1980 GS550L Tubeless or Tube

[kenora_guy]

OK, my rear tire needs to be replaced. I purchased a Bridgstone Spitfire S11 to replace the King that was on it. The King has a tube in it but I would prefer to go tubeless. Does anyone know if this bike came with tubeless rims. There are no markings on the rims one way or the other...

TIA

KG

[Steve]

If the rim has no markings saying "TUBELESS TIRE APPLICABLE", then it's NOT rated for a tubeless tire.

The 1980 cast alloy rims were still early in the industry, and still had some problems with porosity. You can try to run tubeless if you want, but there are no guarantees. Some have tried coating the inside of the rim with epoxy to seal it, with decent results, but what's wrong with running a tube? Bikes have done it for years.

Yeah, tubeless is better, but tubes still work.

.

[mike_of_bbg]

My identically-styled rims were marked only on the front "tubeless tire applicable"; embossed around the outside of the rim between two of the spokes, and on one side only. However, I am running tubeless on both front and rear, and tubeless were on there before. No problems so far. As far as being porous, they're really not bad. I only lose a pound or so every few weeks. I also had to drill the valve stem hole out a little bit to get the metal valve stem to fit.

Either way, the Spitfire's a good tire, but watch for contact with the chain guard. I had to bend mine out a little bit. The S11's tread sticks out a bit and rubbed where the prior Cheng Shin did not.

[kenora_guy]

Thanx guys for the input. I dropped my rim and tire off before I got your feedback thinking that it would take a couple days before they got to it in which case I could call them with further instructions... Not the case... They said they would have it done by 5 so I told the small engine shop to do what they thought was best...

In this neck of the woods we don't have anyone that I would call a "bike shop" but the locals I know who ride say that the place I took it is the best around... I kind of wonder when you walk in they don't have any bikes in the shop, and lawn mower type engines are what's being worked on...