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By "newer tubeless wheels" you mean those fitted to R100GS or those fitted to touring bikes from 1985 on.
Neither fit earlier models, as axle diameters are different in front and you really can't "bore out" the bottom of the fork legs so they'll fit. The touring front wheels are smaller in overall diameter, too. Obviously, the rear wheels are bolted on with lug bolts so lots of work to fit a different rear drive, take off the left side or your swingarm, etc.
As for "converting" snowflakes all you can do is increase the valve hole size so a tubeless valve will fit. You can't add the required bead retention feature and therefore you do not have a wheel safe for tubeless running.
It is simply futile to attempt to make a new, modern bike out of old Airheads. Just enjoy them for what they are and like they are ... or actually buy a newer, more modern bike.
By "newer tubeless wheels" you mean those fitted to R100GS or those fitted to touring bikes from 1985 on.
Neither fit earlier models, as axle diameters are different in front and you really can't "bore out" the bottom of the fork legs so they'll fit. The touring front wheels are smaller in overall diameter, too. Obviously, the rear wheels are bolted on with lug bolts so lots of work to fit a different rear drive, take off the left side or your swingarm, etc.
As for "converting" snowflakes all you can do is increase the valve hole size so a tubeless valve will fit. You can't add the required bead retention feature and therefore you do not have a wheel safe for tubeless running.
It is simply futile to attempt to make a new, modern bike out of old Airheads. Just enjoy them for what they are and like they are ... or actually buy a newer, more modern bike.
Seems like a genuine effort to impart some words of wisdom to me. I didn't detect anything of smart aleck nature in the reply. I once put about 9K in an old Chevy pick-up and when I went to sell it, I got about ten cents on the dollar. Every time I think about updating my 76 900, I remember this and resist.
By "newer tubeless wheels" you mean those fitted to R100GS or those fitted to touring bikes from 1985 on.
Neither fit earlier models, as axle diameters are different in front and you really can't "bore out" the bottom of the fork legs so they'll fit. The touring front wheels are smaller in overall diameter, too. Obviously, the rear wheels are bolted on with lug bolts so lots of work to fit a different rear drive, take off the left side or your swingarm, etc.
As for "converting" snowflakes all you can do is increase the valve hole size so a tubeless valve will fit. You can't add the required bead retention feature and therefore you do not have a wheel safe for tubeless running.
It is simply futile to attempt to make a new, modern bike out of old Airheads. Just enjoy them for what they are and like they are ... or actually buy a newer, more modern bike.
What "tubeless retention feature?"
I suspect that you are going beyond what you actually know and are giving your opinion. I have heard of several who have converted a tube-type rim to tubeless running and I hear they worked fine!
By industry standard there are tube-type and tubeless wheels and besides the valve hole size the latter has a raised ridge on the inside edge of the bead mounting surface. The fact you are unaware of this doesn't make it not so. Nobody adds this ridge when they run tires tubeless on these rims and the only "conversion" they've done is to enlarge the valve hole.
jimmylee;889602 My issue is this. I am not sure why one would want to eliminate the tube in these wheels? If a tubeless tire will work anyway said:The reason is you can use a tire plugging kit from the outside if you get a flat, instead of removing the tire and patching or replacing a tube.
Really need to know what bike you are trying to fit to
If your older bike will fit the snowflake wheels then yes you can go tubeless
This is not recommended but will work and many swear by it
The valve stem hole need not be modified - there is a metal stem that will fit with
rubber washers inside and outside retained by the nut - had one of these on a bike
I purchased used - I ran it that way till the tire was used up and then converted back
to the proper tube type
As I said using tubless tires without tubes inside on the snowflake wheels is not recommended by BMW and therefore probably a liability for a professional mechanic to do for you but if you are willing to take the risk and suffer the irritation of trying to ever get the tubless tire off the rim with ordinary tools in your kit for a road fix or home tire change then have at it
The snoflake wheel was not designed for tubless use but seems to hold air and work.
So in my opinion your question really should be "Which bikes will fit snowflake wheels?"
If you can live with BMW Snowflakes they can easily be switched to tubeless, I have been running them for 3 years now & a friend has over 300,000 miles on his conversion without any problems. You have to buy a special Shreader Valve that fits the stock hole size.