Advice On Tubes

[traumapirate]

I’m planning a road trip from the Texas Gulf Coast to the Bay Area in California taking mostly back roads and forest roads. Is it worth the space to take a replacement tube for for each tire or just bring a patch kit?

John
2016 Tiger 800 XCA

 

[Rocky]

Let's hope the Tiger/adventure riders jump in on this one. I'm a "pavement only" guy.

 

[Greyfell]

That's going to be an interesting, even without problems with tires/chains/belts/etc.

 

[Qship]

I would carry the spare tubes. Sometimes tubes aren't repairable, and the roadside fix would be quicker.

 

[Red Dog]

I use to carry only the front tube. The thought being you could stuff a 21" tube into the smaller rear tire and get yourself to someplace to have things correctly done. Don't forget tire irons: I believe it's Motion Pro that sells tire irons with box wrenches on one end for the axle nuts.

A trick I learned from DRRiders is to put sealant into the tubes before you have a puncture (aka, pre-sliming). Don't use Slime though, there much better products out there. As an added bonus, the sealant dynamically balances your tires every time you ride.

 

[nickjaxe]

I use to carry only the front tube. The thought being you could stuff a 21" tube into the smaller rear tire and get yourself to someplace to have things correctly done. Don't forget tire irons: I believe it's Motion Pro that sells tire irons with box wrenches on one end for the axle nuts.

A trick I learned from DRRiders is to put sealant into the tubes before you have a puncture (aka, pre-sliming). Don't use Slime though, there much better products out there. As an added bonus, the sealant dynamically balances your tires every time you ride.

Have you figured out how you would get the wheel off or the wheel in the air.

I carry a bottle of tube type slime and a small neat 12v compressor....oh and 5 very small CO2 cartridges.

 

[Red Dog]

I had a center stand on the bike. It is a given the it would only on a sturdy surface, or some way to may it sturdy. Most dirt back roads and Forest Service service roads generally were firm enough.

The front wheel is a bit tricky - a friend is helpful here - as you have to carefully lower the forks to the ground. The rear came of quite easily. There are also a number of jack braces out just for holding the bike to remove and install either wheel.

However, pre-sliming the tubes is a much better solution. It really takes a large hole for the sealant not to work. Sidewalls, of course, are another matter. You blow a sidewall, tube or not and most sealants will tell they don't work for sidewall blowouts.

Only once did I have to go throw the replace the tube routine. It was a bitch! Breaking the bead took forever. I believe the ordeal lasted a good 2 - 2 1/2 hours. By then my friend and I were exhausted and sweaty.

The OP mentioned back roads and forest roads. Carry a tube, tire irons, and a small 12v air compressor (with an SAE plug) just in case, pre-slime the tubes and I personally would be good to go, and not worry.

 

[shanered6]

I rode enduro for years and repaired all my punctures road and track side , the only time i ever used a new tube was if it had necked the valve .
But with the tiger not having tyre stops fitted i think a spare front and rear tube would be a good idea , its always better to be safe than sorry .