Work Case #21 DRZ400 in 2019 + Fun 'n Games in 2020

[Brenhden]

In the late 70s a pal of mine bought a (rear engined) Hillman Imp at an evening car auction, riding home with him the throttle cable broke.
Half an hour of splendid bodging later - utilising some of the original cable, a length of fence wire found in the hedge and a pair of DM bootlaces - we were on our way again. Our 'cable' came through a louvre in the engine cover, down the side of the car, through the drivers window and behind his head, so that I, the passenger, could operate the throttle while he did everything else. We quickly got the hang of pulling away, though gear changes were a laugh until we got things (sort of) synchronised. Half way home I got bored, so took to yanking full throttle at inopportune moments, then slowing right down so we nearly stalled etc etc. I still laugh at the memory of the poor Imp kangaroo-hopping violently through one village at about 12mph and later hurtling round a tight bend, tyres squealing, me full on the throttle, him with both feet on the brake pedal trying desperately to slow the plot down and keep us out of the ditch. About 40 rural miles home, in the dark, and we were in stitches all the way. Happy days.

Happy crazy days of youth.

[Thedktor]

So, back to August and my DRZ story, and the very next day after the throttle cable problem I went out again on a similar route, with a view to have a much better ride this time.

Well! I did, for about 3 hours, and then got a puncture!! . .

No problem, been here many times before and stop by some bushes to cut a stick stand.

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Take the back wheel out, tyre off, and find a nail has gone through the tube.

OK, no worries, onto Plan A - fix it with a patch.

FAIL! - the rubber glue had dried up! . .

Oh. OK, no worries, onto plan B - put the spare front tube in that I have been carrying around all summer.

FAIL! - bloody tube has a split! . .

OK, Plan C - fix the tube, but oh:

FAIL! - [see plan A] . . . .

Oh poops, no obvious solution for this, I'm going to have to get some help!

Unfortunately I'm miles deep in the middle of Salisbury Plain which is going to complicate any rescue attempt, so I need to at least get to a tarmac road. I put the tyre back on and carefully ride about 10 miles with a very flat tyre until reaching the main road west out of Tidworth.

Which was ironically the exact same spot where on the previous day I stopped with the broken throttle cable! . .

A few phone calls and a good friend of mine comes out to pick me up in his van, thanks [very] good friend ...

[PHILinFRANCE]

Never rains

[Snaf MKII]

No cable ties, rope or strap in your backpack? This will get you home.

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[Nico-D]

No cable ties, rope or strap in your backpack? This will get you home.
IMG_20201025_1130410.jpg

Excellent tip, thanks.

[Hugh]

Greetings,

I have heard, but never done it, that folk have left the tube out, filled the void with straw, secured the tyre with cable ties, as per previous photo, and then ridden off

TTFN

Hugh.

[Hall]

Greetings,

I have heard, but never done it, that folk have left the tube out, filled the void with straw, secured the tyre with cable ties, as per previous photo, and then ridden off

TTFN

Hugh.

Guilty as charged my lord rustenburg to Johannesburg with both wheels punctured on a tenere in the late 80s ,it was crabbing about a bit.I got away with it due to the irc enduro knobblies with really stiff side walls

[Nico-D]

Ha, even Dakar heroes like Toby Price have to resort to zipties on split tyres it seems