Being a motorcycle enthusiast, you need to know and understand the complexity of motorcycle parts, in order to avoid being scammed when you take your bike to repairs, as well as to be able to replace some simple parts by yourself in case they malfunction in the middle of a journey. One of the most common parts you’ll need to replace are the tires. Whether they’re old or went flat during a ride, you need to have some knowledge to replace them adequately to prevent any accident. That being said, buying motorbike tubes can be an intimidating task. However, there are several steps you can go through in order to make sure you’re getting the best motorbike tubes for your bike.
Making sure that the size and the type of valve are appropriate is crucial. Motorbike tubes can be different depending on the wheel diameter and tyre width. The width is given in millimeters at the beginning of the tyre code and is measured from sidewall to sidewall when the tyre is mounted. While the width itself can be changed, the change will depend on the width of the rims. The tube is usually easily determined after you determine the size of the tyre.
Furthermore, you have to take into consideration the fabric that the tube is made from. Most tubes are a mix of synthetic and natural rubber. Natural rubber offers better resistance to punctures and is more pliable, while synthetic is cheaper. Racing tubes generally have a higher percentage of natural rubber in order to perform better and prevent flat tyres.
The valve stem is the weak point of the tube, it’s very vulnerable to leaks and damage. The valve is vulcanized to the tube and can be torn if the tyre happens to spin on the rim. For that reason, ensuring that a proper rim lock is installed is important. Moreover, it’s also essential that you don’t tighten the nut on the valve down the rim. Leaving it loose will allow the tyre to spin without ripping the valve stem.
A motorcycle tube is meant to handle the abuse of the tyre, not the outside elements. If dirt or water manages to get between the tyre and tube, it will grate against the tube. Therefore, making sure that doesn’t happen is very important. Replacing the tube should be done on regular basis, because no matter how hard you try, outside elements will still somehow manage to get their way through. This means that even though your tube hasn’t gone flat, it can still be worn out. It’s highly recommended that you change the tube every six months.
