I learned a valuable tip after a high speed blow-out on the rear tire. At first the bike started to wander around the road with steering corrections helping at first. As the tire lost almost all it's pressure, steering corrections did not help and at about 75 MPH the rear end started to rapidly swap from left to right as the air empty tire casing started to first roll to the right and then to the left of the rim. At this point I could not stay on the bike so I dismounted in the highway median and let the bike continue on.

Shortly, a sportster rider came to my rescue and I told him what happened. He said that if I had applied full rear brake, the casing would not have started swaping from side to side and steering control could have been maintained.

Tip: when the rear tire goes, apply full rear braking and steer to the side of the road.

I Haven't had to use this technique since, but the sportsrer rider said it worked for him. Any comments?

Make it go loud, conecuh

I take the following from the MSF Basic RiderCourse.....


"........If a puncture should occur, maintain a firm hold on the handgrips, but do not fight the steering to correct any wobble or weave that can develop. Avoid downshifting and braking until speed is low and under control. If traffic permits, slow gradually and move off to the side of the road. If braking is necessary, use the brake on the good tire. Using the brake on the wheel with the bad tire can cause the tire to separate from the rim, and this can cause immediate loss of control. Be aware that integrated braking systems don't allow "rear brake only" application and linked braking systems do not allow any single brake operation............"

When you realized the rear tire was losing pressue, you should have layed off the throddle and began slowing with the front brake, pulling to the side of the road when slow and safe.

Conecuh,


Where are my manners, just noticed this was your first post to the forum...............:welcome :welcome :welcome

To Brake or not to Brake. We have two different opinions. Can we have more feedback on this one.??? ( I'm soooooo confused ) :tour

We'll look at it from an engineering standpoint..........


You have a tire going flat or already flat on a rim, doesn't matter front or rear. When you apply the brakes to the rim which has the flat tire, the rim stops turning. However, the rubber of the tire, because of friction between it and the road surface, continues to grab. Thus, the rubber tire, because of friction and its no longer being allowed to turn with the rim, will be ripped from the rim, leading to loss of control of the bike. The bike is now cutting into the road with the rim. Serious injury or death can result.

My experience, as well as the information presented in the MSF course, both bring me to understand that braking should occur to the good tire. Just as with a car, lay off the gas, slow the vehicle, pull to the side of the road when safe and far enough to be safe, turn on your flashers, and seek aid.

I will save you the story of a near death experience ,only saying thank you again to an unknown trucker for running interference for me in heavy traffic.
If you do as instructed in the MSF course instructions,I feel you will have a better chance of survival,or at least I stayed upright.
If the flat tire breaks bead there you loose all controle.
It is hard sometime for common sense to override the effects of the pucker factor,but if you can manage that,you find that instinct kicks in.
I always tell my wife : Hang on,this could be bad.
Don

at about 75 MPH the rear end started to rapidly swap from left to right ...... At this point I could not stay on the bike so I dismounted in the highway median and let the bike continue on.

I know you're new so I won't rag on ya but.... you are one lucky dude.

IMHO I would think that applying full brake to the rear at 75 MPH would not be a very good idea with or without a flat tire.

In this situation I believe I would try to go with the MSF advice and try to coast to a lower speed before applying any brake to the flat tire as long as there was no obstacle in front of me.

Conecuh,
I'm glad you survived your experience and brought this topic up.

I had a similar experience a couple of years ago. I ran over a piece of road debris that a cage had kicked into my lane. I had an immediate deflation of the rear tire at around 80 mph in the fast lane in full rush hour traffic. I had just cleared a toll plaza and there was no left shoulder available, so while coasting and trying to keep the bike under control I had to get across 3 lanes of traffic to get to the very narrow right shoulder. Unfortunately I wasn't able to get over in time to make the last exit from the toll road and had to park the bike as close as possible to the wall on the shoulder and wait for help to arrive. Traffic speeding by at 70-80 mph almost blew the bike into the wall while it was on the sidestand & several vehicles that weren't paying attention almost clipped it as they passed. All I could do was hop over the wall and watch nervously. I called a friend with a trailer to come rescue me but had to wait over an hour in the lovely Texas summer heat (no shade) for him to get across town. I called the toll road authority to report the bike being just out of traffic's way and after about 30 minutes a Sheriff's department car came along and blocked the lane and waited with me until the trailer arrived (he got out of his car and waited over the wall too). The Deputy put his car across two lanes when the trailer arrived so we could get the bike loaded and be on our way.

Things I've learned from this:

1. Leave the brakes alone in a flat tire situation. It's probably one of the scariest things to have happen, but hitting the brake will compound your problem. Braking could cause the tire bead to come off the wheel and it could get tangled up with the swingarm or fender and lock the wheel up - your control is gone at that point. 20 years ago I had a chain break and do just that at 50-60mph (have the scars to prove it). The side-to-side swapping of a flat tire is unpredictable enough even at low speeds, braking could make it worse.
2. If your vehicle becomes disabled on a highway - get away from it!
3. Law officers are your best friend when your vehicle is stranded near the road. Call them and let them know you're there.
4. Carry a cell phone - I hate them probably as much as anybody, but in a situation like that they can be your savior.
5. Carry a phone list of several towing services in your area...don't rely on HOG or AMA, they're good organizations but not always the fastest to respond. If you have friends with trucks or trailers, keep their numbers handy. I've hauled a lot of friends bikes over the years and you never know when you may need to call in a favor.
6. I carry a set of cycle tie-downs in my saddlebags and in my truck for emergency use. If you drive a pick-up truck you should stop if you see a disabled bike on the road, I have picked up several bikes for strangers over the years and made some good friends in the process. "What goes around, comes around"

I'm sorry of this got a bit long-winded... :sorrysign

1. Stay off the brake!
2. Stay on the bike!
3. Focus on steering until safely stopped!
4. Have tire repaired!
5. Drink beer!
6. Drink more beer!

1. Stay off the brake!
2. Stay on the bike!
3. Focus on steering until safely stopped!
4. Have tire repaired!
5. Drink beer!
6. Drink more beer!
You for got one Billy.
7. Clean underware

Hey Cobra,

It might just be me but I would move clean underware to at least 5 :laugh . I prefer to be clean when I start drinking.

Hey Cobra,

It might just be me but I would move clean underware to at least 5 :laugh . I prefer to be clean when I start drinking.

Good point.

BigJim said:
If you drive a pick-up truck you should stop if you see a disabled bike on the road, I have picked up several bikes for strangers over the years and made some good friends in the process. "What goes around, comes around"

collinsb said:
5. Drink beer!
6. Drink more beer!

I had a front tire go down a few weeks ago (blew out the tube). I didn't realize it until I tried to hang a corner and almost dumped it. Coasted to a stop on the side of the road in a town 45 miles from home. No cell phone. Seriously bummed.
An old-timer in a pick-em-up pulled up. We loaded the bike in the back and him and his old lady drove me all the way back home.
After we got the bike unloaded, I thanked them with many beers as we swapped stories, him about his old panhead and me, my sporty.
They wouldn't accept any money ( I tried to pay them for their time & effort).
His only words were "What goes around, comes around. You see a biker in trouble, you pass it on."

I don't think they read this forum, but, "Thanks again guys ( you know who you are) and I will pass it on."

I know I kinda hi-jacked the thread :o , but I had to share my experience and the flat tire issue brought it foward.

Since then, I've always carried my tools ( I usually didn't if I was staying close to home) and even thought of getting rid of my pos suv and getting a beat-up old pick-up. :)

A blast from the past, good topic.:wonderlan

: Mike :tour

1. Stay off the brake!
2. Stay on the bike!
3. Focus on steering until safely stopped!
4. Have tire repaired!
5. Drink beer!
6. Drink more beer!

Best advice, in my opinion. Unless you are a tequila person, like me. Then drink tequila.

I wonder what the record is for the most ancient thread dredged up....

This one is close to 4 years old....even since the last reply....:doh

I wonder what the record is for the most ancient thread dredged up....

This one is close to 4 years old....even since the last reply....:doh


And... The original poster has only one post and has not been on here in over three years.

Despite being an old thread, it is still a valid question. Prevention is the first thing to do. Check tire pressure, replace old or worn out tires, stay far behind the car ahead of you so you can see and avoid road debris. I like to ride wherever I can to stay as far away from other cars for the extra room. Not always possible because I spend a lot of time on 5 and 6 lane highways.

A flat tire is a real test of your riding skills. Your reactions have to be instinctual, you probably won't have any time to think. I don't think there is any one answer.

As soon as you feel anything unusual, get the bike slowed down. If it is a slow leak, you may have enough time to get on BOTH brakes as quickly as possible to scrub off as much speed as quickly as possible. But the assumption is there is enough air pressure to keep the tire on the rim. You will have to decide when to release either brake to maintain control.

You have to decide which tire is going down. If the rear tire is going down, staying hard on the front brake may actually help to keep the bike under control because you can get a lot of the weight off the back tire. If the front tire is going down, I would probably try to slide backward as much as possible on the seat and use the rear brake only to scrub off speed.

If you don't think you can keep the bike under control, lock up the rear brake to force the rear end to slide to one side, lay the bike down and try to fall on the bike and stay on it as it slides down the road. Problem with that idea, you may well get pitched off the bike and into the air. If that happens, the question becomes how good is your helmet and riding gear.

If either tire blows out instantly, completely and without warning, about all you will be able to do is hold on for as long as possible.

Once again, I make up my own rules to fit the situation. I have never blown a tire on a street bike, but I can't remember how many flat tires I have had on dirt bikes.

If you don't think you can keep the bike under control, lock up the rear brake to force the rear end to slide to one side, lay the bike down and try to fall on the bike and stay on it as it slides down the road. Problem with that idea, you may well get pitched off the bike and into the air. If that happens, the question becomes how good is your helmet and riding gear.




I don't care who you are or what you ride..thats the worst idea i've ever heard....let alone on the highway or any two lane road with big cars and trucks dodging you at highway speeds.

Kinda reminds me of that hollywood bullshit you see on some kinda Wild Hogs movie...:doh


Front tire air loss is particularly dangerous because it will make your motorcycle difficult to steer. Shift your weight as far back as possible when the front tire loses air pressure.


Expect the back of the motorcycle to lurch from side to side if the rear tire starts to go flat. Stay seated as you are.

Hold the hand grips tightly and concentrate on steering. Maintain as straight a course as possible. THIS IS THE KEY..

Gradually apply the brake on the tire that is not flat (provided you're sure which one that is). Wait until the motorcycle slows way down, then edge toward the side of the road and stop.

I don't care who you are or what you ride..thats the worst idea i've ever heard....let alone on the highway or any two lane road with big cars and trucks dodging you at highway speeds.


I didn't mean to imply it was a good idea, only a last resort to prevent to getting thrown off the bike at speed.

I didn't mean to imply it was a good idea, only a last resort to prevent to getting thrown off the bike at speed.

Sorry Man..

I have to seriously question your thought process on that..or maybe just your riding skills....:laugh :p

lay the bike down and try to fall on the bike and stay on it as it slides down the road.

Sounds like something I saw in a cartoon once...:laugh:laugh:laugh

I've twice had a rear tyre go down on me.

The first was many years ago, on an RD250 with tubed tyres. Doing about 80, the handlebars gave a little wobble, followed a second later by the rear of the bike fishtailing wildly. I throttled off and hung on, not touching any brake lever, and eventually came to a stop, still upright, and very relieved.

The second time was on my Sporty (on tubeless tyres), again doing about 80. The bike went into a gentle weave, which I at first thought was due to cross-winds. The wobble carried on, so I eased off the throttle and pulled in to the side of the road. I got off the bike and saw that the rear tyre was totally flat. I must have ridden about a mile like that. :wonderlan

I have no idea what to recommend doing when you get a flat. If the bike really starts to flail about, I reckon whether you stay on or not is down to a combination of instinct, luck and hanging on for grim death.

I've never had a front tyre blow out, and I'd prefer not to...

My biggest fear is having the tire bead come out of the rim during a flat, I am afraid that if the tire comes off the rim at speed (front or rear) your going down, no questions asked. All else can be dealt with by just closing the throttle and hanging on.

: Mike