OzSTOC
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Biggles on July 19, 2016, 10:03:01 PM
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Today didn't go quite to plan. I was out in the beautiful Queensland Winter sunshine snapping a few pix for FarRider fun when the bike went all gooey handling-wise. I pulled over in a controlled way. I carry a repair kit and pump, but the first question was, where is the puncture located?
(http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e136/Pixtor/Ruby2%20with%20flat%20tyre_em_zpsrnkwmsx2.jpg)
There was no way I could get Ruby2 up on the centrestand to spin the wheel. The only bike I saw in the hour I was stuck was a Harley rider (not outlaw-style) who rode past, chin in the air, looking straight up the road. So much for the brotherhood of riders!
I rolled the bike back one rev of the wheel, checking as it went, and couldn't see a nail or screw. So I rang RACQ. We have Ultracare which covers anything I drive or ride, to be towed up to 60 km in any direction. They arrived inside 45 minutes. Firstly the safety car, as they have a policy of placing a car 50 metres from a breakdown for the duration of the retrieval when it is located on a highway or other road with a 100 kph limit.
(http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e136/Pixtor/Ruby2%20with%20RACQ%20safety%20car_em_zpsl7brqczz.jpg)
The towie from Kilcoy is a biker and was very professional with his meticulous handling of the bike. Apparently RACQ now insists on their contractors having the proper gear for handling bikes. It's only the third time in 44 years that I've used an auto club roadside service, but I reckon the convenience and peace of mind is worth the annual premium.
(http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e136/Pixtor/Ruby2%20with%20RACQ%20tow%20truck%202_em_zpsijytu30f.jpg)
We had a good chat on the way to the Caboolture branch of Brisbane Motorcycles.
(http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e136/Pixtor/Ruby2%20with%20RACQ%20tow%20truck%204_em_zpsg9wnqbpx.jpg)
The bike was delivered into their care. They vacated a lift for my bike and 30 minutes later I was back on the road.
(http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e136/Pixtor/Ruby2%20at%20Caboolture%20Honda_em_zps9i28xsoi.jpg)
The fault? One of those foolish 90o valve stem adapters. Not the one in the rim- the type that screw onto the stem. I'd heard before that they can cause the stem to fail. The only reason I had it was they were on the bike when I bought it. Trust me, the one on the front was off and into the pocket before I left Caboolture. So it wasn't a puncture, just the air was released through the failed stem.
I've given BM five stars on their FB page for excellent service. Minimum delay and just $40!
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Oh dear,
The 90 degree adapter is just that, only to be fitted for inflating the tyre, and isnt meant to remain there.
Even the fitted 90 degree stems can fail after a while (mine did, on the front. Now thats hairy. steering get very ordinary) They should be replaced at the tyre change.
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That same issue happens to me near the ettamoga pub servo but mine was the front wheel!
Got proper off set valve stems Putin the next day!
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Got proper off set valve stems Putin the next day!
Vladimir would approve!
I'm a bit cross, because I was aware of this issue.
When I bought the bike, the seller said he had to put new tyres on for RWC, so I said I'll pay the difference between ordinary tyres and my preferred PR4s, and could he have angled stems installed as well, please.
Maybe he wasn't aware of the proper installed angled stems, but he proudly showed me the ones on the bike (adaptors) when I picked it up. I guess I "went with the flow" thinking they must be aluminium, or some such logic. Oddly, they lasted over 6500 kays before failing. Never again.
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Got proper off set valve stems Putin the next day!
The 90 degree stems were fitted to my bike when I obtained it. I had them changed to standard stems within an hour of purchase of the bike,
So I guess you could say that I was russian to have it fixed as well.. Vladimiraculous! :grin
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One could get the impression Ms Ruby IIsday is a bit of an attention seeker...... Wot thuh
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I had little "brass" right-angle valve adaptor thingys on the Mighty CB1300, much more convenient getting the air pump hose end on the valve at the service station. Had them on for around 50,000km, none of the mishaps mentioned above.
With the ST1300, I had the dealer fit permanent rigid right-angle "alloy" adaptors, again much more convenient. Had the tyre dealer remove them, fit a new "O" rings and re-fit them, no probs, so far - fingers crossed.
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oh hardy har har you all!!!!
dont ask me to soviet your arses out on the plains !
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The 90 degree stems were fitted to my bike when I obtained it. I had them changed to standard stems within an hour of purchase of the bike,
The fixed alloy ones like Williamson had fitted are fine. They can't flex and in any case, they are more compact and lighter than the adaptor "screw-on" type.
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I never leave my angled valve extension on, always take it off after checking the tire pressure. Anyway, I only have one which came free with a magazine I bought once when passing through an airport somewhere, might have been Brissie on my way to the Isa.
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I never leave my angled valve extension on, always take it off after checking the tire pressure. Anyway, I only have one which came free with a magazine I bought once when passing through an airport somewhere, might have been Brissie on my way to the Isa.
That's the way they're meant to be used, and I always carry one in the pie warmer for the rare occasion I'm stuck needing air at a servo that only has those "rod-type" nozzles on their air hose. My own compressor has a stubby angled nozzle which I can get on under the brake disk.
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I had little "brass" right-angle valve adaptor thingys on the Mighty CB1300, much more convenient getting the air pump hose end on the valve at the service station. Had them on for around 50,000km, none of the mishaps mentioned above.
With the ST1300, I had the dealer fit permanent rigid right-angle "alloy" adaptors, again much more convenient. Had the tyre dealer remove them, fit a new "O" rings and re-fit them, no probs, so far - fingers crossed.
We do same as Williamson....they have 55k on them now, I think they were about $35 :think1
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Yep- I had them fitted to Ruby 1.
My issue with the removable ones is the air lost while unscrewing them. If I'm trying to nail say, 42 kPa, then what have I got after that air escaped? Is it 41 kPa? Should I then inflate to 43 kPa? ... :||||
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Agree that premium is worth it. I upgraded mine after sitting with BenT (and Chris) after the famous (infamous?) stop on the way to Perth.
I have brass adapter permanently fitted to my Slime digital air pump. Set to 44psi, press go and stand back. Unscrew when it turns itself off, I reckon I lose maybe 1psi (more if I'm in fumble fingers mode in which case go back to step 1). Good to hear about prompt and professional assistance.