Tyres, reliability, backup and plain stupidity.
I decided to see how the other half behave, and went to the Eeskape Waaldog Bash last weekend. After some trepidation as to who or what I'd be mixing with, I rode up with a group of fourteen other riders on mostly KTMs and Yamahas, and what a good bunch they turned out to be - every one of them....
From my perspective, the ride up was uneventful (others were not so lucky unfortunately), and the Bash was a well organised and, apart from one delinquent, a very civilised affair.
Anyway, I digress; this is not a ride report. I simply want to report two matters that affected me on this trip:
As the others in the group were planning to ride back home in two days, and since I am not of the working class, and have time to spare, I decided to return on my own at a more leisurely pace. This was lucky from the outset, because just 30km from the start of my return trip, my "Unstoppable" stopped, and since I was on my own, it didn't inconvenience the rest of the group. I knew immediately that I was paying penance for having gloated over the reliability of BMWs while one KTM in particular was having electrical "issues" on the way up. I also knew immediately what the problem was, and that there was nothing I could do about it with my comprehensive tool-kit and my aptitude for fiddling with things. I knew that the battery had suffered the same terminal illness that has been so prevalent with these bikes (pre 2010 F800GS).
So, it was time to get onto the phone. I had such faith in the reliability of the brand and/or my ability to "maak 'n plan" that I didn't even have the BMW-on-call number on my phone, so I had to use "Rhian-on-call" first - thank you Rhian. The one thing I hate more than being inconvenienced by something out of my control, is to have to inconvenience someone else myself. But what the hell, I paid for BMW-on-call, and I paid a considerable sum for what was supposed to be a reliable machine, so I was quite fired up to make sure the system worked for me, and quickly, even though it was Sunday.
The initial response that I got was that I would have to wait until Monday to receive assistance.... yeah right. I diplomatically explained that this was an incorrect perception, and that I would in fact be receiving assistance "forthwith". They saw my point, and although I requested a new battery, I received a tow-truck instead. Having to load one's Unstoppable, go-anywhere adventure bike onto the back of a truck is so undignified. So undignified in fact, that I wish to insult all of you with a photograph of this defilement.
Unstoppable
Anyway, the result of all of this was that; six hours later, I found myself at the gates of Continental Cars (and Motorrad) in Pee E, where I was assisted with a new battery by Paul, the workshop manager, who interrupted his Sunday afternoon festivities to help me.
So, the essence of what I'm trying to say is
- BMW, I expect 100% reliability. This is not a KTM.
- Had I been north of the border, this would have been a right royal pain in the rear end, since BMW assist extends only so far.
- BMW assist works... thank you.
- As is absolutely the norm, it seems, a BMW service agent came up trumps. Thank you Paul. I have yet to hear anything but happy stories about any or all of the BMW dealer/agents around the country.
The second matter that I wish to report on, is much more important, and I would like you all to sit up and listen. You need to learn from my mistake, or stupidity, or laziness, whatever you want to call it:
On Wednesday afternoon, having inflated my tyres in Swellendam for fast tar riding, I was sweeping through a fast, gentle bend at the top of the little pass between Bonnievale and Stormsvlei, when my front tyre suffered a blowout. My GPS says I was doing 125km/h at the time. It felt like I'd ridden into a diesel slick that I couldn't see, but I quickly realised what had happened. I managed to retain control, slowing gently with rear brake only, and it was only at the last moment, when I was almost stationary that I lost it, and dropped the bike - no real damage to bike or self.
Blowout
I believe the timing of this little event was extremely lucky. It could
have been messy if it had happened 10 seconds later where the twisties
start for real... or six hours earlier when I was rounding off my tyres
in Robinson Pass... or in Attakwas Kloof... or anywhere between
Riversdale and Sourvomit, where I was playing rather more than I should
have been. I was also lucky that the tyre remained quite neatly on the
rim.
The cause of the blowout... entirely my own stupid idiotic fault. I do
know better, but I had been riding with a patched tube, and the tube had somehow disintegrated beneath the patch, which was a large, good patch over the tiniest of punctures. I am anal about
tyre pressures, speed ratings, etc. etc. so there is no excuse for
this.
NEVER NEVER NEVER ride with a patched tube for any longer
than absolutely necessary. Insert a new one as soon as possible.
And here endeth the lesson.
Let that be a warning indeed. How long had you had that patch on for? And do you think it was the patch glue that caused the disintegration.
What I find worrying also, is that most places seem to stock the cheapest of cheap puncture repair kits (especially the glue refills and patches). You can just imagine some chinese factory pumping a gooey mix of expired paint stripper into tubes and labeling it as tyre glue.
A great read - brought a smile to my dial
one of my greatest fears is having a blow-out while in a corner or something. It was one of the things that stopped me enjoying the twisties when I first started riding.
Now I have more faith in my tubes.
However I've done 30,000kms and on my 3rd set of tyres. Should I changes my tubes? Is there any reason to?
Let that be a warning indeed. How long had you had that patch on for? And do you think it was the patch glue that caused the disintegration.
What I find worrying also, is that most places seem to stock the cheapest of cheap puncture repair kits (especially the glue refills and patches). You can just imagine some chinese factory pumping a gooey mix of expired paint stripper into tubes and labeling it as tyre glue.
I acquired the puncture during the Country Trax sand course last month, and probably rode about 3000km on the patched tube.
The tube was a heavy duty Kings (Chinese), the patch was one of a set that I purchased at Midas (excellent quality patches - not just bicycle patches). The vulcanising solution was donated by Gerhard at Klipbokkop - I don't recall the brand, but it was one of those white coloured tubes.
I've successfully patched dozens of punctures on bicycles, and 4x4s in darkest Africa, so I believe I am something of a dab hand at this, and I was quite pleased with the quality of this particular patch.
What appears to have happened in this case, Charles, is exactly as you suggest. The vulcanising solution seems to have reacted with the rubber compound in such a way as to make it almost crumble. The patch didn't lift off the tube. The tube simply disintegrated beneath it, and around it where I had smeared the glue:
Tube disintegration
one of my greatest fears is having a blow-out while in a corner or something. It was one of the things that stopped me enjoying the twisties when I first started riding.
Now I have more faith in my tubes.
However I've done 30,000kms and on my 3rd set of tyres. Should I changes my tubes? Is there any reason to?
Cloud, I think it is "good practice" to replace one's tubes whenever fitting new tyres. If they are still in (apparently) perfect condition, and haven't been removed and refitted at all between tyre replacements, you could probably reuse them in a second set of tyres, but I think a third is pushing it. Other's may well disagree.
Let's not compromise on tyre safety. It's really not worth it.
New tyre - new tube
Thanks for sharing this Isitututu , I would have been seriously cheesed off if you had been harmed, good thing you managed to control the bike so well it could have been much worse.
The same thing happened to that guy who rides with his dad and Hennie from the Shack with the multi couloured GS ( 1150 or 1200 ? ) . He had 5 worms in his tyre and they all came out at once when he was also doing high speed on tar , he said the bike careened violently from left to right across the road including leaving the road at times , he wore holes in his off -road boots trying to control the bike and can't remember if he fell at the last minute or not. Hearing that and now your story will make me very careful to ride further than is absolutely necessary with patches or worms in my tyres. This really is every biker's nightmare.
So do I change my tubes now? or wait till my next set of tyres?
I've never had a puncture or any other hassles. I've started to think I've got magic tubes.
I know the moment I replace em I'm gonna get punctures and stuff.
Murphy's law says that you will get a puncture right now because you thought about the possibility. So now, thanks to your thoughts and comments above, you will get a puncture no matter what you or don't do. So, save yourself some money and hassle, and wait for the inevitable... 
Cloud, simple philosophy, New tyre new tube, period. BUT DO GET QUALITY TUBES and don't mess about. As to which tube, there are more informed people on this forum than I to pass on this info. You will sleep better at night. Bottom line: it's your choice when to change the tubes.
Remember, the tyre is all there is between you and the road.
If I get a puncture now, I'm gonna blame Charles, not Murphy...
Gavin, I enjoyed your post, the puncture episode (close call) and the breakdown saga. This reminds me why I buy BMW bikes and yes, the quality after sales service.
The same thing happened to that guy who rides with his dad and Hennie from the Shack with the multi couloured GS ( 1150 or 1200 ? ) . He had 5 worms in his tyre and they all came out at once when he was also doing high speed on tar.....
Hearing that and now your story will make me very careful to ride further than is absolutely necessary with patches or worms in my tyres. This really is every biker's nightmare.
I think too few people have an intuitive or technical understanding of the forces involved in high speed tyre dynamics. You'd be amazed at the magnitude of the forces on a simple little "worm" when the wheel is rotating at 80 or 100 revolutions per second.
Like patched tubes, "worms" in tubeless tyres are nothing more than a temporary solution. To be riding at speed on a tyre with five worms in it is like playing Russian Roulette with five rounds in a revolver with a six round cylinder. Frankly, a tyre with five worms in it should be placed neatly in the garbage can at the first opportunity.
A tubeless tyre can be patched effectively provided there is no significant damage to the carcase, but I repeat, a worm is not an effective long-term patch. To patch a tubeless tyre, it needs to be removed from the rim, and a suitable mushroom plug inserted and applied to the puncture (after appropriate cleaning and scouring).
Mushroom plug
And just as new tube type tyres deserve new tubes, new tubeless tyres deserve new valves.
A sobering post indeed, Gavin - thanks for the heads-up, and well done for handling a front tyre blow-out at speed on a curve. I can imagine few more demanding mechanical failures on a bike. It's convinced me to replace my front tube just in case. (I dented the rim a while ago on a dirt road, and since then the front tyre has been losing pressure gradually, so maybe the tube was damaged slightly.)
I replace tubes with tyres and after punctures. I buy the thickest tube available as this tends to keep punctures at bay for longer.
So do I change my tubes now? or wait till my next set of tyres?
I've never had a puncture or any other hassles. I've started to think I've got magic tubes.
I know the moment I replace em I'm gonna get punctures and stuff.
How much are you prepared to pay for not having to sit on the side of the road? A new heavy duty is R300, a meal out is R100, having to say bye to your riding buddies or worse watch them seethe is priceless..
Cheaper than insurance, and not worth losing the no-claim bonus, not to speak of the nightmares you'll have for a while when shoulder meets tar, or an oncoming car..
Buy the tubes, laddie! Yes, now.
