Motorbike tyre repairs may be necessary, especially during a long journey. When a tyre breaks down, this unfortunately makes it very difficult, if not impossible, to continue riding. Motorcycle riders do not have the option of carrying a spare wheel with them, unlike car owners, but they can equip themselves with the necessary means to deal with the problem.
Tyre damage on a motorbike is a major hazard, which is why in some situations it is nevertheless recommended to replace the tyres rather than repair them. Repairing defects is only possible in certain situations.
Repairing a motorbike tyre can cause a lot of problems - especially whilst on the road.Where to begin when repairing a tyre on a motorbike?
To repair a tyre, you must first locate the damage. To do this, place the motorbike on standstill and carefully inspect the wheel for a hole or sharp object stuck in the rubber.
A nail in a motorbike tyre, glass or even a sharp stone are the most common causes of a puncture. Sometimes such an unwanted object protrudes from the tread and is easy to spot. Sometimes, however, despite an obvious puncture, it is impossible to see where the motorbike tyre has been perforated and where the air is escaping from. In this situation, a cleaning agent is very useful. Cover every inch of rubber with it and the foam created makes it much easier to find the point where the air is escaping. A sign of this will be the bubbles forming at this point. This useful method helps at the initial stage of repairing a tubeless tyre. It allows you to locate the damage yourself, determine the extent of the problem and decide what to do next - repair or replace the motorbike tyre.
Tube tyre owners, need to take slightly different steps. The first step is to extract the inner tube. In order to find the hole, it can be submerged in water, which will have an effect similar to a foam coating. Once the location of the air leak is known, you need to get down to patching the inner tube. This can be done without the slightest problem even at home. The situation becomes more complicated, for example whilst travelling. Repairing a motorbike inner tube on the road will no longer be so simple.
Motorbike tyre repair kit
Many people think that simply purchasing a motorbike tyre repair kit will restore the original properties of the tyre after a perforation for a substantial period of time. However, the truth is quite different. Once a tyre is damaged, it will never be able to perform in the same way again and the kit is an only temporary solution. In addition to this, it is also worth getting a motorbike compressor or CO2 cartridges.
Motorbike tyre plugging kit
A motorbike tyre repair kit is a very useful accessory that will allow you to partially restore your tyres after a puncture and make it to the nearest vulcanisation shop. Such a kit for tubeless versions usually consists of a dowel (cord), awl, glue, knife and a so-called reamer. If the tyre is leaking, locate the hole, then use the reamer to slightly widen the hole and use the awl to insert the glue-coated cord into the hole. Finally, it remains to inflate the wheel. This method is called plugging a motorbike tyre.
It is important to remember that tyre repairs on the road will always be temporary. Once this has been done, it is necessary to go to a tyre repair shop, which will professionally repair the damaged tyre or recommend a replacement. It is also important to bear in mind that the journey to the repair shop must not be too fast and that the recommended speed should not exceed 60 km/h.
Repair kit for motorbike inner tubes
Patches and glue are essential equipment for a motorbike tyre repair kit with an inner tube. In order to be able to start the repair, it will be necessary to remove the tyre and tube using the patches and then locate the damage. If the cause of the defect is a puncture hole, we have a higher probability of finding such a spot. The situation becomes more complicated when we cannot see and do not know where the puncture has occurred. In that case, it is best to inflate the inner tube and put it in the water, then observe where the water bubbles are coming from.
Before applying the patch, wipe the damaged area with sandpaper so that the patch will stick better. We also remember to remove the punctured part first, if this is what caused the puncture.
Self-sealers – are they a good choice?
A so-called spray patch can also be useful in an emergency situation. This is a special sealant for both tube and tubeless motorbike tyres. It comes in the form of a latex foam can which is inserted into the tyre via a tube in the valve. It will plug a small hole by itself (maximum diameter not exceeding 5 mm), allowing us to travel to a motorbike tyre repair shop no more than a few dozen kilometres away to verify the condition of the tyre. Please note that following such treatment, high speeds are not to be reached - not more than 50 km/h. The application of "sealant" is a temporary solution and can only be applied if the motorbike tyre is at the correct pressure.
Sometimes, after the use of "sealants", the service centre may refuse to repair the damaged tyre, immediately advising replacement with a new model. The reason for this, for example, is that it is difficult to locate the defect, due to the foam inside, which, when solidified, can be troublesome to remove.
Motorbike tyre repair – under which circumstances is it not possible?
You may be tempted to have a motorbike tyre repaired by a tyre repairer if the damage is not too extensive and has occurred in the rear wheel. In this case, the tyre can still be used for a while, although it should definitely not be used at high speeds. However, in the case damage of the front wheel, it absolutely must be replaced. The front tyre is responsible for traction and handling and must be kept in excellent condition.
A motorbike tyre cannot be repaired if there is damage to the sidewall or shoulder. The damage is severe enough to disqualify any attempt to restore the tyre. This is because its structure has been too badly compromised to continue to safely use rubber that has been subjected to heavy loads. Nor should you attempt to repair it yourself if the valve has broken down. It is then best to simply replace it, especially as the cost is very low.
In many countries, bonding a motorbike tyre and any other attempt to restore its original characteristics after a defect is not allowed. Replacement is recommended straight away, due to the high risk and danger of leading to dangerous situations on the road.