DKT- Flat tyre: grip firmly, feet on pegs, stay straight, no brakes, close the throttle gradually.
- Wobble: slow down gradually, brake carefully with both brakes, and pull off.
- Stuck throttle or seized engine: pull in the clutch, brake gently to a stop, turn off the ignition.
- Look after tyres and your chain to prevent most of these.
Blowout (flat tyre)
A blowout is a sudden puncture, usually from a sharp object like a nail. With a flat front tyre the front end flops from side to side and steering gets harder; with a flat rear the back end slides about. The faster you go, the more likely you are to lose control, so react quickly.
- Hold the handgrips firmly and concentrate on steering. Keep your feet on the pegs and try to go straight.
- Do not use the brakes, especially on the flat wheel.
- Flat front: move your weight as far back as you can. Flat rear: sit forward and pull in the clutch.
- Close the throttle gradually.
- When you have slowed down, pull off the road and coast to a stop.
Replace tyres before they wear out and avoid running over things like timber boards. Frequent checks of pressures and condition help prevent flats.
Mechanical problems
| Problem | What to do |
|---|---|
| Wobble or shake at high speed | Slow down gradually, apply both brakes carefully, pull off the road carefully, then find and fix the cause. Causes include a heavy, uneven load, a bent or misaligned wheel, worn or loose bearings or spokes, a poorly fitted windscreen or fairing, and unsuitable or worn tyres. You cannot always tell whether the front or rear is to blame. |
| Broken chain (rear wheel not locked) | Close the throttle and brake to a stop. |
| Broken chain (rear wheel locks) | Treat it as a rear skid: do not brake and steer into the skid. |
| Stuck throttle | Pull in the clutch, brake gently to a stop and pull off the road, then turn off the ignition. |
| Seized engine | Pull in the clutch immediately, brake gently to a stop, pull off and switch off the ignition. Let the engine cool, top up oil or coolant if low, and have it checked for damage. |
Pulling off the road
- Check the roadside surface first. Try not to go into mud or deep sand, and take care at the edge of the bitumen.
- Check your mirrors, do a headcheck and signal clearly.
- Stop well clear of the road. A parked bike is hard to see and you could be hit.
See also looking after your motorcycle.
Based on The Victorian Rider Handbook (2023, Department of Transport and Planning) and the VicRoads motorcycle pages. This guide covers Victoria: other states and territories have different rules, and rules change from time to time, so check vicroads.vic.gov.au for the latest.
Quick answers
What should I do if my motorcycle tyre blows out?
Hold the grips firmly, keep your feet on the pegs, stay straight and avoid the brakes. Shift weight back for a front flat or forward for a rear flat, close the throttle gradually and then pull off.
What causes a motorcycle to wobble at speed?
Besides a flat tyre, causes include an uneven heavy load, a bent wheel, worn or loose bearings or spokes, a badly fitted fairing or windscreen, and worn or unsuitable tyres.