83 1100E - tube or tubeless?

[sharpy]

You could fit a yz600 gearbox in a katata but just because you can doenst mean its a good thing. Stick to the labels/warnings and be safe. Too many things out there ready to kill you, why add one more. Yes people do run them tubeless, thats there choice. My boss even ran this bike tubless but i didnt ride it with that setup. (lots of silicone and duct tape)

[sharpy]

I think the message of that thread was if it does not say tubeless they are not.I agree with you it's very strange that Suzuki did 19s tube while the 16 and 17 on the 750 are clearly marked tubeless.

Suzuki did a lot of strange things. My "S" DID NOT come with a seat grab rail but people say it did. I was there when the first owner brought the bike and it was still a vinyl seat when i got it later on. The 850 had one tube and one tubless rim, The XN85 after they made the XR69. Shall i rave on? lol

[Sunburn]

Big thing to me is road side repair.

It's the only thing I could think of. No quick plug to get you home.

But then, 20 years of riding I have only had one flat. (knock, knock)

[bonanzadave]

But then, 20 years of riding I have only had one flat. (knock, knock)

I was running Dunlaps with tubes last year when I ran over a machine screw. 12 miles from home. 10 bucks a mile for the tow truck ! I had a local guy put on Road Riders for me (10 bucks a wheel) without tubes. I had to retighten the nuts on the valve stems and now their tight as a drum .

[Sunburn]

I've got roadside assistance with my insurance. It cost extra $9 a year.


Much better then calling my wife and have her drive out with the kids in my truck

[dpep]

I think the message of that thread was if it does not say tubeless they are not.I agree with you it's very strange that Suzuki did 19s tube while the 16 and 17 on the 750 are clearly marked tubeless.

Suzuki did not do all of the 19s tube. In the picture below the 19" on the right that is on the bike is stamped tubeless. It is originally from a 1981 GS1000G I believe. The 19" tire on the left which is from my 1980 GS850G is not stamped tubeless.



Both front and rear on my '82 1100GK are stamped tubeless. It is clear that Suzuki had full sets of tubeless rims for motorcycles before 1983. So if it wasn't tire size and it wasn't by date, what was the reasoning behind retaining the older tire technology for the most advanced model?

[Nessism]

So if it wasn't tire size and it wasn't by date, what was the reasoning behind retaining the older tire technology for the most advanced model?

Tooling for the tube type wheels were most likely already paid for.

[SVSooke]

(Shrug)Got me.Suzuki does all sorts of things from what I've seen.You are right it does not make sense.(Shrugs again)

[bwringer]

If you look at the fiche, the 83 GS1100E was indeed originally equipped with tubes. I have no idea why.

FWIW, the tubeless wheels found on later model shafties were made by Enkei. Did a different supplier make the 83 GS1100E wheels?

Anyway, here's the counterbore and pilot we used to convert George's front wheel. We didn't need to use it on the rear because the middle inside of the wheel was flat. On the front, it was rounded so we had to create a flat spot for the valve stem.

5/8" counterbore with 5/16" pilot, purchased from an aviation tool supplier:




Demonstrating usage on a random wheel (this wheel is actually already tubeless -- it was just handy) :



Mind you, there is an additional bead retention ridge on tubeless wheels that you may not have on tube wheels. When you seat the beads on converted wheels, there's not that loud "pop pop" -- just a couple of muffled pops or maybe a "squish" noise.

The decision to convert to tubeless is a personal one. If you don't feel you fully understand the process, benefits and risks involved, or if do understand it and you're not comfortable with it, then keep using tubes.

I know of several successful conversions, and have never heard of a failure on a converted GS. I have heard that in some countries it is actually illegal to go tubeless (unless the wheel is marked as such), and that in the event of an accident, modifications such as this can even be cause for denying insurance payments or pressing charges.

[TheCafeKid]

As already stated by many, the 83 1100E wheels are not stamped "tubeless". They were also NOT made by Einke (sp) but another company that I cannot recall off the top of my head but it begins with an "A". However, I've been running tubeless on my 1100ES for three plus years.. The latest front has been on for nearly two seasons (wore quite nicely... Avon venomX for anyone interested) and never once have I had a problem. Tire Unlimited installed it as well and did not question me about it, which leads me to believe at some point "tubeless applicable" stamps went away or they just don't care. Btw I didn't chamffer out my valve stem seat and dint have a leak but I may have just gotten lucky. I would suggest that if you're going to convert to tubeless however that you clean the rim quite well.

Later models (700/750/1150) had the same cast pattern but were tubeless, and I seem to remember them being Einke wheels, so maybe that's the reason.??? If you do change, I'd follow brians suggestion and keep an eye on it for a few weeks especially when the temps change ( like now) quickly durring the day. If you see no change, go back to checking it as you normally would.

[Joe Nardy]

My law firm, Dewey, Cheatum, and Howe, informs me that the correct answer is to run tubes.

That being said I have heard stories of certain people running tubeless tires on '83 GS1100E's for decades with no problems whatsoever. Of course, I cannot recall who those people may be and cannot confirm or deny whether the stories were actually factual or chemically induced. And I cannot confirm or deny that I have ever been in a chemically altered state of mind to have heard any chemically induced stories........

[dpep]

This discussion gives me wonder about the physics involved. If you have a sudden blowout at speed, is that small little lip going to have a marked effect on how the deflated tire carcass will behave? If so, would it not have the same effect when an inner tube deflates? Why would it not be a part of all rims? It is the same tire whether or not you put a tube in it. Does this mean that non "tubeless applicable" rims are inherently less safe than tubeless rims whether or not you use an inner tube?

Has much if any testing been done to confirm the efficacy of that lip in real world blowout scenarios? What sort of history do we have of crashes or other incidents caused by the absence of a lip on a tire rim? These things would be good to hear because the overwhelming body of empirical evidence seems to favor that there is little if any difference between the two types of rims in normal use. I simply have never heard from anyone who had a serious problem based on the design of the rim, only on the condition (cracks, casting flaws, etc.).

[salty_monk]

Must have been to do with tooling as the 16" front on 83 750E/ES is tubeless & to that pattern (as is the 17" rear).

[bwringer]

This is a tubeless front wheel and there's no ridge:

[jheurte]

As already stated by many, the 83 1100E wheels are not stamped "tubeless". They were also NOT made by Einke (sp) but another company that I cannot recall off the top of my head but it begins with an "A".

They were made by Asahi. At least that's what's stamped on mine.