Tyre puncture repair

Monday, March 14, 2005

Tyre puncture. I watched as the kid laboured to unscrew wheel and disconnect brake and chain, danced on wheel to retrieve tube, proudly displayed the sharp-tipped screw, and inflated tube and immersed in a basin of water to find the leak.

I stopped watching, trying to make this picture, while he patched the leak, tested, and again danced on the wheel to reinsert the tube. Then he had the unenviable task of putting the wheel back on the bike. Tightening the screws was especially calling on his little hands.

Fifteen rupees and half an hour. I’m no automobile enthusiast to understand the consequences, but I think tubeless or steel-belted radial tyres make sense for two wheelers. It’s simpler to use a better tyre than to fix the road.

beerbal — Mar 15, 2005 12:53:56 AM — # ↩

danced on wheel to retrieve tube

Nice picture.
teemus — Mar 15, 2005 1:24:08 AM — # ↩

Do we get tubeless stuff for bikes here?
- tsk1979 — Mar 15, 2005 9:28:57 AM — # ↩
  
  You get tubeless for everything, but if you get a puncture either diy with a tubeless kit or go to a big showroom.
  - braindead_itsme — Mar 15, 2005 4:58:07 PM — # ↩
    
    hey you sure about this. I doubt we get tubeless types for two wheelers in india. checked MRF and their website did not mention any such tyres. I am interested in trying these out. Punctures sometimes can be a nightmare. Let me know if you know any company that sells in India.
    - tsk1979 — Mar 16, 2005 10:03:36 AM — # ↩
      
      you have to buy imported brands from JC road i guess
sidcarter — Mar 15, 2005 9:54:05 AM — # ↩

Nice and different. Like the varied lighting.
quizling — Mar 15, 2005 10:01:46 AM — # ↩

I get a puncture every 10,000 km or so — which isn't too bad. Tubeless tyres are a much better option, true, but would the buyer of a Rs 50,000 motorcycle readily invest in a set of tubeless tyres costing Rs 10,000? I doubt it.

The Hyosung Comet is the only bike in India that currently comes with tubeless tyres as standard fitment, but then the bike itself costs Rs 1.8 lakh and is meant strictly for hardcore enthusiasts.
- Kiran Jonnalagadda — Mar 15, 2005 6:35:56 PM — # ↩
  
  Wikipedia says even tubeless tires need to maintain air pressure, which means a puncture will have the same effect.