Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
"I think the snowflake wheels are perfect candidates for this switch."
LOL! if that was an answer to me? The OP....I'll say one more time....I DO NOT want snowflakes ....I am after wire spoke tubeless wheel/rim/tires...combination...
BUT!!...speaking {of} snowflakes, I did use tubeless tires on them, on an 81 RS. several sets, adding up to [I believe] 56000+/- miles. And had no problems.
No, I wasn't referring to your desire not to have Snowflake wheels! In fact, I hadn't even seen that comment until just now. My previous remarks were simply an observation. I think that each has his own likes/dislikes. I used to have spoked wheel with steel rim on my /2, and then spoked wheels with alloy rims on my /6. But, I personally prefer the Snowflakes, and am considering myself converting them to tubeless (w/o the tube), but am not sure it is worth the effort.
But I am curious. Why go tubeless rims at all? What would be the benefit other than saving about $14 at a tire change?
Just curious!
No, I wasn't referring to your desire not to have Snowflake wheels! In fact, I hadn't even seen that comment until just now. My previous remarks were simply an observation. I think that each has his own likes/dislikes. I used to have spoked wheel with steel rim on my /2, and then spoked wheels with alloy rims on my /6. But, I personally prefer the Snowflakes, and am considering myself converting them to tubeless (w/o the tube), but am not sure it is worth the effort.
But I am curious. Why go tubeless rims at all? What would be the benefit other than saving about $14 at a tire change?
Just curious!
A benefit would be you could plug a puncture with the tire on the bike rather than removing the wheel, removing the tire, removing the tube, replacing the tube and remounting the wheel.
IMHO no more handsome wheel has ever graced a motorcycle than the snowflake.
Wow. You really are full of yourself.
The person I discussed this with was a man who worked at a very large motorcycle shop that sold about 10 brands of motorcycles and had changed hundreds and hundreds of tires, both tube-type and tubeless. How many have you changed?
Also how do you account for the fact that running a tubeless tire on a tube-type rim with no tube HAS been successfully done?
I just would bet that again, you have NO experience with this, but just conjecture.
Well, you're really poorly educated.
Everone knows that manufacturers are cheap but why don't you wonder why BMW went to all the trouble of sending these bikes from the factory with tubes in them when all they had to do was request the manufacturer drill the valve stem hole a little larger and then they could eliminate all the expense of buying and installing tubes and then just use tubeless tires? No, they didn't do it because the rest of the wheel does not meet industry standards for what constitutes a tubeless wheel.
One thing that separates the educated from the not is an understanding of statistics. The fact there are a few samples of folks that have gotten away with something doesn't prove that sort of shade-tree engineering correct. To think having "changed lots of tires" makes one an engineering expert is laughable. Sad, actually. But, if you're not, how would you know?
Of course, if you could read, you'd note I've never said running tubeless tires tubeless on snowflake wheels is impossible--I've only said the wheels don't meet industry standards for doing this and you won't find a wheel manufacturer or tire manufacturer that will approve the process.
And I do understand the tubeless tire is less likely to suffer massive deflation compared to a tire with a tube. Yet, I'd still run them with tubes simply because I don't suffer the delusion I'm smarter than the designers and industry standard setters and because the instructions from the tire manufacturer tell me to.
The fact you're a legend in your own mind is of little consequence. Owning a motorcycle makes nobody a genius, but there sure are lots with that delusion. Glad you're not in aviation.
As I read back through the whole thread, YOU are the only one who said it couldn't be done. Yet many others said it worked and one suggested that there is a company specializing in sealing older spoked rims to do it.
Is it possible to buy just the BMW rim and spoke kit that has the spokes on the outside?
Then have it laced to the hubs on your bike.
Not sure what you mean by "it couldn't be done". Probably you're talking about the idea of newer tubless-style rims on an older Airhead. I myself thought there wasn't a way to do that for various reasons...an other reason were suggested.
But now I see that if one really wants to work for it, it might be possible. I agree with Kent...at what cost and will there be an affect on the handling of the bike. But I suppose it's worth an experiment.
I hear a lot about how people have run snowflakes with out tubes. It is a fact that the rim design for tubeless tires and tube-type tires are different...and the snowflake doesn't fall into the tubeless tire category. Therefore, it shouldn't be done. People do it, haven't had a problem (dare I say yet! ) but that doesn't make it right or totally safe. There are enough issues with tubes, tires, etc., that for me, I would not want to add another variable that could put me on the ground. That's my choice...but the rims are not correct for running tubeless...that's a fact.
Show me the FACTS. If it has been done successfully then it CAN be done.
Just because it has been done, doesn't mean that it was designed for either/or or that that it is a totally safe thing to do.
Even he says there is no 100% clear-cut answer. But I contend why introduce an possible variation that is not in your favor?? On the plus side, it seems to be said that punctions from a tubeless situation end up being slower leaks but possibly a faster leak with the tube installed. On the negative side, if you get to a low air situation on a tubeless, bead retention is going to be an issue.
And we're not the only ones having this discussion:
Basically, it can be done, not recommended by the manufacturer, there's no definitive answer...it ends up being a personal decision.
You have to buy a special Shreader Valve that fits the stock hole size.