puncture repair kit (advice)

[john]

hi can anyone advise what kit to buy am goin to france and want to take a kit just in case . also what breathalizer kit to get as well. and where from (apart from on line) i have heard it is law to have two with you and they only last for two years . do the police do random checks for them or is it worth risking you dont get pulled . also do you have to wear high vis vests or just have them with you in case of breakdown . any other tips would be welcome . thanks

[David]

For small punctures, I have used tyre weld to good effect, last purchased Holts from Halfords, it seals and partialy inflates the tyre.

For larger holes, have used the string/rope type plug together with a small compressor to inflate the tyre. The repair kit was purchased from Motohaus and the compressor from Slime.

Last year, I bought a breathalyser kit from Halfords, I beleive the requirements to carry a self test kit have now been relaxed and are not necessary.

My understanding on Hi-Viz is that it is not required to be worn in France, but may be necessary for a breakdown at the side of the road.

The French Police seem to get a lot of stick/bad press, we've had no problems on several Euro trips.

[iconic944ss]

LOL - David beat me to it, same kit as well by the sounds of it, my write up:

AirPro Puncture repair kit

While the irony at only ordering and getting this repair kit the same week that I had my first puncture in years, wasnt lost on me, yesterday, during the 'Double Chopper' run...

However, just how an oblong, flat of alloy with hardly any sharp surfaces could puncture a perfectly good Pirelli Angel back tyre, is beyond me. The only saving grace was that it was right in the middle of the tyre and close to a petrol station.

Thankfully, I had assistance from Miles and Shaun so the hard part of getting the damn object OUT of the tyre was a good team effort. The kit contains almost everything to get the job done (except a rubber glove that Miles kindly donated, that saved a possibly frozen hand)!

A 'router' (serrated, pointed screwdriver type tool), is used to smooth and open out the wound in the tyre with the tool needing a liberal covering with a liquid rubber glue.

An odd tool like a giant inverted sewing needle with a handle is then used but once once the 'needle' has been threaded with a strip of sealing strip that looks like a badly fried french fry. The loaded needled is pushed into the tyre so that only a half inch or so is left outside, then after giving the tool a quarter then, its retracted, leaving the sealing strip in place.

A blade is provided to cut down the protruding strip to the level of the tyre and then its time to inflate. After buying a mini-inflater and carrying it un-needed all the way to Italy and back I was a little miffed at not having the thing when I needed it but, it all worked out, in the end.

Adapters are provided to fit almost any valve combination and 5 CO2 cylinders of compressed gas which screw into the adapter and (hopefully), inflate the tyre. Worked a treat I must say, I think I should of installed the adapter so that the gas cylinder was pointing DOWN-OVER, into the valve, rather than the other way.

The cylinder does get very cold as the frost on the cylinder and the tyre valve showed but at least its an easy means to show the gas is going in the tyre. I only used two cylinders to get a half decent pressure in the tyre for the 100 yards ride to petrol station for full inflation.

I've not checked the pressure since getting back but the repair held fine for the rest of the 80 or so mile to get back home again. Everything felt fine at up to 70mph but I'm afaid I have little faith in this being no more than a 'get-me-home' repair, which it did, admirably.
Available from Motohaus, here:

link

[David]

Spot on Frank, I couldn't have put it any better myself, "team work makes dreams work".

[Deleted]

No requirement for breath kits or high vis on bikes, only cars.

Do take spare bulbs and good copies of your V5, MOT, licence and insurance docs.

[john]

thanks for the advice lads . cheers john