Motorcycle Tech: Tubeless Tire Plug Fix

Recently, in preparation for a day out on the Indian, I was sidelined by a flat tire. As soon as I opened the garage door, I saw the head of a screw sticking out of the rear tire; a deflating situation, literally and figuratively.

See, it’s crunch time here at Ride & Culture and we’ve been working our fingers to the bone. No, really, this job’s almost as stressful as your local pubs’ beer-tasters, and that’s an occupation that brings stress levels to a foamy head. So, I was looking forward to a nice long ride on the bobbed scout, my go-to therapy when life kicks back.

Sadly, seeing a flattened rear tire only added to the shoulder-crushing weight of having to ride and review motorcycles for a living. But, being a seasoned moto-journalist, I assessed the situation and asked myself, “What are the qualifications needed to become a professional beer-taster?” After that, I decided to plug the tire and share this moment of triumph over adversity with you, the RC reader.

It’s good practice to always have a tire repair kit with you when riding. They’re usually small enough to stow under the seat or wherever you have a little room for storage. Most kits don’t come with plyers or a knife, so these items will need to be added.

Plugging a tire, as I’m showing here, is just a quick fix. It enables you to get off the road, to a shop or home. This isn’t a permanent fix; the tire will need to be replaced, or permanently repaired with a patch and plug, if you’re planning to keep it.

So, here we are with a flattened rear tire, a simple plug kit, and stress levels bordering on foamy. Time to take a deep breath, get some air in this tire, and get the bike safely back on the road.