Tube or Tubeless? '78 KZ1000 Ltd. mags

kzrider.com/index.php?option=com_kunena&...ew&catid=5&id=321145

What do you guys think about these rims? They look like they are OK to run tubeless, I think. I was told they are. Anyway, I couldn't find the pictures but just ran across them. I'll post the rear wheel here and then the front wheel in the next post:

The rear is now a 6 x 17 and here is the 3.5 x 18 front:

Those rims look to be setup to run tubeless.


As to the difference between tube type and tubeless rims. ever notice that on most tube type rims you can break the tire loose from the rim by simply squeezing it with your hand? But when you have to break the bead loose on a tubeless rim you reach for a C clamp or some other way to apply mechanical force?
Something to think about

The pic of a tube type rim I posted is off a 79 KZ650SR, while the tubeless one is a 83 GPz750.

I was just about to buy tubeless tires and thought it was fine not to buy tubes with them. There's a lot of good info in here.

By the way, my friend has a 78 or 76? LTD with the old style mags and he has been running tubeless for years now so I don't know if I really buy the whole pothole theory thing. But I guess it is what it is.

Soo. myself never dealt with tubless and this old 82 has tubless tires so today decided to try to pump the flat fron tire the only way I could do it was wrap a ratcet strap around it and sqeeze the heck out of it then add air it worked but didnt pop like it seated so not shure if I did it right how else are ya supposed to add air when ya get a flat on the road...Den

saxjonz wrote:

By the way, my friend has a 78 or 76? LTD with the old style mags and he has been running tubeless for years now so I don't know if I really buy the whole pothole theory thing. But I guess it is what it is.

No one's saying it will happen every time, it's like anything else, you can do it wrong 100 times and nothing happens, the 101st time it blows up in your face.

steell wrote:

saxjonz wrote:

By the way, my friend has a 78 or 76? LTD with the old style mags and he has been running tubeless for years now so I don't know if I really buy the whole pothole theory thing. But I guess it is what it is.

No one's saying it will happen every time, it's like anything else, you can do it wrong 100 times and nothing happens, the 101st time it blows up in your face.

Common sense should be added to the endangered species list.....it's getting to be such a rare thing these days

There are things you take a chance with and things you don't. This is one of those items in the DON'T column...

wannaby wrote:

Soo. myself never dealt with tubless and this old 82 has tubless tires so today decided to try to pump the flat fron tire the only way I could do it was wrap a ratcet strap around it and sqeeze the heck out of it then add air it worked but didnt pop like it seated so not shure if I did it right how else are ya supposed to add air when ya get a flat on the road...Den

:dry: No comments....???

I don't think the bead usually breaks when you get a flat on the road. It seems to do that when the tire is flat for long periods of time, as in storage.

The only way I know to seat the bead is to do what you did with the ratchet strap - I just did that on my wheel barrow to reseat the bead. There are other methods involving ether and a match - but I don't recommend those!!

It the bead breaks loose on the road - and if you're still well enough to ride after the crash - I guess you'd be in trouble regarding the bead. I'm not sure you could do something like that on the road unless you carry a strap with you. I don't think fix-a-flat would work to seat the bead either.

Anyone else have experience with broken beads on the road??

Ether and a match, I only do that on big stuff, and only as a last resort

As far as using a ratchet strap, I've also used rope, an extension cord, wire, and two belts (the kind holding up your pants), and a screwdriver to wind it up and make it tight on the tire. Just like applying a tourniquet to the tire

Necessity is the mother of invention.

Actually I've never had a problem getting bike tubeless tires to seal, it's breaking them loose that's a real pain.