Flat Tyre

[Hunners]

I have only had my 1200GS for a month and this morning I found I had a flat rear tyre. When inspecting the tyre it had two small bits of metal in different places.

Two questions:

1. I am going to France touring at the begining of July and am now worried about flat tyres. Is there anything I can take with me that is small enough to carry in my panniers, but will get me out of trouble if I get a flat?

2. My insurance company and BMW would only recover my bike 10-15 miles, but there isn't anybody local (Southend) dealers that have BMW R1200GS tyres in stock. They both suggested I paid extra to recover the bike to a dealer that could do the job. Any body have any suggestions on a way round this issue?

[marc]

Don't know the laws in your neck of the woods. Here I'd use the plug kit that I have on the bike to plug the tire and be on my way. I might lose 30-45 minutes. The the choice then becomes to keep riding on a plugged tire (I've done that), remove the tire from the wheel and plug/patch from the inside when you get home (I've done that), or replace the tire (I've done that, too).

BMW makes a kit. The downside is that the plugs are fat and if the hole isn't you have to make the hole bigger so the plugs won't tear. I keep the BMW plugs on the bike in case I get a fat hole. String plugs are good for most holes. I keep those on the bike, too. A friend keeps the dynaplug system on his bike.
I do NOT like the Stop-n-go mushroom type plugs... they sometimes don't work.

Examples of some the various types of plugs can be seen at Best Tire Plug Kit

[ca1ic0cat]

For the "fix it on the road" bit, plugs will work but I carry a mini pump rather than CO2 cylinders.

As far as getting the existing flat fixed, it's easy enough to get the rear wheel off the bike. Put the bike on the center stand. Take the "mud flap" off - three torx screws, then take the five wheel screws out and pretty much slide the wheel out the back. It's a trick to get it to clear the license plate but it's doable. It saves money at the dealer if you show up with the wheel rather than the whole bike. Plus it should fit in the boot of the car.

[portablejohn]

Here is a good youtube video on changing tires on a gs on the road:

YouTube - ‪BMW R1200GS rear tire change‬‏

John

[Hunners]

Thanks for the advice, it has been very helpful.

[Bruce H]

I picked up a 16penny duplex nail on a ride into northern California a couple of weeks ago. I had a stop and go plugger and Best Rest pump but the nail penetrated next to a steel chord so the plug wouldn't seal. I'd ride a few miles and then pump some more air in the ride again. In the next town I found a service station with a bigger pump and re-plugged the tire, still leaking, So, called someone to get me, long night, home about 3 am.

Next day I picked up a kit with black gooey strings and what looked like a knitting needle. You looped the string thru the needle, pushed it into the tire, rotated one and a half turns and pulled it out then cut off the needle.

I aired up the tire and it held air the rest of the weekend until I could get a new tire on Monday.

Before trying the string I would have laughed at it however it just might have gotten me home when the stop and go didn't. I now have both on the bike.