Not an answer but a suggestion. I’ve never had a flat and at 64 there is no way I’ll be changing a flat in the field by myself. I just manage the risk. I carry hike out gear no matter where I go. Light running shoes, pants shirt jacket etc. if I’m going far away from a paved road I also have my down bag inflatable pad and a Dyneema tarp. I have AAA with motorcycle coverage too assuming they can get to me. Heavy duty tubes and some slime are extra insurance too.

 

I have done it. Flat from partially cutting tube with tire iron on install and then tearing rest of way through after a couple thousand miles. put some Ride On in and pumped it up. Rode for two days and 400 miles.

Before putting sealant in try to find and remove cause of puncture. A nail still in place will tear at tube as flexing of tire moves nail in tube a bit.

No guarantees but in my case kept me from changing on side of road in the rain.

 

I've had a flat tire, multiple times. And there were two useful solutions. Pump up your tire and drive to the nearest garage, the other option is riding to the nearest garage with a flat tire. The last option looks weird but if you drive 30 km/h max it's not to bad to do. If you bring your own tube the garage will fix your problem.

 

Interesting idea. Ive never heard of anyone trying to seal the spokes from the outside. I think the challenge would lie in the fact that the exposed part of the wheel is subjected to pretty hardcore conditions like dirt, mud, water, etc that could chip away at any sealants over time. Also, sealing the area between the tube's valve and the wheel would be the most challenging cause the space to seal is larger, and also every time you manipulate the valve to inflate the tire you risk damaging that seal. Still, it's an interesting idea. I don't think it would be impossible.

Edit: Just wanted to add that the tubeless conversion people do, which seals the spokes on the inside, may partially work because the air pressure in the wheel presses down on the sealant from the inside. In other words, the silicon sealant is being helped somewhat by the pressure inside the tire that allows it to seal properly. In your case, sealing from the outside could be more challenging because you'd be sealing against the direction of the flow of pressure. It would be like the equivalent of plugging a bathtub drain with a plug at the top of the drain vs plugging it at the spout where drain empties out.

PS: I'm not an engineer of a physicist, so i could be wrong about everything!

 

Thank you all for the comments, all very logical. I will embark in this project as there are no downsides, plus I have all the time in the world so I’m thinking that with multiple, careful and accurate applications and proper curing in between, it should provide an added measure of safety along with the Ride On already in the tires.

 

I can't see sealant on the outside being strong enough.

I carry a Garmin InReach Explorer+ with me when I go hiking, camping, mountain biking, etc. Even if I just head out onto the mountain from my house (yes I am so very fortunate!). Unfortunately there is a subscription cost for the satellite service, but for me it is worth it for when I am out of cell coverage areas.

The InReach allows me to send text messages to whomever I want. They can be pre-written and then are free. Like "Arrived and camping here", or "Running a bit late but am ok". "Home in 30 minutes, get the coffee going!". Or I can write a message on the spot but it costs something negligible like 10 cents each.

The GPS function allows me to send my precise location or for my wife to ping it and see where I am. There is an emergency button I can push, so if I get hurt I can just flip the guard and press the button, no need to compose a text message, and it sends an SOS with my precise location.

If I have a mechanical breakdown I can text my wife to come rescue me and tell her what parts I need, or to send a tow truck.

I hope I could fix a basic flat tire, and I am equipped for it when I go riding. But if I can't, the Garmin is my backup plan.

 

When I converted the tube-type wheels on my KLR650 to tubeless, I did it to forestall having to change a tube on the side of the road.

Once done - they worked FINE! Those tires are E-705 SHINKO, tube-less.

DSC04668 by Ed Copeman, on Flickr

 

Ed, I like your taste in bikes; I've always wanted a Gen1 KLR! That's interesting double windscreen you have there.

 

Consider tubless converstion kits

 

Would like to be able to do that but as I said in my original post I’m not able to remove and reinstall a tire. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

I got a flat last week first time and I was in the middle of no where. I tried to find a place to get some air that was close to where I was but no luck. A truck stopped to give some air so I could ride 5 minutes to get some air. I filled up than 5 min later was flat again. I was able to find a little garage that could take off my tire and heat welt a patch for me. It worked fine and I was on my way. I did see a small nail that was in the tire and obviously popped the tube. After that I went back to my tire place and got a new heavy duty tube installed. I thought about carrying an entire kit and pump to change myself again if it happens but I would definitely have to practice it a few times. I don’t believe it’s that easy.

 

I’d be happy to pay someone to do it for me but so far the places I contacted declined because of liability reason. It’s obviously not a foolproof fix to the tube issue and I’m guessing no one wants to risk the repercussions in case of a failure.

 

Don't ask a dealer to do it. Get on google and find an independent shop with good ratings and ask them. Really, the best time to do it is at a tire change. I upgraded my tires, chain and added a smaller rear sprocket at the same time. You are going to have to provide the kit. I used Outex.

 

Here's a link to a thread on changing to tubeless:

Converting spoked-wheels to TUBELESS!

First of all I have to say that I did this conversion to my '04 KLR650 back a "few" years ago, because I was carrying two tubes, plus assorted tube-patches, etc, and I figured that there HAS to be a better way, so I decided to 'convert' my wheels to tubeless, and run some Shinko E705 tires, to...

www.kawasakiversys.com

 

You guys keep talking about sealing from inside or outside the spokes...But all forgot that valve is not rim mounted....it's mounted on the tube, so if tube fails, you have hole spitting air at the puncture AND definitely leak at the valve. When doing tubless conversion, (not a recommended thing, although might work well and for long), you need to install valve on the rim itself.

 

That is why part of the conversion is to replace the tube with a tubeless valve I'd though that would be obvious as there is no longer a tube with its own valve.
I highly recommend 90 degree tubeless valves pointed to the right to make topping up when filling up so much easier. https://www.amazon.com/BASIKER-Moto...ref=sr_1_15?dchild=1&keywords=angledtubelsess+tire+valve&qid=1604810760&sr=8-15

 

Yes, thank you. That was covered in many posts and You Tube video. Thanks again.

 

Come on guys, surly you don't want to miss out on all the fun?😁 The gooey white stuff was Ride On.

 

Come on guys, surly you don't want to miss out on all the fun?😁 The gooey white stuff was Ride On.

View attachment 181229 View attachment 181230 View attachment 181231

What tore the huge hole in your tube? That type of hole on a tubeless tire would not have been fixed in the field.

 

Need to look at the tire, not the tube.

 

I need to do something similar I want to know how you got it?

 

I converted the V300 to tubeless using GOOP to seal all the spokes from the inside. so far no issues at all. my crf250M was converted 3 years ago to tubeless too. Tubeless is safer and you lose some weight; also it holds air better.

 

Hi, what size does the valve hole need to drilled to on the rim, before installing new valve? Thank you for your help.

 

I had a puncture on Thursday. (small nail) Rode maybe 40ms on a flat. Found a service station where they fixed it. Tire Ok at about 30mph. The tube was toast.

TIP: Always carry spare innertubes. They can replace it for you but they won't have any.

Edit: Now on my third flat in a week. Have put it down to poor quality inner tubes but now think I may be using the wrong size. When I got the bike the previous owner left some spare tubes in the pannier. When I replaced the first one I simply bought the same size. Now wondering if "my" original was the wrong size?

 

Measure the NEW valve for the size. For me = .452" doing my '04 KLR650.

E - tubeless KLR - measuring valve stem05 by Ed Copeman, on Flickr

 

For those of us that haven't done a tubeless conversion, what patch kit do you carry? I need to get one and was wondering if a bicycle one will work. Info seems to be difficult to find as everybody want to try and sell me a tubeless repair kit instead.

Also: adding slime to the tube worth it?

 

I never thought a tube patch kit might be specific to motorcycle or bicycle? I’ve used one on a dirt bike before from a bicycle shop. I never bothered replacing the tube after. Held up like a champ! Rubber and rubber cement...
I’d be more inclined to replace the tube on the street. I ride locally and haven’t bothered making such provisions. But I’d just grab a patch kit if going out of town to get me home

 

^ I had three go in the space of a month. So I carry one of each tube as spares. Where I ride there are a myriad of shops that will change them, but nobody stocks them.
I keep them in the top box but have been thinking about securing them behind the fairing panels at the front/side. To free up space.

 

I'm not so much worried about flats on the road. If they happen, it's fairly easy to call for help/tow. But I am interested in doing more off-roading with my x300, especially after I replace the OEM tires. Changing/patching a tube seems like a good skill to have in this case.

I've been perusing the thumper area on advrider and it's been helping. Seems like the patch kit for a bicycle and a motorcycle are basically the same. I carry a spare HD front tube since I can use it in the back if need be, but the thing is massive. It seems like a standard tube is much smaller and using them instead would allow me to carry two. Having the patch kit would just be a backup in case the spare also gets a flat, though that's pretty unlikely.

 

I've only had nail/screw punctures and they chew up the tube which makes a patch useless. The second two both rear were as a result of using the wrong sized tube. I was following the size I was given as a spare with the bike from the previous owner.