HOW TO HELP PREVENT A MOTORCYCLE FLAT TIRE
Getting a flat tire on your motorcycle is never a fun experience and if it happens on the road, it can quickly become a dangerous situation.
Whether you've just purchased a new spoked motorcycle wheel from us, scored a great deal on a wheel at a swap meet, or had a fresh wheel professionally built, there's one important step you should never skip before mounting your tire.
This is spoke is sitting proud on the nipple and will need to be ground down.
WATCH VIDEO: HOW TO PREVENT A FLAT TIRE ON YOUR NEW MOTORCYCLE WHEEL
Check out our quick how-to video as Tim walks you through inspecting your wheel, identifying proud spoke ends, and grinding them flush.
It's a simple step that can help keep you riding instead of sitting on the side of the road, bummed! For when you DO get a flat, for whatever reason, you may find this video both useful, and money-saving: How To Change A Motorcycle Tire By Yourself!
STEP 1: INSPECT THE SPOKE ENDS BEFORE MOUNTING A TIRE
Before installing your rim strip, inner tube, and tire: carefully inspect every spoke to ensure it does not poke through the spoke nipple on the inside of the rim.
During the wheel-building process, each spoke is adjusted to properly true the wheel. Because of these adjustments, some spoke ends may extend slightly past the top of the spoke nipple.
These "proud" spoke ends can eventually wear through the rim strip and begin rubbing against your inner tube, leading to an unexpected flat tire.
Taking a few minutes to inspect your wheel now can save you from hours of frustration later!
Using an air grinder carefully grind down the proud spoke to be flush with the nipple.
STEP 2: GRIND DOWN ANY PROTRUDING SPOKES
Fortunately, the solution is easy.
Using an air grinder (or another suitable rotary grinding tool), carefully grind any spoke ends that are sitting proud of the spoke nipples until they're flush.
Once you've finished grinding, use compressed air to blow away any metal shavings left on the wheel.
After confirming that all of the spoke ends are flush with their respective spoke nipples, install your rim strip.
Finally, run your fingers around the rim strip while slowly rotating the wheel to make sure there are no sharp spots that could damage the tube.
After grinding down the spoke it should look like this.
It's a quick job that provides cheap insurance against a preventable flat. You are now ready to install your inner tube and tire.
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