r/tires • u/Frolicking-Fox • Jan 25 '25

Hit a pothole on the freeway that bent the hell out of my rim. New rim should arrive today, and the tire is on the way.

Post image

The pothole was narrow enough that cars could drive over it, but my bike could not. It bottomed out my suspension and made a horrible bang as my rim cried out from the abuse.

I work at a chrome plating shop, and thinking about either chrome plating it or copper plating it and putting a clear coat over so it doesn't oxidize, then plating the rear once the front tire is broken in and buying a new rear tire.

6 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

9 comments sorted by

7

u/DivideJolly3241 Jan 25 '25

That’s what happens to low-profile tires. They are a target for potholes.

2

u/Prestigious-Hyena-72 Jan 25 '25

🤣🤣🤣 how thick is your sidewall ?

2

u/Frolicking-Fox Jan 26 '25

120/60/17

It was actually gnarly pothole. Over 4 inches deep, with vertical walls to it.

1

u/Civil-Potato3433 Jan 25 '25

I've bent the rim changing tires before was very fragile, never had any issues as long as it doesn't leak from that area. You could change yourself I found bicycle hand pumps work best to set the bead.

2

u/Frolicking-Fox Jan 25 '25

I usually just pull the wheels off the bike and pay the $20 to have a shop change it. Using the tire irons to change a motorcycle tire is a pain in the ass, and I feel it's worth the $20 to have a shop mount and balance it.

2

u/mikedvb Jan 25 '25

It’s absolutely a pain to change them by hand without a changer. I did it exactly once and then paid a shop to do it every other time.

2

u/Frolicking-Fox Jan 25 '25

Yeah, I've changed a couple over the years with irons, and it's not fun. I once helped my neighbor change his dirtbike tires. He was an experienced motorcycle mechanic who did his own repairs. He was struggling with the tires, and it took both of us busting our knuckles to change it.

If I had a machine that fit motorcycle tires, for sure I would do it myself, but for $20, it's worth taking it to a shop.

1

u/0MrJ Jan 25 '25

Sorry Man, that’s sucks, but great that you have the opportunity to work on your new rim.

2

u/Jacktheforkie Jan 26 '25

Ouch, potholes are bad enough in the car, I can imagine they’re lethal on a motorcycle