Editors of Riders Review Magazine Challenge Ride-On to a Smackdown

8/26/2008 - San Diego, CA
Editors of Riders Review Magazine Challenge Ride-On to a Smackdown

Protecting Your Rubbers

Facilities Provided by: Fun Bike Center
Destruction Engineer: Tucker O’Connor

This month we got a pretty cool product to check out called Ride On. Ok, let’s rephrase, the concept of the product was cool. It is claimed to plug any hole in your tire up to 1/4” in tubeless tires and 1/8” in tubed tires. In essence, it keeps you on the road even with damage to the tire that would normally leave you flat on the shoulder. Whether it actually stood up to the claims of the manufacturer were yet to be determined. So with our devious minds at work, we came up with an experiment to test it out for ourselves. (We are cynical little buggers that need to confirm or destroy marketing claims.)

When we met the sales rep for Ride On, there were tales of 9mm pistols and assault rifles used in their testing. Our first thought was, “Shoot it!” Shortly thereafter, it became painfully apparent that no one was going to offer up their bike for this test. Saddened and dejected, it occurred to us that we wouldn’t allow our bikes to be used either! In light of this epiphany, shooting was quickly converted to “I have an ice pick that I have never used. Let’s stab the ever-loving crap out of it!” Lo and behold, a test was born. Now we needed a controlled environment and a kindred spirit willing to assist with the execution of our science experiment and help educate the riders of So Cal. We found that in a guy named Tucker.

We loaded up the necessary equipment and headed over to Fun Bike Center’s Service Department where Tucker works. He jumped at the opportunity to obliterate a perfectly good tire in the name of science. (We like to think it was because he loves the magazine but it’s hard to say since he was on the clock.)

Setting up: We opened the package and it had extremely detailed, yet strangely vague instructions on the amount of product to use, based on tire size and type. Tucker and Cal, who are both proficient motorcycle mechanics, measured the tire exactly to spec and calculated the proper amount of Ride On to inject into the tire, based on the calculations on the paperwork. Only to realize that on the next page, they have all the tire sizes and amount of product to use in each application. After comparing the two, our calculations came out about one ounce over what the diagram said for a comparable tire. Not sure how to proceed, we agreed to use the preset amounts and tucker went to town injecting the goo into the tire.

Claim: They are very specific about the amount that needs to be used in the tire. H” x W” x .055 = Amount in ounces to inject in the tire. They go over this multiple times throughout the paperwork. (To the point that we were concerned that the earth would implode if we calculated improperly.)

Actual: As it turns out, it really isn’t rocket science. In the beginning we discussed how this stuff worked for about 30 minutes. Is it a benign substance? Is there a chemical reaction? Where does it go within the tire? What if we use too much? Will it affect the handling? So many questions! (At this point, we had to agree to help clean up if this stuff splattered everywhere when Tucker took the tire off the rim.) If you are questioning your calculations, add a bit more. It won’t destroy the universe.

Tucker wheeled the bike out and we started with the puncturing and destructive behavior. According to Ride On, it “is currently used by more than 60 municipalities and government agencies and is also used in more than 4,000 police vehicles and motorcycles.” Why? “Because they depend on Ride On to protect their fleet and ensure that the downtime is kept to a minimum.”

Unfortunately, despite our best attempts, we could not disprove this claim. Dammit! After a few hours, a lot of riding and multiple (6) ice pick punctures, it refused to die. We finally had Tucker take a 3/16” drill bit to the tire and then there was no more riding. There was, however, a large grin on Tucker’s face. (Victory!)

Thankfully, all of our questions were answered. You just put the stuff in the tire and if you get a nail or puncture (or attacked by six ravenous ice picks), you can still ride. We all agreed that the Ride On TPS is definitely a beneficial product for the everyday rider.

The Good: Riders with enough common sense to not take a drill to their tire will be pleasantly surprised by this product. It will indeed keep you on the road.

The Bad: Even this product cannot help riders with a lack of common sense.

The Ugly: The expression on Tucker’s face when he removed the drill bit and the tire spit goo at him. -RR

Disclaimer: (No Tuckers were harmed during this experiment)

If you have any questions or comments regarding this article please contact Mark Farkhan at [email protected]