GS850 tire valve stem replacement.

[onchiman]

I'm ordering up new tires for my '79 GS850 and want to also replace the valve stems. They are tubeless wheels and The Suzuki schematics I've looked at on line including Bike-Bandit don't seem to list the tire valve stems. So with no part number I can't order them, at least OEM ones. I don't mind going with aftermarket but I don't know what size to order. I seem to recall the wheels having an "odd" sized tire valve but can't find info. Can anyone tell me what stem sizes I should be looking for?

[Nessism]

Are both of your wheels "tubeless applicable" or just one? Most people only have one until the official switch to tubeless in 1982. Some people convert from tubes to tubeless by drilling the wheels valve stem hole oversize. This is a critical detail because the '79 850 had tubes from the factory.

[rustybronco]

The '79 gs850 came with a tube type front wheel, that is why you can't find valve stems listed for it. I don't know if the factory rear wheel in '79 was a tubeless or not, but it did come with a tube in it from the factory.

if both of your wheels do say tubeless, post a picture of them so we can determine what year they are.

***edit*** sorry Ed, it's hard to complete a post in a timely fashion at work.

[DanTheMan]

I bought new valve stems from my local Suzuki dealer that really knows very little about anything over 7 years old, common off-the-shelf item. Cost me about $13.50 as I remember it. Next time, though, I'm going to get the 90 deg elbow style rather than straight up and down, the gauge works better on those and so does the air hose.

[onchiman]

My digital camera is on the fritz but both wheels are the mag style and have the words "Tubeless Tire Applicable" cast into them. The rear has a 45 degree metal valve stem with no nut on it. So you're saying this was added at some point? I suppose I can go with tubes or tubeless on both wheels then. Of course tubeless would save the cost of the tubes and rim-strips.

[DanTheMan]

On the Mag style rims, the rim strip isn't needed. My front wheel had a tube in it when I bought the bike up until last year when I replaced my front tire again, and took the time to buy a valve stem and toss the tube. My rear wheel has never had a tube in it. I guess there were concerns about porosity of the rims back when and people put tubes in whether it said tubeless or not.

[bwringer]

You can get the valve stems at any motorbike shoppe (they are NOT available at car stores). There are two sizes, and you want the smaller. Some types come with a bushing so they fit either.

Easy-peasy.

[BassCliff]

Hi,

Just for reference, my 1980 GS850GT has a rear wheel that's also marked "Tubeless Tire Applicable" but the front wheel is not. Currently I am running a tube in the front but not in the rear. I have run a tube in the rear in the past but stopped when I found out my rear wheel was a magnet. It attracts nails and screws. Without the tube I can just push a plug in the tire and keep going.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[onchiman]

So these type stems are what I'm after?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2-Enkei-85-deg-Bent-Metal-Valve-Stems-Angled-Motorcycle_W0QQitemZ140312063853QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotorcycles_Parts_Accessories?hash=item140312063853&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=72%3A1171|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318

[DanTheMan]

Those look like the right ones as long as the hole diameter is correct.