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Moonrunrs
Posted on Thursday, December 18, 2008 - 02:31 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I ran over a nail and have a slow leak in my rear tire.

I have one of the car tire plugging kits where you punch a larger hole in the tire, put the string covered in rubber cement in there and pull it out with the tool.

Will this work on a motorcycle tire? The tread on a bike tire is nowhere as deep as a car's. The tire is otherwise pretty new and I'd like to not replace if I can help it.

Thanks!
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Adamd
Posted on Thursday, December 18, 2008 - 03:38 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

It should, I usually ride with a cord plug and I put slime in just for an added security.
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Buell_bert
Posted on Friday, December 19, 2008 - 01:31 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I personally would buy a new one but a tire removal and real patch inside would be better. Heck it's your gamble not mine. Good Luck. I have plugged many car tires and had great luck but never plugged a bike tire. I suppose in a pinch just to get ya home at slow speed. Well if you do keep us updated.
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Kalifornia
Posted on Thursday, February 04, 2010 - 02:02 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

for future reference, shorten the plug so the handle can push it all the way thru the tire. And trim the remainder flush with the tire and just keep an eye on it. I've done 160mph with a plugged tire. And if you ever cut a tire, just fill the cut with shoe goo or rubber cement
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Ronbob43
Posted on Friday, February 05, 2010 - 08:50 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I had to take a drill to the rear tire on my 09 XB9XS so I could get the plug in 4,000 miles ago. This is not the first MC tire I have plugged and they all worked fine all the way to wear out.
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Reepicheep
Posted on Friday, February 05, 2010 - 10:56 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

This topic has been beat to death if you dig through the archives.

Opinions will vary. I will run a patched tire if the hole is small, there aren't signs of significant structural damage, and it has been removed and patched from the inside (a very non invasive patch).

Personally, I wouldn't drive a tire patched from the outside with those sticky rope things any further then "home so I can put on a new tire". Not so much because of the rope, but because you have to tear up the tire so much to get it in there. But as stated in these threads, others have done so and been fine.

Two important things to remember... First, the risk of patching a tire is low, but is not zero. Secondly, depending on circumstances, having a flat tire can be really really dangerous. When something fails, you won't know something is wrong until something is wrong and you are already in trouble. On a straight road and paying attention? An annoyance. On a hard curve leaned way over? The first sign of trouble may be the bike sliding off into the distance while you are looking at the grill of an oncoming SUV...

It almost always turns out fine ; )

(Note... I think Harbor Freight might be selling a "much less invasive" patch from the outside kit now... that might be another option to put into the mix)
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