Flat!

There is nothing more frustrating than getting a flat with your motorcycle...There is...getting a flat with your motorcycle at 9:30 at night with no tools, no flat kit. On Thursday night, I went out to dinner with Aniko. As we were leaving I noticed the bike felt wobbly. We got off the bike and I inspected the rear tire and noticed a nice big screw in the middle of it and most of the air out. At this point all I can think about is where the heck is the nearest gas station. We are in the city where the existence of a gas station is few and far from in between. I asked a stopped cab and he said at the end of East 23rd Street. We were at 27th (about half a mile away) so it didn't sound too bad. Not until I started pushing a nearly 500 lbs of iron with a flat rear tire. I did this for about 2 blocks...I really did not want to ride the bike with a flat. At the end I opted to ride it or we will be doing this all night. I told Aniko to meet me at the station.

I slowly rode the bike to the gas station and wheeled it over to the air pump. The gas attendant offered to fix the flat and I went ahead and have him do it. After 10 minutes of working on the tire, I fill the tire with air. I got on the bike and notice that it is again flat. We tried putting more air on the bike thinking perhaps I didn't put in enough the first time. Although I am skeptical because I used an air gauge to make sure there was enough. I told Aniko to jump on the bike quickly and see if we can make it across the river in enough time before the tire goes flat again. That was a bad move, the extra weight simply caused more air too leak...I stopped the bike again and asked Ani to take a cab home while I try to limp back.

I rode the next several blocks to the tunnel slowly hoping the leak will abate. No such luck! I remembered that I bought a can of fix-a-flat back at the gas station foolishly thinking it would fix the flat but never used it. By this time, I was a block from the tunnel. I figure, the air in the can would be enough to get me over to Queens. I proceeded to use the fix-a-flat. While trying to pump the tire, the contents of the can started leaking out of the air valve. I must have damaged it somehow riding the tire flat. Anyway, I went ahead and finished the can anyway while this fluffy stuff got all over the tire.

I started my way to the tunnel. The ride in the tunnel didn't feel too bad. The fix-a-flat must have helped a little bit. I knew that once I got of the tunnel, there are at least three gas stations that I can go to to refill the tire. This will give me at least 10 minutes before the tire goes flat again. Just enough time to get me home. I limped some more to the nearest gas station and filled the tire one final time. I head on home where I found Aniko waiting for me at the front of the house. I rode the bike to the garage where it currently is resting from what seems like a very long night.

On Saturday I went into the garage to check out the problem further. I pumped up the tire and heard a leak. I used soapy water to help me figure out the source of the leak. Remember I thought the leak was coming out of the valve. Well, it is really coming out of the two spokes nearest to the valve, one on each side.

I have not resolved whether I will fix the flat myself or just bring it to a tire repair shop. I already bought a new rear tire, the recommended Metzeler Z2, from Ron Ayers for $129 plus $14 for shipping. If I do decide to do this myself, I would have to buy several tools and it seems like a lot of work. It would probably be cheaper to take it to a pro.

This experience is definitely a wake up call to make sure that I have the proper tooks with me even on a short ride. I ride to work whenever I can and I never bring any tool or patch kit. This gave me the kick in the butt to go shop for some tools that I can take with me and a patch kit. The following day I picked up the following:

• CruzTools RoadTech™ M3


• Bell Powersports Dr. Fill Motorcycle CO2 Pump and Refills


• A flat repair kit
  

I hope not to repeat this experience. However, if it does happen again, I will be better prepared.