Hey guys, newb needing some help here. I found my bike (48) in the garage with a flat front tire this morning. I am little irked since Ive only had the bike for couple months. I was wondering if this is something I could fix or do I need to get the bike to the shop. I took a quick look and I didnt find anything stuck in the tire. Is it wise to use can of fix a flat? After work I will pump the tire up to see how long it will hold air. Any suggestion is welcome.

 

You have only two tires on a bike. If something goes wrong while riding it, you have a potential deadly situation on your hands. I would at least take the wheel of and bring it in some place to get it checked out. Sorry about your luck.

 

Really, you don't know how to remove the front tire? A jack, couple of wrenches, set of tire irons, a new tube ($20).

 

I would pump it up and take it to a shop to get it checked out. last thing you want is a flat and not be close to anything.

Also i would be keeping a close eye on it and drive nice and slow. if it gets flat stop and pump it back up or you could be look at a new one.

 

I would get some fix a flat spray, air up the tire. and ride to a shop and have them check it out if you are uncomfortable with taking it apart yourself. only take it easy on the road, fix a flat is not designed to be a go all out fix, just a temporary "take it easy" and get to a shop fix.

 

I've tried it a few times, and every single time it's a huge pain in the ***. Sportbike and dirtbike tires are easy, but these cruiser tires are not worth the trouble. I find I save money by paying someone else $20 to do it and I can get back to working.

 

I do NOT recommend Fix-A-Flat for anything other than an emergency. That stuff makes a god awful mess inside the tire/wheel and will likely cost you more money in labor for cleaning out that crap when you take the wheel in to get it fixed. If you have spoked (wire) wheels, then you have a tube and Fix A Flat isn't likely to fix that anyway, it's made for tubeless tires.

Get a air pump or compressor and refill the tire, and then see if you can find the cause.

If you want something to use inside the tire that helps prevent flats on tubeless tires, get some "Ride On".

 

Fill the tire. Take a spray bottle with soapy water in it. I use dish liquid.
Take the cap off the valve stem. Spray it. When you spray the leaky spot it will make bubbles. Work your way around the whole tire. I just found a screw in my rear tire with the head worn off this way. It was a very slow leak so the bubbles were tiny. Look closely.

 

It never occur to me these things had inner tubes. Thats why I am a newb. I may have to invest in some equipment in the future. The wheels need not be rebalanced? Its been very, very rare occurance to have a flat in my car so I assumed motorcycle tires were just as robust. I am now thinking of getting extra set of wheels.

 

Flat tires on motorcycles aren't really anymore common than they are on cages, the difference is that you don't have a spare on the trunk if it does happen. I haven't had a flat on the bike in over 80,000 miles (knock on wood).

But, a nail/screw in your tire is a bigger problem if you have wire spoked wheels because you have to remove the tube and patch or replace it. With tubeless tires on cast wheels, you can plug the tire on the bike, air it back up, and be on your way.