How common is a front tyre puncture?

[SPRIDDLER]

Quite a few years ago I was at Newhaven waiting with the Matchless for the ferry in the m/bike gathering area and got chatting to a guy with an elderly MZ loaded with camping gear. He'd ridden around 50 miles to the port. I pointed out to him that his front tyre was looking a bit soft, nearly flat in fact. A port police chap directed him to a repair place nearby. I bumped into him later on the ferry and luckily in the hour or so before embarkation he'd managed to get it fixed.
He said the tyre had recently been replaced, then took an open ended spanner about 5" long from his pocket which was found jammed between the tube and the cover. I can only guess that the previous tyre fitter had used it as an additional tyre lever and that the heavy luggage on the bike smothered any peculiar sensation of wheel imbalance. Most strange.

[pkr87]

I had a puncture in the back wheel of My ex Army Matchless in 1959, it might have been caused by the brick that I ran over. It didn't do the front forks a lot of good, they got bent when the bike hit a brick wall.

[Gstovold]

I too have had a few rear punctures but never a front. My theory is that one culprit is too low a pressure in the rear tyre causing tyre and tube creep and damaging the valve, especially if riding 2 up. I had a 1970 Bonnie once and that had a security clamp thing on the rear wheel to stop tyre creep on acceleration.

Geoff

[56G80S]

" security clamp thing on the rear wheel to stop tyre creep on acceleration."

Not someting I worry about on the G80S.

Johnny B

[39speedtwin]

Johnny, if there is a hole in the rim I always fit them, it's not the excelleration, but in your case it could be weight!

[Stan Palmer]

Watch out if you have to buy a new security bolt. Some of the new plastic ones Re absolute crap an result in punctures.
Stan

[Chazzyb]

I've had a couple of front punctures over the years, but nowhere near as many as in the rear. Applies to bicycles as well as big boys' bikes.

[56G80S]

Dudley

I'm only 12 and a half stone (around 79kg). All bone and muscle.

Johnny B

[alanjennings]

I hate security bolts!! Don't ask why!!

[dodger]

I love a challenge, why do you hate security bolts Alan?