I also had a rear tire break away from the rim at around 50mph. I was lucky enough to keep it up until I was able to stop. Mine was cause by a 3" cut in the tire. There was 1 bike ahead of me and 1 behind me neither I nor the other riders saw me hit anything. Rapid loss of pressure is most likely the cause of your accident.

 

40 is right on the money!!!!!!

 

Glad you are O.K. New bike looks good. Get well and take it easy.

 

Some good reading thru all these posts, hopefully I will never be able to share a story like this. Gotta go, have to check my pressures now !

 

My orthopedic Dr certified me "good to go" this past Monday!! No more return visits or physical therapy!! He said I can do anything I feel like doing (He said to just be careful and don't break anything else!! That was good advice!!). So, after 12 weeks and 1 day, I am officially recovered from my accident back on March 11! Broken clavicle, 8 broken ribs and dislocated shoulder all healed! I also have over 1,000 miles on my new 2012 Ultra Limited too. Taking it to the dealer tomorrow for the first service!

 

Glad to hear you're healed and back on bike. I use Metzler tires and run 42psi on rear tire, but I change them out before I hit 10K on them (maybe get a little more mileage on front tire). It's just one of those things that I always change out no matter what, just for my peace of mind. I remember my local parts guy at HD said that Dunlops are used by Harley because they don't separate at highway speeds when they go flat, I still changed out to Metz.

 

Isn't it also recommended that the tires be changed if they are over 5 years old...regardless of tread life left?

I just bought an 07 Softail Custom and it only had 4700 miles on it but according to the manufacture date of the tire they were made in the 40th week of 2006.

jimclaypool.... glad to see you are healed up and riding again!