Class to repair flats

[wilit]

I'm looking to start doing some BDR rides and I have never had to repair a flat on a dirt bike style wheel. Anyone have a suggestion for a class that can show me how it's done? I'm pretty handy, but don't know the tricks to breaking a bead off or how to work around the rim lock on a dirt bike style wheel.

Thanks

 

[N4teTheGreat]

I think they might have classes for this at Motoguild. I've learned the hard way via YouTube and helping a buddy fix a flat on his F800 gs on the side of the road... twice since my patch didn't hold the first time. I also do all the tire changes on my dual sport to ensure I remain in practice should I ever end up with a flat. Int fact, that'll be my Tuesday evening assuming my new tires arrive today.

 

[ScottRNelson]

There are many good YouTube videos that can teach you what you need to know.

I have changed many tires for my XR650L. Unfortunately my pinched tube rate seems to be a little higher than 50%. I know the right way to do it, but manage to screw it up anyway. I have all of the right tools.

I have finally admitted to myself that I will never be doing true adventure riding, mainly because I hate camping and don't really like multi-day motorcycle trips even with a good hotel. So I'll likely have Cycle Gear install all future tires for me.

The last time I had to fix a flat on the road, I didn't have my tire tools with me, so bummed a ride on the back of another XR650L the 20 miles back to my house, grabbed my extra rear tire already mounted and ready to go, and just swapped the whole wheel. But I was able to do all of that with the tools I was carrying with me.

 

[Butch]

Staff. I used to be young and poor. Now I need staff for that shit.

 

[HeatXfer]

I think Moto Guild only covers tire machine classes, call to find out (415) 624-3795. Looks a bit pricey, but then I'm a cheap-skate.

YouTube does have TONS of dirt bike/ADV trail repair & flat repair videos. Watch a few of those to get an idea of what you'll need on the trail. The skills will come, but carrying the proper tools will save you a LOT of grief on the trail, specially if you're going it alone. Of course watch the myriad of BDR videos, if you haven't already.

 

[SFMCjohn]

I dread picking up a nail or thorn because it always takes me hours to fix a flat …

some pics:

a thorn in Baja resulted in multiple flats, because we couldn’t find it in the tire …

Mr oobus, psyched for me …

100 deg F fix in Upper Lake … a screw at the gas station. this was the same trip as the flat-front pic, so lots of bad luck with nails and screws.

real motorcycle guys get lots of practice because they install new tires on their dirt bikes themselves—I pay a shop to do it because I’m lazy.

I try to start out epic ADV and Baja rides on new tires with brand-new heavy-duty 4 mil hopefully-real-rubber tubes, the most expensive I can find, and never run less than 20 lbs pressure front and rear.

I rely a lot on Murphy’s Corollary (if you have it, you won’t need it), and make sure to ride with front/rear standard tubes, a small compressor and mini bicycle pump, new patch kit, a bar of soap to make soapy water rim/bead lube, and necessary tools. and a few HD zip ties suitable for trying to hold a flat rear to the rim for maybe a slow ride out.

bead breaking and bead setting never seems to be a problem on the relatively small dual-sport bikes I ride. with tubes, I don’t worry much if I can’t pump the tire up enough to “pop” the bead—usually riding it a few hundred yards with a little soapy water lube does the trick.

have had a total failure of technique/cold weather, where I simply could not get a rear D606 back on the rim on the side of the dirt road. fortunately we had another bike and a real motorcycle guy in a warm motel room back up the road a bit … that drama added a whole day to that trip.

my dual-sport bikes don’t have rim locks because I guess they expect me not to be running low air pressure, but strangely my ‘73 Tiger does have rim locks:

anyway … wrt the OP question—Mr neduro, of privateer Dakar fame, had a class on flat-fixing scheduled for this year’s n00bs Rally in Death Valley, and none of the 200 guys there showed up for it.

 

[N4teTheGreat]

In related news, just slapped a new D606 on the rear of my DRZ yesterday, required one beer and some choice words and I my collection of injuries suggests that doing this all on the sidewalk in front of my garage isn't great, but I at least know that I'll be able to swear my way to a flat fix on the trail if / when it happens. I also never run lower than 18psi because I really don't wanna fix a flat trailside.

 

[Dmitriy]

Come down to Santa Clara and I can show you.

Or show up to any of the Stonybarf's or a D36 race.

Or Hollister on the weekend.

 

[OaklandF4i]

Take Dima up on his offer, or join us at a Stonybarf. Lots in our group who are very good, efficient at it, and willing to show you how.

I remember Kalle having a flat on his KLR back a couple years ago at the Hawthorn NV rally. I helped him change it in the parking lot that evening in front of a... cough... slightly inebriated heckling crew of street bike riding onlookers who gave us less then a 20% probability of success.

In less than 20 minutes we had the wheel removed, and successfully installed a new tube with no stand, no big shop irons, just trail tools. You'd think we had just performed black magic in front of them.

Edit: if you want a list of the tools I use on the trail, and tricks learned from others on our various adventures, just let me know.

For extra credit, ask what Dima's preferred tool to straighten rims on the side of a road or trail in Baja is.

 

[N4teTheGreat]

I'm lazy, I always carry one big iron in my saddle bags, cuts down on the number of swears required to get the job done

 

[planegray]

When I start duel sporting I'm just gonna pack one of these