Offcenter
Well-known member
Forty or more years ago, I read a piece in Roger Hulls Road Rider magazine about preventing flat tires.
Basically, the writer was of the opinion that most flats are on the rear tire of the bike. The reason being
that the front tire runs over a a nail, screw or other junk and picks it up off the road enough that the rear
tire takes it head on and POW!
He recommended putting a rubber mud flap on the front fender that almost dragged the ground. Debris
picked up by the front tire would be deflected by the mud flap before the rear tire could hit it.
Well....I did exactly that on my then new 74 BMW. Thinking back, it occurred to me that I only remember
having ONE flat rear tire on that bike in over 172,000 miles. Of course the one flat happened 700 miles
from home!! :roll:
I just ordered a mud flap to go on my 76 Wing and I'll be mounting it to hang as low as possible. It worked
before. I have to believe that it will work again. :good:
Oh yeah.....A couple of years ago I picked up a 77 Honda Trail 90. Being a trail bike, the front fender is way
too short to get a mud flap to hang down to the ground. Less than 3000 miles on a new rear tire and POW!
Picked up a nail in the rear and had to push the damned thing about a mile home. :sensored:
I believe it works. You can take it for what it's worth. If it saves just ONE of you a flat tire, it was worth my
taking the time to write it up.
Just my two cents....
Basically, the writer was of the opinion that most flats are on the rear tire of the bike. The reason being
that the front tire runs over a a nail, screw or other junk and picks it up off the road enough that the rear
tire takes it head on and POW!
He recommended putting a rubber mud flap on the front fender that almost dragged the ground. Debris
picked up by the front tire would be deflected by the mud flap before the rear tire could hit it.
Well....I did exactly that on my then new 74 BMW. Thinking back, it occurred to me that I only remember
having ONE flat rear tire on that bike in over 172,000 miles. Of course the one flat happened 700 miles
from home!! :roll:
I just ordered a mud flap to go on my 76 Wing and I'll be mounting it to hang as low as possible. It worked
before. I have to believe that it will work again. :good:
Oh yeah.....A couple of years ago I picked up a 77 Honda Trail 90. Being a trail bike, the front fender is way
too short to get a mud flap to hang down to the ground. Less than 3000 miles on a new rear tire and POW!
Picked up a nail in the rear and had to push the damned thing about a mile home. :sensored:
I believe it works. You can take it for what it's worth. If it saves just ONE of you a flat tire, it was worth my
taking the time to write it up.
Just my two cents....
