Rear Puncture

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Buzby
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Rear Puncture

Just got to 2000m miles then get a puncture square centre on the tread. Any comments on how best to tackle this:

1) Sealing gunk
2) New tyre - if so same/differnet brand?
3) Any notes on tyre removal - the manual is pretty hopeless, even the new one!

Thanks!

sgmdudley
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Re: Rear Puncture

There is a lot of information regarding punctures in tires on motorcycles.
The main thing is, you only have two wheels and no spare. Most of the comments
about patching or plugging are to get you to a motorcycle shop (at slow speed)
to have a new tire installed. I have read a lot of reports from riders that
had to spend $200 to replace a new $200 tire. They say "Can you afford to take
a chance?"

Robert Dudley
E-Scoot Tech

ratwerks
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Re: Rear Puncture

Hey Raymond,

I always plug clean punctures in the tread on my motorcycles and ride the plugged tires until they wear out. I have never had a problem doing this over the course of 30 years and hundreds of thousands of miles. Lots of folks will warn against this practice, some with dire predictions of doom. My opinion is that if I were really that risk averse I would not be on a motorcycle in the first place. Plug kits (most are no longer plugs, but some sort of gummy yarn) are available at any auto parts store, no need to look for special motorcycle stuff.

HTH

-- JR

Vectrix 2007 > 5,000 miles
Stokemoney/Xtracycle 2008

moccasin
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Re: Rear Puncture

My opinion is that if I were really that risk averse I would not be on a motorcycle in the first place.

I agree. The likelyhood of a plug failure is about the same as ripping another hole in the same tire with another nail or screw, and the results are the same both ways. No reason to ditch a perfectly good tubeless tire for a small puncture wound. Cord plugs also allow for an easy fix without removing bike parts.

kevin smith
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Re: Rear Puncture

green slime works every time .!!

dogman
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Re: Rear Puncture

If you are a belt and suspenders kinda guy, do a plug and the slime. I've run plugs on truck tires for amazing lengths of time. The green slime works real well too, and I recomend it. The slime will keep you from going flat till you get somewhere for sure. Sometimes if a large hole ends up at the top, air can still leak while the thing is parked, but fill with air, spin it, and you are ok again.

Be the pack leader.
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24 volt sla + nicad EV Global

Buzby
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Re: Rear Puncture

Thanks all - I'll go the slime route first, then move onto plugs if this doen;t work. I'm still annoyed I don't have a centre stand, which would make tyre maintenance much much easier, but they're still in standards certification.... for a stand? Makes you wonder how they ever got the bike out before 2020.

For reference, how easy/difficult is a rear tyre change on the VX1? The old and new owners manual is pretty light on anything regarding this most basic of function, and I'd hate to be caught unawares!

- Raymond

Mik
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Re: Rear Puncture

Thanks all - I'll go the slime route first, then move onto plugs if this doen;t work. I'm still annoyed I don't have a centre stand, which would make tyre maintenance much much easier, but they're still in standards certification.... for a stand? Makes you wonder how they ever got the bike out before 2020.

For reference, how easy/difficult is a rear tyre change on the VX1? The old and new owners manual is pretty light on anything regarding this most basic of function, and I'd hate to be caught unawares!

The main difficulty is that the rear wheel cannot be balanced with standard equipment.

This information may be used entirely at your own risk.

There is always a way if there is no other way!

moccasin
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Re: Rear Puncture

The main difficulty is that the rear wheel cannot be balanced with standard equipment.

A lot of DIY cruiser riders don't even bother to balance tires anymore. Most motorcycle tires come with a red or yellow dot on the tire somewhere. This is a balance dot and should be located as close to the air valve as possible. In many cases, unless you're into high speed performance, that's all that's necessary.

When properly mounted, I doubt that a Vectrix tire would need any additional balancing, or if it did, you likely wouldn't be able to tell the difference.

Wotnopetrol
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Re: Rear Puncture

My rear wheel is unbalanced now that I've had it off and back on. It makes no difference to my riding, the front wheel probably would though, but at least that can be balanced easily.

Simon

Buzby
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Re: Rear Puncture

Just an update - wheel removal was rejected because of the previously mentioned difficulty (when working alone) of doing so without a paddock or centre stand (Thanks Vectrix!).

The remaining options for an on-bike repair meant only a variety of slimes, or plug products. Having investigated this in depth for the first time, I was amazed to find the bulk of the 'slime' options were ONLY 'get you home' options with recommended run distances of 300 miles before a 'proper' repair is made - which is kinda pointless.

For the plugs option, some were temporary, others were clever 'keys' you screwed into the tread then snapped off the excess tab then re-inflate. Only then did I discover this is also classed as a 'temporary' repair. With most of the tyre dealerships stating they won't repair ANY tyre with slime within, I'm not going to end the life of a tyre with only 1000m on it with slime, so I've gone for a self-annealing plug that appears to have done the job and is permanent.

I just never knew there was so much to it!

Oh, one final comment - I was advised that whilst using slime/gunk and the other pre-puncture solutions induced into the tyre void have another downside. When punctured, the tyre self-heals, but the lack of any loss of air prevents the driver from noticing, and may well be driving round with the nail (or whatever) stuck in place.

- Raymond

moccasin
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Re: Rear Puncture

The "rope plug" repairs are the most reliable long term fixes, second only to inside patch repairs, which obviously are difficult to do on the side of the road.

Here's a cheap way to build yourself a service stand, and has been used many times on larger bikes.

Bolt a pair of 2x8 or 2x10 boards together so they become a 4x8 or 4x10 about 3 feet long (some bikes require a taller lift). Bore a hole along the center lined about 4 inches or so from one end, then slip a steel pipe through the hole. With the boards tilted enough to slide under the bike, use the steel pipe as a lever to stand the boards up on edge, and then a little further back so the back end of the pipe touches the ground. This leans the boards back for stability and lifts the bike up off the floor so you can service one wheel or the other.

I don't have any photos of this home made lift, but I built a similar service lift out of steel, so if you want to see what I'm talking about, go to this site (you can build one yourself from the info on the page)

http://www.moccsplace.com/images/jack/index.htm

kevin smith
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Re: Rear Puncture

hi raymond i agree to you but .also disagree aswell .as i have used slime the green stuff with micro fibers that is the best on the market. i have used it in 90% of all the vehicals i have owned and never had any problems and its pump the bottle in and pump up and your away and it lasts for the life of the tyre. and the saftey aspect its a must no more breake downs for punctures. and i have found less pumping up tyres up as seem to not loose air pressure much.! and if your a keen biker and in tuchwith the bike you feel it if theres a stone in the tred and aswell as a screw as i have found in the past .and the vehicals i have used slime in is bicycles and caravans and cars and scooters petrol/ev and put it in as a matter of corse ?? hope this helps guys.ps this is what i do don't wait to get stranded fit slime before its £5/£7 per scooter tyre not bad.. kev

Buzby
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Re: Rear Puncture

Thanks guys for the informative posts - hopefully if Vectrix get their finger out, I'll have a centre stand and fix one problem. Regarding the slime with fibres - I overlooked this because I couldn't source it locally, but I agree, this would appear to be the only slime solution that would be called permanent.

- Raymond

pyjohnson
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Re: Rear Puncture

Thanks guys for the informative posts - hopefully if Vectrix get their finger out, I'll have a centre stand and fix one problem. Regarding the slime with fibres - I overlooked this because I couldn't source it locally, but I agree, this would appear to be the only slime solution that would be called permanent.

Busby, what was your final outcome to get you back on the road?

Just got a rear puncture, tyre has a few more miles left in it, but looking into just getting a new one and trying to find somewhere to balance it

Regards,
Peter

-----------------------------------------------------------
Central Scotland

kevin smith
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Re: Rear Puncture

come on busby ..any/ most push bike shops stocks green slime
.by way motorsave does it and its like a red and gray colour .
as a mater of corse it goes it both my emax scooter and my vectrix scooter
and when't in my caravan tyres as my life is worth £6 per tyre this goes out to all the riders get some type of slime stuff for your tyres.
it will save you the worry in the end
and not to mention if your hart attack material and you get a puncture ..

ITS THE LAND !!!!!! OF THE NO LIVING FOR YA ?????????????????????????
it really does work so as soon as any body buys a scooter put it in .
don't know why suppliers don't fit it as standard ??????????????????????????????????????????????? why !!!!!!!! kev

winged_racer
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Re: Rear Puncture

Hi Buzby

Unfortunately the centre stand is not directly being held up by Vectrix but by the governing bodies who approve such things for consumer use. Getting approval takes time and money... sometimes a lot of both!

If you need help with getting the rear wheel off for repair, just call the Vectrix Technical Centre (VTC) and they will be more than happy to assist in getting you sorted. They will even give you the torque settings for the various nuts and bolts to put it back together correctly!

As for the slime and plugs - Like others on here, I personally have used these for years (more like decades now!) and never had any problems!

Doug Townley
info.DTES [at] gmail.com

(Formerly Vectrix Europe Technical Supervisor)

One door closes, another door opens

NJSteve
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Re: Rear Puncture

"just call the Vectrix Technical Centre (VTC) and they will be more than happy to assist in getting you sorted"

You must be joking right? If not, what's the number?

Mad One
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Re: Rear Puncture

Hi NJSteve, the number for Vectrix (VTC) is 01962 717769

Former Office Manager for Vectrix Europe

Buzby
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Re: Rear Puncture
Thanks guys for the informative posts - hopefully if Vectrix get their finger out, I'll have a centre stand and fix one problem. Regarding the slime with fibres - I overlooked this because I couldn't source it locally, but I agree, this would appear to be the only slime solution that would be called permanent.

Busby, what was your final outcome to get you back on the road?

Just got a rear puncture, tyre has a few more miles left in it, but looking into just getting a new one and trying to find somewhere to balance it

You'll not believe this- but the 'rope plug' method (a small platic kit with all the bits £4.99 on eBay) did the repair in - 2.5 minutes, and that included reinflation. I've done 1000+ miles since then and never thought about it, or lost pressure either - so I can wholly recommend it for an EV repair!

The stand issue - well, a bit of a pain as I paid for the centre stand before discovering it couldn;t be supplied. Nevertheless, it'll be a nice addition assuming the problems do get sorted out!

- Raymond

pyjohnson
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Re: Rear Puncture

I've had a look at my tyre, a repair should be no problem but its not worth it as it's very close to the tread bars so just ordered a new one. Not bad a couple of miles shy of 6000miles.

Local bike shop can't balance it so see how it is when it's back on the bike

Regards,
Peter

-----------------------------------------------------------
Central Scotland

kevin smith
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Re: Rear Puncture

o well don't go above 65 mph you should be ok.haha
i would presume that is this the norm from a new tyre 6000 miles as i am a little bit of 3200 so far .and looking good
i try not to corner like foggy ..and don't do wheeles and don't do wheel spinning.
but regen does take a lot to get used to as ive been riding for 25ish years and when some swine pulls into my pathway in the rain.
and quickley regen ups its not stopping so to plan b . pull rear break aswell as front . around comes the back wheel sideway uww scary .
..bludy scary where would i be with out quick reactions in a boot of a car with vectrix .
kev

NJSteve
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Re: Rear Puncture

Thanks so much. I guess that's in the UK, right?

pyjohnson
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Re: Rear Puncture

Well got the rear tyre changed, not balanced but seems ok at all speeds so will leave it alone

Advice to everyone:- The little grub screw that holds on the chrome plastic cover, the one that covers the axle nut, make sure it is well lubed with copper-ease or something, mine was corroded in there solid and required drilling out and re-tapping. Other than that everything was easy.

Regards,
Peter

-----------------------------------------------------------
Central Scotland

myvectrix2008
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Re: Rear Puncture

On a side note, does anyone know the life expectancy of the Vectrix tyres? I know it can vary a lot much like cars, but I was thinking that this is probably the only service item my Vectrix is every likely to need.

I rarely use hydraulic brakes, so it's unlikely I'll need to get the pads and discs change any time soon.

Paul
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Re: Rear Puncture

My back tyre lasted 6000kM and front, 9000kM

Paul

antiscab
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Re: Rear Puncture

o well don't go above 65 mph you should be ok.haha
i would presume that is this the norm from a new tyre 6000 miles as i am a little bit of 3200 so far .and looking good
i try not to corner like foggy ..and don't do wheeles and don't do wheel spinning.
but regen does take a lot to get used to as ive been riding for 25ish years and when some swine pulls into my pathway in the rain.
and quickley regen ups its not stopping so to plan b . pull rear break aswell as front . around comes the back wheel sideway uww scary .
..bludy scary where would i be with out quick reactions in a boot of a car with vectrix .
kev

sounds like u locked up the rear end.
much harder to deal with on a step-thru design, no tank to use ur legs to keep the bike steady.
did u or ur vectrix sustain any damage? hope bike and u are ok

Matt

Daily Ride:
2007 Vectrix, modified with 42 x Thundersky 60Ah in July 2010. Done 194'000km

NJSteve
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Re: Rear Puncture

Does anybody know, is that typical of motorcycles in general? That seems like kind of a short life to me.

Sandy
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Re: Rear Puncture

6000 miles on a tyre sounds about right to me. Remember that you don't get much tread to start with, I think I measured about four mil total when new, unlike the seven to eight mil you start with on a car tyre. So, allowing for the wasted two mil safety margin at the end of the tyre life and the fact that you ride on the centre part of the tread only for most of the time, you can't expect many miles.

Getting the rear wheel off. I have found that laying the vectrix on it's left side on a piece of old carpet with the rear wheel just clear of the ground, you can easily remove the rear wheel and also see clearly what you are doing. This way the bike can't fall off the stand either. What could be simpler?

'Ride on' tyre sealer seems to be a good buy as it is claimed to help in the balancing of the tyre by it's mode of distribution round the inner walls. I haven't had a puncture yet, well not that I know of, and tyre balance is just fine.

kevin smith
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Re: Rear Puncture

slime call it what you like but as far as i know the americans invented it ?? kev

kevin smith
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Re: Rear Puncture

no man .. am glad to say that i was lucky and had lightning reactions .
hope that nothing like that hapens again all i could think my pride and joy not gonna get hurt ..kev

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