Well after demolishing my tube Sunday on October Mountain, I picked up a new tube and went to change it today. Wow, I tore 6" of rubber off where my valve stem was connected. But that's not the odd part! We know they don't come with rim locks (I have one for my rear now) but my bike had no rim strip protecting the tube from the spokes! So I called Kawasaki and told them what I found, so they're sending me a rim strip and new tube on the house. Sounds like it's the first time they've heard of it, but I wanted to know if anyone else with an '09 has come across a missing rim strip. Once I get my rear back on I'll have to pull the front off and inspect.

 

That is weird. Nice of them to cover it and the tube.

 

Forgot to ask, what caused the flat? I means besides the non existent rim lock. I have 12,400 miles on my bike and have been on some pretty rocky terrain, and I have never had a flat. I run 25 lbs and am on my 5th tire. What the dealio?

 

October Mountain is called Rocktober Mountain by those of us who know it, brutal rocky madness. I couldn't find any other problem with the tube besides spinning the tube in the rim and shredding it, but I didn't check long either after seeing that. I didn't have the tire all the way off the rim at that point either, so didn't know I was missing the rim strip until after.

 

There is a first for everything. Good to hear Kawi covered for you.

 

I guess what I was hinting on in my post, is that if you run the max air, you will never get a flat from the valve stem. What air were you running? On my trip to Oregon last month, we were on some of the gnarliest stuff I ever rode on, and at one point I thought the rocks were going to shred my sidewall, but the Dunlop 606 is truly the best tire ever!!!

 

I was running full pressure, I don't soften my tires when off road.

 

 

I second that (rear only,) I/ve run the 606 down to 12 psi without much difference. It is a really stiff tyre. I run 18psi all around now giving the rim/tube some extra protection. Going lower didn't seem to make any difference. 1 Talon rimlock on the rear.

 

I picked a Motion Pro rim lock locally, but they didn't have one for the front. Not that it matters much, I don't think I'll be spinning the tube in the front tire.