By Mike Lavelle
I have written in years past regarding motorcycle trips out and about in the southwest. One important aspect to going on a trip is to be prepared for mishaps. One of these mishaps is a flat tire.
Recently, I got a flat on the first ride on a new rear tire. Flats happen. My last flat was on a trip through Lake Roosevelt, on the way to Sedona. It was, of course, in a remote area with no gas or repair stations close by. Fortunately, it was not at night in the rain by the side of a crowded freeway, on a holiday, in a bad part of town.
Accordingly, I like to carry a tire repair kit with me. It is recommended that such a kit is only a temporary repair to get home or to a place to replace your tire. I have found two kits that I carry (I squirrel them under my seat). Some bikes will have more room and can carry larger inflator pumps and such.
The two that I carry are the DynaPlug and the Stop and Go. I carry both as they are small but seem to work on different size holes.
Both flats were big holes. The first one was from a 4” nail and the recent one was a short but thick wood screw. The short wood screw did more damage than the nail, perhaps because the nail was smooth.
I attempted to repair the rear tire with the DynaPlug, but it was too small, and did not hold air. I could have tried to use multiple plugs, but decided to try the Stop and Go, as I have not used it before, and the plugs are larger and look like they would be more effective.
I used the DynaPlug and it holds air with a very slow leak, but only long enough to get to a better place, home, or a repair shop, as was the case with my first motorcycle flat (no flats in over 40 years on a motorcycle, and then two in 4 years – both in rear tires). For a car, I would recommend the Stop and Go, even over the sticky string versions. However, I carry both the string and Stop and Go plugs in both cars. (I also carry chargeable inflators in each car (to me, easier than running a cord from your cigarette lighter), a lithium power supply to start a dead battery (they are small enough to carry), and, of course, a car and personal first aid kit).
Additionally, squirreled away also under my motorcycle seat, is a portable mini tire inflator and I also have 4 CO2 cartridges and an Antigravity Micro-Start “Sport” power supply. Somehow, I am able to fit this under the seat with a Leatherman, some basic tools, and a small first aid kit.
