Can one use radial tires with a tube...and is there any benefit then if you can?

[Steve]

... I plan on wire wheels for my G model ...

Good luck with that project.

Many of the guys here have expressed a preference for wire wheels and done some rather extensive searching, but the selection of wire wheels on a shaft-driven bike is rather sparse. The Suzuki Madura has been brought up. The 700 had a drum brake, so would require some extensive fabrication to adapt, the 1200 had some other issues. Don't remember for sure, but it might have been a different axle diameter. The wheel itself is a 16" and it carried a 140 tire, so it should be wide enough, but it might actually be TOO wide. There is very limited clearance from a 130 tire to the swingarm.

If you find something that works, be sure to post it here. There are many that would like to do that (I am NOT one of them).

.

[80GS850GBob]

Good luck with that project.

Many of the guys here have expressed a preference for wire wheels and done some rather extensive searching, but the selection of wire wheels on a shaft-driven bike is rather sparse. The Suzuki Madura has been brought up. The 700 had a drum brake, so would require some extensive fabrication to adapt, the 1200 had some other issues. Don't remember for sure, but it might have been a different axle diameter. The wheel itself is a 16" and it carried a 140 tire, so it should be wide enough, but it might actually be TOO wide. There is very limited clearance from a 130 tire to the swingarm.

If you find something that works, be sure to post it here. There are many that would like to do that (I am NOT one of them).

.

Oh, I have the back all figured out already - a thread and pics will be shown when it's done {and process along the way}...right now I'm mixing/matching a front wire wheel with discs that'll work for the new fork and calipers I have.
This tire question was just something of curiosity along the way.

[80GS850GBob]

I belong to the SOHC forum.
I have a 76 cb750f that came with spokes.I upgraded to the 77-78 Comstars.
They require a tube, wheel not machined for a valve stem.
He should join that one!

I've tried to get him to join a forum, but like I said, he's rarely home now a days {he travels a lot for his job}.
Nice F, my 1st and 2nd cycles were CB750s {'74 and '75}.