New Wheels, tube or tubeless

I recently picked up a 78 KZ650-C2. I absolutely love it, it was beautifully maintained and runs great. I want to invest in some new tires as the old ones are still have some tread but are showing signs of age and cracking. I have the C2 which has the mags on it.

I've read many forums on whether or not my rims are tubed or tubeless, but I keep getting different information. There are supposed to be indicators on the mags that list which they are. I'm going to assume for now, that both rims must run tubes because of the bike's age. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

I'm going to try and find inch specific wheels but I hear that's going to be difficult to do, so failing that I'm going to go with the 120/90-18 in the back and 100/90-19 in the front, but what I really want to know, is can I run tubes in a tubeless tire? For example I am interested in picking up Battlax BT45's.

I would appreciate any advice you folks could offer.

Yes you must run tubes. 120/90-18 and 100/90-19 are good sizes to run or the original 4.00-18 and 3.25-19 are out there, just not all that common.

Thank you very much for the response! Do you know if modern wheels which are listed as tubeless, can accommodate tubes? From what I've read there are varying opinions.

I am pretty certain the stock wheels for a 1978 650 were NOT tubeless type.

Yes, you can run tubes in "tubeless" tires.

According to the diagrams at Kawasaki.com, the 78 KZ650-C has tube-type cast alloy wheels. So use a tube. And it's okay for you to get tubeless tires & put tubes in them.

Tubeless KZ wheels have Tubeless cast into them.
The 81-83 factory manual says that tubes should not be used in tubeless wheels.

Why would you want to put a tube in a tubeless wheel? Kind of silly. I have a tube alloy front wheel from a 650C1, and a tubeless back tire from a KZ550. Fun stuff.

bloglos wrote:

I'm going to assume for now, that both rims must run tubes because of the bike's age.

TRUE


I'm going to go with the 120/90-18 in the back and 100/90-19 in the front,

THAT IS A GOOD COMBO ON THE KZ650

but what I really want to know, is can I run tubes in a tubeless tire?

YES

I would appreciate any advice you folks could offer.

I'm running Pirelli Sport Demons on my KZ650-C1 and they are great:

Pirelli

T_Dub wrote:

Why would you want to put a tube in a tubeless wheel?

1) rim leak

2) Insurance after fixing a puncture

bountyhunter wrote:

T_Dub wrote:

Why would you want to put a tube in a tubeless wheel?

1) rim leak

2) Insurance after fixing a puncture

1) fix rim

2) don't use punctured tires


I think on a bike doing things that aren't really recommended so that you can "get away" with something is not a good idea. You're pretty screwed if your tire fails on a bike, why chance it?

T_Dub wrote:

bountyhunter wrote:

T_Dub wrote:

Why would you want to put a tube in a tubeless wheel?

1) rim leak

2) Insurance after fixing a puncture

1) fix rim

2) don't use punctured tires


I think on a bike doing things that aren't really recommended so that you can "get away" with something is not a good idea. You're pretty screwed if your tire fails on a bike, why chance it?

Tubeless tires have punctures repaired all the time. Some people don't chuck a $150 tire for a single hole that can be reliably repaired.

As for a rim leak, it's usually not the rim but the tire bead that seeps and typically only when the tire is parked in a certain position. Those can drive you crazy and putting in a tube is an easy fix.

It's all about preference with punctures, so I wont argue.

But I can't see a rim leaking for no reason. If its a good tire and a nice clean seating area on the rim it should never leak.

T_Dub wrote:

But I can't see a rim leaking for no reason. If its a good tire and a nice clean seating area on the rim it should never leak.

True, but on some the rim bead isn't perfect and they will have a slow seep with the wheel in the right position (wrong position) pressing on the tire. The tire will hold air for a week then you find it low. The dealer won't take the tire back because they put it in water and there is no leak. Cure: put in a tube. Guess how I learned about rim leaks....