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To Slime or Not To Slime To Slime or Not To Slime
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Equipping the Bike - what's the best gear? Anything to do with the bikes equipment, saddlebags, etc. Questions on repairs and maintenance of the bike itself belong in the Brand Specific Tech Forums.
Photo by Ellen Delis, Lagunas Ojos del Campo, Antofalla, Catamarca

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Ellen Delis,
Lagunas Ojos del Campo,
Antofalla, Catamarca



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  #1  
Old 7 May 2011
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To Slime or Not To Slime
Hi, I'm sure this has been covered before but couldn't find the information. So I was hoping that you good people could help me out.

I'm about to embark for Morocco in the next few weeks and I'm weighing up the pros and cons of putting slime (well oko puncture free) into my tyres for the trip.

I will be running with tubed tyres as people seem to say that slime is a no go area with tubeless tyres as it makes a mess of your rim. But with tubed tyres surely it will remain in the tube so souldn't cause a problem when changing tyres.

Bearing in mind I will be definately changing tyres during my trip as I shall be running road tyres on the way down and putting on dual sport tyres for the mountain tracks in the atlas.

All advise will be greatly recived and previous horror storys or good experinces will help me make up my mind.

Thanks
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  #2  
Old 7 May 2011
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Hello!

I have slime in both tyres (tubed type) and it works great! I used to pick up a lot of punctures due to the fact I am a joiner, and always manage to spill a box of nails over. So far, so good.

Also, why not use duel sport tyres for the entire trip???
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  #3  
Old 7 May 2011
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tommysmithfromleeds View Post

Also, why not use duel sport tyres for the entire trip???
For the simple reason that I have a pair of road tyres with enough life to get me down to Morocco and then a fairly new pair of dual sport tyres. to use in the dirt.
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  #4  
Old 7 May 2011
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It works until the hole is too big/finds a tube seam/all the goo has run out. Then you have a tube a patch won't stick to and a horrible mess inside the tyre (water soluable my ****).

If you are in the inhabited bit of Morocco you can assume that a slime failure isn't the end of the world, you'll just call a garage, get it sorted and buy a new tube. In more awkward places (eg. Spain when they are closed for Siesta/Saints Days/because there is an R in the month) you'll still need to carry the tube and the kit to make a proper repair, so why not just save yourself the cash and plan on only doing full repairs?

Andy
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  #5  
Old 7 May 2011
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My experience is that these products work better in tubeless tyres than tubed. A nail in a tubeless tyre makes a small hole which the goo finds easy to plug. The same nail in a tubed tyre often causes a split in the tube which the slime has no chance of sealing.
For the MT I use heavy duty tubes without goo and carry lighter spare tubes as well as a puncture outfit. If there are several of you with similar size wheels you dont all have to carry spares.
On the bigger Harley with tubeless I use slime and carry a spare tube on longer trips. Fortunately I've never had to use the tube at the roadside!
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  #6  
Old 7 May 2011
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Yes - I've generally found tubes split, and tubles are more repairable. I've a "plug" set for tubeless, but always had a set of levers, patch kit and spare tube with previous bikes. The aerosol Motul stuff you can buy for tubed tyres I never got to work
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Old 7 May 2011
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I've been using slime in tubes and in tubeless for quite a few years now and I've yet to have a puncture in that time.
But of course I still don't know if it works or not.
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  #8  
Old 8 May 2011
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My experience is 150,000+ miles on tubeless tyres with no punctures, and five punctures in 20,000 miles on tubed tyres. I tried slime on my last trip coupled with heavy duty tyres. The slime didn't prevent a rear-tyre puncture and managed to spread itself all over the inside of the tyre as well as over the tube. Nowhere to wash it off (puncture on a trail miles from water).

Was carrying a spare tube but of course this got covered in slime as well. Stuffed the slime-covered HD tube in a plastic bag. Mucky stuff when you can't wash it off.
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Old 9 May 2011
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Carry Spares
I have never used slime but always thought it sound like a good idea. Judging from the stories it may or may not be. I carried spare tubes and a tubeless plugger kit.

Changing a tube doesn't take that long and you can always have a go at repairing the tube once its out.
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  #10  
Old 5 Aug 2011
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Ultraseal
Have used Ultraseal (now a different name?) in Pan Euro and 1200GS.

Trailer in front dumped naily boards on Autostrada at 70+ mph. Smashed headlamp, punctured front (discovered on return to UK). Always use it, washes out no prob!
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  #11  
Old 27 Nov 2011
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http://www.michelin.co.uk/motorcycles/michelin-bib-mousse

I have been recommended Michelin Mousse "as used in the Dakar" - is this just slime or an improvement of same? Do they really use it on the Dakar?

I believe it makes the tyres harder to change (which i assume is only necessary when chaning worn out tyres).

I am running tubeless & carrying puncture repair kits. Is it overkill to carry two spare tyres (on a GSA in S America)?

Thanks
Delb
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