As the bearing had seized, the rear wheel had been sticking all day.
Then at 52.5mph it goes bye bye.

You don't get to see much and the quality is not great, but I thought I'd share. :D

http://vimeo.com/26868987

did you have a lock nut on that wheel?

I think when the bearing is sticking the wheel can start turing around the bearing. I think the wheel comes off because the rim deforms due to the heat and slides off the bearings. It is an important reason to address sticky bearings. This was how it was explained to me when someone noticed my bearings sticking on one tire. Pretty crazy to have a wheel come off at that speed. I am glad you are ok. Posting your video might help save someone else from having the same trouble. Thanks! and NICE BEACH by the way.

That had to be quite the powerslide you were thrown into.

Hey Van, I didn't use a locking nut although I should, but in this case it was the bolt itself that undid itself in the axle, due to I think the bearing and wheel becoming one.
I think it's a common problem when using discs. Never had any trouble with the BF's.....expect that one time.

stetson05, thanks The weather was terrible for a July day, but what's terrible for some can be a dream come true for others. :D I'll let you into a little secret...the wheel had actually come off five times that day all at 50mph, that's why I resorted to carrying the wrench with me. The video showed the wheel coming off the second time. Still leaves your heart in your mouth though.

snowspider, it was quite the powerslide, but it was over very quickly. I instinctively kicked the front wheel out to put the bug into one, but realised that I would have had a smoother more stable and safer stop if I just did nothing.

Thanks all

:wee::wee::wee: good times glad your ok.

Thanks pyro22487

cool , glad you did not have walk back!

love it, you extreme!!!

You could've pressed on better with the sticky bearing on the right wheel. The resistance in the bearing had some loosening leverage on your axle bolt. On the right side, it would tighten. Glad you were ok! 50+ is exciting anyway, but with your wheel falling off all day, is over the top!

good thing it wasn't the downwind wheel, that axle would have dug in and sent you flying as well. Glad it was a safe sliding stop for you.

Thanks for all your concerns and kind words. This is a friendly site.

markite - It was the downwind wheel / kite side wheel! lol

That happened to me when I was flying the 16m vapor overpowered. Was going back up wind at about 30 and I think the constant sideways traction through out the entire day just wiggled the wheel loose. It was the upwind wheel... I had a lock nut too... I always feared losing a tire, but at least at 30 and on sand, it was no big deal. The buggy slowed pretty fast but did not catch and stop. Left a good 50ft streak in the sand as my wheel rolled past me! I had the go pro on BUT it ran out of battery about 5-10 minutes before! poop!

Glad you are ok, and you know it was fun

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It was the downwind wheel / kite side wheel! lol

Wow, Big thumbs up for a safe stop!

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Originally posted by RedSky This is a friendly site.

Thats why I have been coming here for years Tom, all you need to to now it get yourself to NABX 2012 and meet a lot of the guys across the pond.

back on topic, I was with a good crowd last weekend at BLS, I was just speaking to Bladeaddict, I have mentioned that one of my rear wheel nuts had become slightly loose....as quick as lightning he came back with " I have never had a wheel nut come loose all the time I have been buggying"....we went straight out after that comment...he too was in a T3 but with Eurotrax on...we were practicing suicide gybes, he had just come out of one.....well you can guess what happens next, yes his rear wheel came off, the stub axle had un screwed itself, and the end result was much like your video......of course I said nothing....no really...nothing...:moon::wee:

arkay - Isn't that always the way with the GoPro's and yeah it was fun :D


Carl - Haha :D He'll think twice before tempting fate again. lol sweet! I'm sure you were diplomatic about it.
Getting to NABX would be a dream come true. Have you any plans on returning in 2012 ?

Tom - What surprises me even more is that nobody has noted the "kitecat " listed under your rides and started a new thread of questions.

Hi markite. I only bought the KiteCat at the end of summer last year and so therefore have used it just a hand full of times in choppy water.

I had a minor car/van crash earlier this year and replaced it with a small pickup without thinking how I'm going to transport the KiteCat.

At some point I need to get a rack welded to the pickup so I can use it again. I want to try it out on flat water and get some serious speeds. The waves are big fun but slow you down.

Not sure if I'm the best qualified to answer questions as I've not used it to it's full potential yet.

It is a brilliant ride driving through waves. You get a lot of heads turning and it draws a crowd.
Had a scary moment a mile out to sea plus a few night sessions which were great. Ignorance is bliss.

Can't wait to use it again.

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Originally posted by RedSky Have you any plans on returning in 2012 ?

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