Tubes 40 miles to my first flat tire! Discouraging!

[Marktur]

Well, even though I figured "It's not going to happen to me"....it did!

Riding home from work, loving my new bike...catching bugs in my teeth...cause I'm smiling like an idiot...and then....rear end felt funny...looked down and "OH NO!"

Once the air came out, it wouldn't stay on the rim, so I got a nice workout carrying the rear end of the bike for about a mile and a half...at least I used my bike to get some exercise, afterall! heh!

Anyway...to carry on a controversial conversation: What to do?

I just picked up some self-sealing Schwinn tubes at the Super Target...also saw steel/carbon tires...and remember reading lots of posts on the pros and cons of solid tires vs tubes, and also about tire types...

So the question is for the people with some miles on their bikes...what do you suggest? Are the self-sealing tire tubes a good answer? Should I upgrade tires?

I'm starting to wonder if I should stop investing in the rough-ride bike, and maybe just get a scooter? I'm about $450 into this project now, with new bike, the motor kit, the extras: bag, light, speedometer, new seat, and my time. I want this to work, but I also know I'm asking a bike to do a job it's not meant to do...so how reliable are the bikes, and what needs to be done to make them as reliable as a scooter or a moped?

Thanks!
Mark

 

[Marktur]

PS. I'm about 6', 215 lbs and wondering if this has anything to do with tires going flat? I didn't see any nails stickout out, but I'm going to pull off the tires and rims now, after I drain the fuel out so I can flip it over to work on.

 

[Large Filipino]

Go 20 mph max speed,keep things tight and you'll have years of wonderful use.
Also go under in tire pressure. 30 PSI. No more than that. Too much tire pressure combined with constant moving of the bicycle tires and the road heat of summer equals ka boom no more tube all in shreds.
Other than that,the slime tubes are an epic win.
It's also a good idea to bring a spare tube in your tool pouch and an air pump or CO2. cartridges.
Keep a rope in your tool pouch too. If you ever get a flat again,fling the rope around your frame and a tree branch. Instant Bike stand ghetto style. No more drain tank. I have a long cable lock (7 feet so I can secure my whole bike,keep it over my shoulder when I ride) so I can use that as a ghetto stand.
Bike too heavy? No problems. Wheelie your bike so your front wheel is up in the air and bring the rope thru the front of the frame. Cinch it up then pick up the back tire and slide the rope towards the rear of the frame triangle. Ghetto stand. Ghetto stand.
Scooters are cool. I personally think they are too nerdy looking,but then again,my Schwinn is orange yellow.
If your gonna commute every day for a lot of miles then maybe a scooter as another form of transportation would be beneficial.
But you'll never get the stares you get on your Motoredbike.
Because Motoredbikes are for cool people.

 

[misteright1_99]

I agree with Large, with care and maintenance, these motoredbikes are great. I wouldnt be seen on most of the scooters ive seen, matter of taste lol. I love the stares from people on my bike. I run my tires low around 35psi, more to take the bumps out of the road than anything else. I have about 100 miles on my bike and no problems yet (knock on wood) but I'm sure they wll come up and I will deal with them as they do. I dont work so I use mine mostly just putting around.

 

[Marktur]

Yeah...a moment of weakness...scooters look kinda...welll....ya know...

I really love my bike already...I'll take Large's advice about an extra tube and a rope for sure. As for speed, I hover around 20...sometimes up to 24..short bursts. But I'm comfy at 20.


Tire and Tube are done...My chain is loose...I think I need to remove a link - surprised that it stretched like that! I also put some rubber inner tube on the frame where the chain guard is making noise...so tomorrow it should be good as new.

Thanks!
Mark

 

[jimraysr]

I have a Yamaha trail bike that i could ride, but many places the competition wt. cars is scary. Have to have it licensed and emission tested each year. Carry insurance and can't ride on bike trails and sidewalks where streets are just not safe for a scooter / cycle of any size.

Glendale, AZ outlawed any scooters on it's streets. Have a friend who had to pay a $150 ticket for riding his electric scooter on the street.

I think a motor assisted bike has a much better acceptance today and people can appreciate it as a form of transportation.

Those are some of the things I considered before committing to a motorized bike. Time will tell.

I agree that technical problems will show up and can be solved in order to provide reliable transportation.

Older than dirt in Glendale, Jim

 

[loquin]

Get kevlar belted tires or liners, also. They'll keep much of the road garp away from the tube.

 

[Large Filipino]

A fine example of a ghetto stand.

My front tire lost air by the valve stem today. It's the original tube. Luckily I keep a spare slime tube in my tool pouch. I was testing out my trailer. I'm gonna use it for grocery getting. Yes. Anything I can save in gas will add to more food.
See what's on the floor? My gas container,my pump,wrench,lock. I used the strap that normally straps my fuel reserve to my handlebar to make my ghetto stand.
That pump? Those frame mount pumps are WORTHLESS. I can barely get 15 psi in before quitting. My foot pump is in my tool pouch now. Foot pumps are a mucha better.

Ghetto stand.

Can't live without your...ghetto stand.

 

[spunout]

listen. i used to get a flat (ALWAYS the rear) at least 2 per month. i've had a set of Mr. Tuffies tire liner, that seat between tube and tire, for 7months with no flats. solid tubes are NOT recommended.

 

[Marktur]

OK, so this isn't over yet...I went shopping for scoots this weekend, both online and at dealerships...and I was a little intimidated both from driving (and watching the crazy drivers) and from the size of some of these machines. Some are REALLY HUGE...but anything I saw in person - even the Honda 80cc's were VERY expensive ($2399 in this case). I saw some online in the $1000-1400 price range that looked really nice (150cc) bikes that do around 60mph, but trying to figure out what brand and which company will hose you the least has me reconsidering another try for my bike before I take the plunge.

Maybe I'll keep the bike and still get the scoot, but I'm just really bugged about the bike, and I want it to really be perfect before I sell it (if I still want to sell it). I have a bunch of people watching the auction on eBay and several have shown interest on the forum, too.

So, here's my questions:
Do you think that the big balloon tires are the real problem? Here's why I'm asking...I paid close attention to everything on Saturday when I rode...I went about 5 miles each way, probably at 1/3 throttle about 20mph avg. I'm guessing. I didn't open it up until I arrived back in my subdivision...I went over 2 speed humps (very smooth 6' wide) - I wouldn't call it a speed "bump", more like something to slow regular traffic a bit), and then I took a turn in which I powered through it, accelerating in the turn. Immediately thereafter I went flat. Definitely not an external puncture. DEFINITELY. Looks like the tube moved, because the stem was cocked over to a 45 degree angle. Wouldn't take air - so I think it broke.

As you can tell, I've been thinking about this a lot...and my MBc stickers showed up today, which is making me want to try one more time...

Second thought: I was inflated to about 40lbs. Too little?

Third: These tires are basically flat on the bottoms, obviously not high-speed tires. Mountain bike tires are thinner, have a lower sidewall, and are Kevlar reinforced.

Do you think if I switch inner tubes to the thick slime tubes, and put mtn. bike tires on, that I will be able to go for a while without flats?

How fast is too fast?

Thanks,
Mark

PS. Sorry I seem so emotional about this, but I am -- I love the thought of having something nobody else around has, plus the cool factor, plus the fact that I can get on the sidewalk in bad traffic...I want to make this work, but I need dependability. The motor and tranny, etc. is GREAT. I just need to stop popping tubes.