Topic: Inner tube recommendations

[Techmage916]

So i caught something sharp in my rear tire while accellerating away from a light on my way home from work yesterday. Ass end passed me, almost got her under control before getting slammed into the pavement (only doing maybe 45).  Have my new tire ordered (as well as handlebars and left control pod, picked up a new shifter today)  im mostly fine, lots of beef jerky on my skin and a sprained ankle. Running tubed tires, looking for some suggestions on tougher tubes.  Was looking at some of the products they have for dirtbikes (saddles, mousse tubes, etc) as well as some gunk you put inside your tires.  Wondering if anyone has any input on any of that stuff.  Gut feeling says that the gunk stuffs a bad idea and mousse tubes would make for a rough ride.

[Tracksnblades1]

Tech,
We have 6 Honda CR dirt bikes. They all have their factory rim locks in place. These rim locks allow running low inflation pressures (usually soft conditions) without spinning the rim on the tire's bead. Which comes as a great expense of increased rolling resistance.  I don't believe at normal inflation pressures and riding well below competitive levels they are needed, excepting the CR500.

I couldn't imagine you needing rim locks, unless your plans include running low pressures similar to drag racers.

We've tried the mousse type tubes (dirt bike) but don't care for the way they handle. Especially on high traction dry surfaces. No flats or checking pressure has conveniences.

We've ran the gunk inside tubeless 4 wheeler tires for flats and flat prevention with some success after plugging first. Inevitably we ended up replacing those tires that weren't the patchable type.

Hope your road rash don't break open.....😩

[seanbarney41]

My kz650 has rim locks.  The rim sizes are the same as or very similar to our cbs....so no reason not to lace one up to a cb hub.  Beware...mounting a tube and tire with rim locks can be a major pita.

[pjlogue]

I would avoid using anything inside the inner tube for flat prevention.  I tried that once after I had a flat in the front tire.  I picked up a barb at highway speed and within 50' the front tire was flat.  I had a passenger with me and the front was going stop to stop with the rear sliding around.  Thankfully I didn't go down.  The slime I used caused unwanted vibration at highway speed and in thinking further on it, would not have prevented the essentially "blow out" I had with the barb as the hole in the tire and tube was large.  A mousse might prevent rapid deflation but it will not prevent a flat.  Your best bet is to avoid the shoulders of the road where all the bits and pieces of stuff accumulates waiting for a tire to pick it up. 

-P.

[PeWe]

Use std Michelin tube.
Thicker will not protect better if you get a nail in the tire which is the way I had got flats back in the 80's.
Worst was a thick long one 6", another time a more normal 3". The 6" gave more flats since I repaired the tube with a patch that did not last more than max 300 km....

Michelin UHD (Ultra Heavy Duty) 4mm thick.
I use Michelin std, I think 2.2 mm thick.  I like Michelin, they do not leak as much as others can, probably thru the valve.

Worn rear tire make it easy to get a flat tire.

[Marks78]

'Ride On' tire sealant is supposed to be good stuff. Not sure if it is recommended for use in tubes though.

https://www.jpcycles.com/product/353-177/ride-on-motorcycle-tire-balancer-and-sealant?mrkgadid=3300286406&rkg_id=0&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Google+Shopping++Generic+-+Tires&product_id=353-177&utm_content=pla&adpos=1o1&creative=278867793257&device=c&matchtype=&network=g&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIlPPhtaTI4gIVXrjACh3yeQ6cEAQYASABEgI_jfD_BwE

[Don R]

 Pirelli heavy duty tubes are really thick. The one I used felt like a tire in a tire.

[Techmage916]

Thanks guys, was just kinda spitballing as i found out what i hit was a homemade caltrop.  News has been covering a story...some low-iq prankster is making garage-caltrops and leaving handfuls of them around in intersections in orangevale.  Not sure how to avoid devices specifically designed to destroy tires on a stealthy manner and there really isnt a way to avoid that whole area on my commute.  I guess i was just looking for some kind of preventative measure.

Needless to say, after missing 2 days from work, about 300 bucks worth of parts, the cost of a new helmet, and pain and sufferring.... i reckon if i ever run into the little punk that's responsible i owe him about a thousand dollar ass-whoopin. 

[pjlogue]

What is a caltrop?  Never heard of it/them.

-P.

[andy750]

Let me tell you about punctures on a CB750...
I have had many flats both front and rear, some at speed 2-up, some pulling out of a gas station. I got punctures riding in the UK/Mexico/USA/Isla of Man...I am just "lucky" I guess. I even got a rear tire puncture on the same stretch of highway (1-59 will forever be burned into my memory -see photo and rear wheel of my bike) 3 years apart! I woke up on morning at Devils Tower and had a flat tire and had to ride 20 miles to town to fix it 

I now have Michelin UHD (Ultra Heavy Duty) 4mm thick and Ride One Sealant on both my CB750s. No punctures since 2004. Hard to draw a strict correlation as many variables such as riding area is different than pre-2004. However it makes me feel better 

Good luck!
Andy