What's the skinny on the use of tubeless tires on a 1980 GS750E?

[sharpy]

Personally, if the wheel states that it's "tubeless tire applicable", I'll run a tubeless tire, otherwise, it gets a tube. If a tubeless tire gets a hole in it, it gets a tube. No patches or plugs. I don't like pushing my luck in certain areas, when it comes to safety.

Now there is a person that makes sense.

[chuck hahn]

Bikes were made to be ridden on 2 wheels, but people still do wheelies. So whats your point Sharpy??? Just because something is "surmised" doesnt make it written in stone either.

[sharpy]

Thing is, bikes are dangerous. Why make them more so when you dont need to. Yes real tubeless wheel/tyre setups are "safer" but in 40 yrs of riding i have never be left out on the road with a puncture.. I build my bikes to suit me and my thinkn. and tubes in corresponding wheels are a safety issue for me. Other GS is having early gsxr wheel and they be tubeless. Build what you want but inform people asking what the to and fro is and they will make up there own mind. simple

[chuck hahn]

I agree. But so many people are like those that believe everything they are told or see on the internet news feeds. I too was that guy that spent the money on tubes. Why??? well they came that way from the factory for a reason was my rational. But then i saw that they were running them tubeless and researched a little. All the preconceived notions that the rims bead would split or the rubber would roll over the rims were all mythological.

The best advantage going tubeless is that should you pick up a puncture while on a road trip you can plug it on the spot and move on. That is if one has planned ahead and taken a small 12 volt compressor with them..or similar preps for some sort of air source have been taken in to consideration.

[1980GS1000E]

Tubeless for me for several years. They are easier to change as well.

[Sandy]

The best advantage going tubeless is that should you pick up a puncture while on a road trip you can plug it on the spot and move on. That is if one has planned ahead and taken a small 12 volt compressor with them..or similar preps for some sort of air source have been taken in to consideration.

All good Chuck if you catch the air loss before the tire deflates enough to roll off the bead.

[Nessism]

All good Chuck if you catch the air loss before the tire deflates enough to roll off the bead.

Same argument applies for tube type tires. A deflated tire is a deflated tire. If the pressure is low to the point where the tire comes off the bead it won't matter if there is a tube inside or not.

[Cipher]

Was Suzukis supplier just to stubbrn to change its casting process or did they have a ship load of old style r non DOT apprved for tubeles in stock.

Tubes are not expensive unless your like me in old dirt bike days with rusty rims that were prone to pinching a hole in yur nice tube.

[greg78gs750]

I have no religious affiliation in this argument, BUT, I wonder if anyone can point to a single actual case of a tubeless on a suzuki tube type rim causing a problem? Cause the whole "YER GONNA DIE" thing smacks of flat-earther, sound-barrier stuff.

[Sandy]

I have no religious affiliation in this argument, BUT, I wonder if anyone can point to a single actual case of a tubeless on a suzuki tube type rim causing a problem? Cause the whole "YER GONNA DIE" thing smacks of flat-earther, sound-barrier stuff.

I wouldn't know, I run tubes where required/recommended. The OP mentioned he is a NEW rider asking for advice. All I can say is that it's called a safety bead for a reason and there is also a reason they quit using the old taper bead shortly after the introduction of tubeless tires, like maybe one year. People want to do otherwise feel free to that, it's your neck.

[Nessism]

I have no religious affiliation in this argument, BUT, I wonder if anyone can point to a single actual case of a tubeless on a suzuki tube type rim causing a problem? Cause the whole "YER GONNA DIE" thing smacks of flat-earther, sound-barrier stuff.

The tube people can't provide evidence because it doesn't exist.

Their argument goes out the window when you realize that the OEM's were selling bikes with tubeless tires using rims that did not have the extra safety bumps to keep the tire seated.

Those safety bumps ARE a positive safety feature, but they are not strictly necessary to be able to run a tubeless tire. The OEM's knew that which is why they installed tubeless tires without them.

[Gorminrider]

tube tires are easier to mount, I think.... "looser" and easier to get off on the roadside in the event of a leak...

I've not yet had a puncture with tubes inside tubeless tires .but I think the combo of tubeless with inner-tubes could be iffy in that case...
Tubeless tires on these rims seal up really well, so I won't bother taking tire irons on a trip because I will likely need to break the bead too to get to a punctured tube and that's a b*gger on the roadside! - instead, I would push a plug into the tubeless tire which is great! but then have to worry a little bit about the airtight integrity of the tube-valve coming through rim...a bit of sealant or globs of thread lock? or something similar worth investigating...

sooo, I'd be very inclined to do the valve conversion others have before putting tubeless tires on.

[greg78gs750]

so, more of "YER GONNA DIE" then. I also wonder how much actual engineering went into the "safety bead" or if they were more like "YER GONNA DIE" and some intern was like "but how bout a safety bead tho" and they were like "oh, ok, sure then"

Any enterprising engineering students out need a study for a thesis?

I wouldn't know, I run tubes where required/recommended. The OP mentioned he is a NEW rider asking for advice. All I can say is that it's called a safety bead for a reason and there is also a reason they quit using the old taper bead shortly after the introduction of tubeless tires, like maybe one year. People want to do otherwise feel free to that, it's your neck.

[Sandy]

tube tires are easier to mount, I think.... "looser" and easier to get off on the roadside in the event of a leak...

I've not yet had a puncture with tubes inside tubeless tires .but I think the combo of tubeless with inner-tubes could be iffy in that case...
Tubeless tires on these rims seal up really well, so I won't bother taking tire irons on a trip because I will likely need to break the bead too to get to a punctured tube and that's a b*gger on the roadside! - instead, I would push a plug into the tubeless tire which is great! but then have to worry a little bit about the airtight integrity of the tube-valve coming through rim...a bit of sealant or globs of thread lock? or something similar worth investigating...

sooo, I'd be very inclined to do the valve conversion others have before putting tubeless tires on.

Interesting scenario and probably worth a try to save a roadside repair, although really NOT recommend. I worked part time back when they were converting over to tubeless at the local Suzuki/Yahama dealer many years ago to support my habit and on occasion someone would come in with a weird tire problem or something was difficult to balance and I find a deflated and sometimes shredded tube inside a tire mounted on tube type alloy wheels. So yes, in a pinch you could probably get away that, however I'd do a proper fix at my earliest convenience.

[Sandy]

so, more of "YER GONNA DIE" then. I also wonder how much actual engineering went into the "safety bead" or if they were more like "YER GONNA DIE" and some intern was like "but how bout a safety bead tho" and they were like "oh, ok, sure then"

Any enterprising engineering students out need a study for a thesis?

No. You're probably not going die and you're probably not going to have an issue. If you enjoy riding these things and that probably won't ever happen then just go have fun. Keyword here is probably. A bad comparison I know but I've never needed my seatbelt in 50 years of driving but if I go for a drive I always put it on. If I didn't, 50 years of driving says I'd probably be alright.