Your Latest/Best Tire Recommendations

[renobruce]

Wow, Help me with this one guys. I just got ready to order my sport demons, and happened to look at the schematic for my bike on Bike Bandit (81 GS1000G), and the schematic shows a tube..... It's a 1981, I thought it was tubeless... can I mount a tubeless on a rim designed for a tube? Is it REALLY a tubeless, I thought that was pre-1980.

Take a close look at the wheel. It should say tubeless if it is. If not, put a tube in.

[Planecrazy]

Wow, Help me with this one guys. I just got ready to order my sport demons, and happened to look at the schematic for my bike on Bike Bandit (81 GS1000G), and the schematic shows a tube..... It's a 1981, I thought it was tubeless... can I mount a tubeless on a rim designed for a tube? Is it REALLY a tubeless, I thought that was pre-1980.

The "Joe's Garage" gang has converted a few "tube only" wheels for use with tubeless tires and have not ever had a problem with them. There IS some grinding involved on some wheels, because the hole the valve stem goes through is tapered on the tube style wheels (at least the ones we converted) and we had to remove some metal in order to create a nice flat surface for the tubeless valve stems to seal properly against. A dremel can be your best friend!!

The wheel will normally have some imprint on it indicating "tube only" or some such words ... that's how you can tell (usually) what you've got.

Regards,

[doctorgonzo]

Damn it. Another day delay ordering. I'm going to have to wait until I get home and look closely at what I have on it now. I just can't imagine those tires have tubes, but I better be sure.

[renobruce]

I could be wrong, but I think the only tube-type wheels were the spoked ones. I think all the mags are tubeless.

[doctorgonzo]

I could be wrong, but I think the only tube-type wheels were the spoked ones. I think all the mags are tubeless.

I am 99.9% sure you are right, but at $200.00 for the pair, and the bitch of having to return them. I guess I'll wait and order tomorrow. That should get them here by next weekend.

[tkent02]

I could be wrong, but I think the only tube-type wheels were the spoked ones. I think all the mags are tubeless.

Another difference is the shape of the rim, mags for tubeless have a kind of a lip inside the bead area, wheels for tubes do not.
They will work anyway, just wasn't designed for it. May not be as safe if the air suddenly goes out of the tire.

I'm not doing tubes any more.

[Planecrazy]

I could be wrong, but I think the only tube-type wheels were the spoked ones. I think all the mags are tubeless.

Nope, Bruce ... some mags were "tube" type ... the ones we converted at Joe's place were mags...

Regards,

[renobruce]

Nope, Bruce ... some mags were "tube" type ... the ones we converted at Joe's place were mags...

Regards,

I stand corrected. Thanks, Steve. I wasn't sure on that...

[cgerbick]

My '81 GS has mag wheels and were tubed. I put on a set of tubeless tires with minimal effort. The only thing that I had to do, was to enlarge the hole for the new valve stem. Just make sure you get a replacement stem that has a large enough rubber, to seal the groove in the wheel. I didn't do any other grinding and was able to get the tire to seal perfectly. Have about 2500 miles on the tires so far, with no issues.

[doctorgonzo]

I'm gonna look tonight. Hopefully I can tell from the tire that is on it if it's a tubeless one, barring that, I'll contact the PO.

[salty_monk]

My 78 has tubes. My 80 has a tubeless rear & a tubed front.... It's clearly marked on the rim.

They're all mags & look the same from the outside.

Dan

[doctorgonzo]

My 78 has tubes. My 80 has a tubeless rear & a tubed front.... It's clearly marked on the rim.

They're all mags & look the same from the outside.

Dan

Hoping when I get home shortly, the tire will say tubeless or not.

[salty_monk]

Look on the rim not the tyre.

Tyre will likely say "tubeless, tube on tubed type rim" or something similar.

Dan

[bwringer]

Look on the rim not the tyre.

Tyre will likely say "tubeless, tube on tubed type rim" or something similar.

Dan

Yes, this. The tires will work just fine with or without tubes. No need to return the tires or anything like that.

If your rim requires a tube and you don't feel comfortable converting it (pleeeeeeeease don't open this tedious debate again), just go get a tube at your local Motorbike Shoppe and put one in.