having tire separate from the rim would be unrecoverable. 

[Lamp]

I've never ever heard a single story about a tire coming off the wheel because it wasn't marked tubeless. I've put a few hunred highways miles on my bike with out a single issue. Others on this site have ran this setup for years with out a problem, but if it scares you don't do it. I know I'm going to keep running my comstars tubeless.