Daft question!! inner tubes or not?

[tatu]

Right, & thanks for all the replies. I AM replacing the tube, as I have always done. My question was regarding the TYPE of valve stem. Is it OK to use the molded-in rubber stem type in place of the metal stem type that was on there?

Thanks again for your help.

DH

My

In veiw of my experience outlined above, the answer would be yes for me, I think that you might have a bit of difficulty trying to push the rubber stem type through a hole that was meant for a metal threaded kind.

[bwringer]

The rubber valve stem is much larger around than the metal one -- you'll need to get a tube with the correct metal valve stem.

[rphillips]

When the first cast wheels were introduced on motorcycles, there were "NO TUBELESS MOTORCYCLE TIRES AVAILABLE". Metzler started the development of the tubeless motorcycle tires in 1978. The motorcycle mfg.'s had no reason to stamp approved for tubeless tires on the first cast wheels, because at that time there were no tubeless tires for motorcycles available. As soon as the tubeless motorcycle tires were available, the Mfg.'s did start installing them on their new bikes, and did start stamping approved for tubeless on the wheels. Personally I think the old early wheels would have had APPROVED FOR TUBELESS stamped on them, if tubeless tires had been available. Just my opinion

[Nessism]

Personally I think the old early wheels would have had APPROVED FOR TUBELESS stamped on them, if tubeless tires had been available. Just my opinion

"Tubeless Applicable" wheels are different from the tube type; there is an additional raised lip on the inside wheel profile which holds the tire in place on the rim in case of low air pressure. This design is same as a car wheel and is safer in case of deflation. The old tube type wheels don't meet this criteria.

[bwringer]

I have a front wheel from a 1983 GS1100G hanging on my wall. It is marked "tubeless tire applicable". There is no ridge or lip.

[Nessism]

I have a front wheel from a 1983 GS1100G hanging on my wall. It is marked "tubeless tire applicable". There is no ridge or lip.

Look again. I had the exact same wheel on my '82 850 and it had the ridge.

I also (currently) have a first generation Suzuki star type wheel that says "tubeless", and it has the ridge too.

[Sandy]

I have a front wheel from a 1983 GS1100G hanging on my wall. It is marked "tubeless tire applicable". There is no ridge or lip.

I think a few first generation tubeless wheels came like that until they realized the error in their ways.

[JATO]

I was in the same boat when I put E wheels on my '78 GS1000. All I did was enlarge the valve stem hole just enough to fit these:



I've had the tires on since May and they're still holding air. The wheels don't say anything about being able to run tubeless tires but it's working and not a bit of leak down.