I don't need a picture. I was just thinking 22 psi should be enough to not require a rim lock. I guess not.

 

I agree, but,,the bike has been sitting all winter and I didn't check to see if the tires were low, no reason to think so, but could have lost a few pounds. I am thinking that because the stem nut was tight, and the tube may have been moving around and the rubber looks fatigued it may have been an accumulative thing. Anyway I went and looked at the scene and there was no gravel no skid marks just a couple of gouges from the foot peg and the hand guard in the pavement and a little gas spot on the ground. My ribs are fricken hurting at night. Tylenol 3's and Advil help a smooth things out.

 

If it sat all winter, I'd be willing to bet you were down quite a bit on the air pressure. Mine lose about 0.5 PSI per week. I check before every ride...

 

It is hard to say now. I rode the bike hard and for a lot of miles in dirt last summer with lots of long steep down hill braking. I can imagine what the forces must be on the tire/rim interface trying to stop 450 pounds of meat and machine from rolling. This is not a mistake I will make again..

 

That is some interesting information... Well, I assume the tire/tube was rotated with the rearword from the tire contact with the road, meaning that the brakes cause more rotation, front & rear! Brakes are stronger than the huge HP output of the 250! Not real surprizing!

 

Sorry but there is a problem right there.

 

Ya I know.

 

Thanks for sharing what happened Red. Wake up call for me.

I suspect it was cumulative stress that finally ripped.


I'm thinking about Tubliss.

.

 

I took my KLX out for it's first ride this season without checking the tire pressure. I meant to, but was having a busy day and forgot. I destroyed another front tube, and finally went with rim locks.

I checked my race bike before I rode it for the first time, and the pressure in the front tire was zero. The back had a few PSI.

 

YES. When I placed the stem @ the 6 o'clock position on both, front and rear tires, the valve stems were (both) pointing to the rear of the bike. I can see this action taking place on the rear (due to torque/acceleration) but not on the front wheel

I would think that braking forces would cause an opposite shift on the front tire/tube.