Tyre Goo

[Jim Taverner]

I've just taken delivery of a Dahon Vitesse with 8Fun hub motor from Whites of Malmesbury and first impressions are positive. It comes fitted with upgraded tyres, Schwalbe Marathon Racers. I have used Green Goo as a puncture repair agent in my Disability Buggy tyres for some years and have found it most effective considering that most of it's use has been on rough paths (thorns) when accompanying my wife who is a keen walker. Has anyone any comments on using the product in my bike tyres? If anyone is interested, I'll write a short article on my progress with the new bike after I've completed a reasonable mileage.
Cheers,
Jim

 

[tangent]

Yes, definitely interested! I am expecting delivery of something similar today I bought from ebay - a Sunlova folder for £500. I am not expecting the bike to be up to the standard of the Dahon though. I really like the idea of a folder with internal hub gears like the Dahon, but could not find find one for sensible money when I ordered the Sunlova.

Was the kit fitted by the dealer? How much did it all cost?

 

[Old Timer]

I've just taken delivery of a Dahon Vitesse with 8Fun hub motor from Whites of Malmesbury and first impressions are positive. It comes fitted with upgraded tyres, Schwalbe Marathon Racers. I have used Green Goo as a puncture repair agent in my Disability Buggy tyres for some years and have found it most effective considering that most of it's use has been on rough paths (thorns) when accompanying my wife who is a keen walker. Has anyone any comments on using the product in my bike tyres? If anyone is interested, I'll write a short article on my progress with the new bike after I've completed a reasonable mileage.
Cheers,
Jim

I tried it and I wouldn`t use it again. I have fitted Marathon plus tyres and they are very good. I`d rather know if I`d been punctured to be honest. Do the racers have the puncture protection built in?

 

[flecc]

I've also been unsuccessful with slime type sealants on bike tyres, and in previous discussions that seems to be the majority experience. They seem to be more suited to larger tyres like cars etc, and are best with the tubeless tyre punctures they were invented for.
.

 

[Jim Taverner]

Tangent, my Dahon Vitesse is fitted with a 7speed deraileur not a hub gear. Whites of Malmsbury fitted the hub motor kit and their prices can be found on their website
Home.

Old Timer & Flecc, thanks for your observations. I must look up the specs on
tyres to see what, if any, puncture proofing they have.

Cheers,
Jim

 

[tangent]

I use slime filled tubes on my Lafree. It has definitely worked for me a few times. The important thing though is to keep on moving when you get a flat. If you stop too soon the slime does not work.

I think puncture resistant tyres are better though. I use these as well - Armadillos.

 

[jayuk]

The electric kit fitted to this dahon folder is the exact model i purchased of ebay to fit to my mtb, although i would be absolutly shocked at paying an extra £800 for the electric version over the non electric version, although i would agree its nice to have it delivered ready to use. if you are interested in this folder i would seriously advice you to get the non electric version & the kit from sunlova off ebay & fit yourself saving approx £400. i had my kit fitted with 1.5hrs of delivery & i am extremely happy with it.

jason

 

[homemoz]

Hi Jim,

I've got the Dahon MuP8 from Whites (now discontinued) , which I have been using for over 2 years. No problems at all with bike or motor. Only thing, I didn't like was the throttle which I modified with handlebar tape to make it easier to hold for long periods. I have made a number of posts over the years about my experience with the bike.

For a time, I went through grass is greener syndrome. Trying both a raleigh folder fitted with a SRAM motor and a Wisper 905e. Both these have since gone on to new homes and I'm back to using the Dahon regularly. The only other folder, I would consider as a replacement is one of the electric bromptoms, but even these seem to have problems with poor brakes. Having used an elderly 5 speed brompton for a few years, decent brakes are a pretty high priority for me.

 

[Vikki]

I've had a good relationship with slime. It's always got me home in the event of an unexpected puncture. Also, if you examine the tyre tread often you can see if you have a punture and where it is because the green fluid that oozes past the slime fibres leaves a dot on the tyre surface - a neat little tell-tale. I'd be happy to use it again.

Take the point about wanting to know you have a puncture since a front wheel puncture I had required pumping up every two weeks and didn't realise I even had a puncture till curiosity got the better of be and I had a look. Sure enough, green dot on the tyre. However, trying to fix a punture in the dark with wind and rain isn't fun (got the t-shirt).

Seems like a mix of experiences here. Mine have been good.

Best regards.

Vikki.

 

[Old Timer]

I've had a good relationship with slime. It's always got me home in the event of an unexpected puncture. Also, if you examine the tyre tread often you can see if you have a punture and where it is because the green fluid that oozes past the slime fibres leaves a dot on the tyre surface - a neat little tell-tale. I'd be happy to use it again.

Take the point about wanting to know you have a puncture sine a front wheel puncture I had required pumping up every two weeks and didn't realise I even had a puncture till curiosity got the better of be and I had a look. Sure enough, green dot on the tyre. However, trying to fix a punture in the dark with wind and rain isn't fun (got the t-shirt).

Seems like a mix of experiences here. Mine have been good.

Best regards.



Vikki.

Well, I put a Marathon plus tyre on the front of my wifes bike( we had a spare) and I must admit I put a new slime filled tube in as well( didn`t have any others) but she should be ok with just the tyres.

 

[Vikki]

My rear Marathon 'with kevlar guard' got a puncture in the first week of using it. Funny thing is, the thing I found in the tyre couldn't have caused the puncture - it was way too small. It was about half the size of a sunflower seed and quite thin with a tear-drop shape. It either got picked up after the puncture or it was the tip of something large that had broken off

The cut in the tyre was actually quite large for a puncture, 5mm long perhaps and ragged. The puncture in the tube, by comparison, was remarkably small given the hole size in the tyre.

I'd rather have the protection of the Marathon than not have it. After all, they are only puncture resistant - not puncture proof. If I'm saved from 10 punctures for every actual puncture I'd say that was really good and I'd be a happy bunny

Best regards.

Vikki.

 

[Barnowl]

I've been considering getting one of those small cans of slime to carry for emergencies only. Anyone else use those.

 

[Vikki]

Buy it and stick it in the tube straight away, that's how it is used Always ready to work for you then.

Best regards.

Vikki.

 

[flecc]

Buy it and stick it in the tube straight away, that's how it is used Always ready to work for you then.

Best regards.

Vikki.

Until the day it doesn't work and the puncture is them impossible to repair at the roadside because sticky slime has oozed all over the tube and inside of the tyre. Been there, done that, and suffered, like so many of us.

In fact there's two types of these solutions, the types like Slime which are inserted in advance as Vikki says, and the aerosol type one that's used when the puncture occurs and which also reinflates the tyre as the solution goes in. If this forum is anything to go by, both fail at least as often than they succeed.
.

 

[HarryB]

I can second that and recommend the only solution I found that works - marathon plus tyres. I have never failed to get to my destination on account of a puncture since fitting these tyres. Be wary of manufacturers just putting puncture resistance on their tyres as Kenda did - they didn't work at all although of course there will be other brands that work but I haven't tried them.

 

[Vikki]

I can honestly say that in all the times I've had to repair a puncture to a tube that's had Slime in it I've never had a problem fitting a patch.

I would wipe the tube then rough it with a bit of rough emery and proceed from there. I wonder if they've changed the formulation recently (last 3 years-ish)?

It is very interesting the different experiences with this stuff. The Slime I've used is a non-sticky liquid with millions of little fibres suspended in it. Well, can get sticky if it dries but generally it wipes off easy enough.

As to Kenda. My KWest ones are brilliant. In 16 months I've had one puncture in the front tyre and one in the rear. I must be just lucky in that respect

Non-protected tyres I would get maybe 2 punctures a month

I admit to not having Slime in the tubes on my KMX Typhoon trike. The tyres are Big Apples. They are fantastic Touch wood, not had a problem with them but I only use the trike every other day so I've only done about 90 miles on it so far.

Best regards.

Vikki.

 

[HarryB]

I know the stuff you mean - rendered my inner tubes useless as it clogged the valves with those little bits and I wasn't able to pump the tyres up. With the Marathon Plus I have been 100% puncture free since 2007 - brilliant.

 

[tangent]

I used slime filled inner tubes without puncture resistant tyres for a year or two and got punctures frequently, but most of the time the slime did its job sufficiently well to get me home. On repairing the tubes I sometimes found more than one hole, indicating that the slime was doing a perfect job some of the time. Occasionally I ended up with a slow puncture that would go over several days.

I have never had a problem repairing a slime filled tyre, but found it was important to inflate the tyre with the valve in “South West” or “South East” position to keep the slime out of the valve.

I now use Specialized Armadillo tyres and slime filled tubes. I have had punctures with these but far less frequently than before and probably because I have worn them right down before replacing them. I keep the slime filled tubes mainly for superstitious reasons.

The one thing I do know is that whenever I have had a serious puncture it has occurred at the most inconvenient possible time in the worst of weather conditions.

 

[flecc]

Marathon Plus, six years, three bikes, one puncture, slow enough for me to ride home.

No other tyre type or puncture prevention comes close, short of horrible solid tyres.
.

 

[tangent]

What is the rolling resistance like on the Marathon Plus? It is not great with the Armadillos.