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Tube tires right?

  • Thread starter Thread starter jdvorchak
  • Start date Start date
J

jdvorchak

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I have two 850's and both have old tires. 80 GS850L and 81 GS850G with aluminum wheels. Before I go ordering tires I wanted to confirm they are tube type not tubeless on these right? I hope that wasn't confusing. I will buy tubeless tires but add new tubes when I mount them. I ask as I am more familiar with Honda and Kawasaki and they have "Tubeless" stamped on the rims when tubeless. If you don't see that "tubeless" then they require tubes.

Just trying to confirm without breaking the tires down prior to ordering new tires/tubes.
 
jdvorchak said:
I ask as I am more familiar with Honda and Kawasaki and they have "Tubeless" stamped on the rims when tubeless. If you don't see that "tubeless" then they require tubes.
Click to expand...

Suzukis are the same way. "Tubeless Tires Applicable" If it's not there it probably has tubes inside, although some of us drill out the hole, install a valve stem and go tubeless.
The difference is the shape of the rim where it contacts the bead, has a little raised edge that's supposed to keep the tire on the rim if it loses pressure.
I think the 1980 should have tubes, and the '81 is right about where they switched over, may have tubes or may have tubeless. Some bikes actually came with one of each type.
Of course your wheels could be off any year of bike...
 
I don't know about the GS850G but the 1980 GS850GL came with a tube in the front tire and no tube in the rear. Yeah, wacky.

You can check the pictures of the wheels in the parts fiches to be sure.
 
eil said:
I don't know about the GS850G but the 1980 GS850GL came with a tube in the front tire and no tube in the rear. Yeah, wacky.

You can check the pictures of the wheels in the parts fiches to be sure.
Click to expand...


Same bike (850L model T), same find. When I hacked through the old front tyre, I also hacked through a good tube that I wasn't expecting to find. Then went to get a leaky tube on the rear replaced and found there wasn't one (turned out to be a leaky valve).

Microfiche shows a tube in both front and rear, but the rear wheel may have been swapped at some point as the markings denote tubeless.
 
Last edited:
eil said:
I don't know about the GS850G but the 1980 GS850GL came with a tube in the front tire and no tube in the rear. Yeah, wacky.

You can check the pictures of the wheels in the parts fiches to be sure.
Click to expand...
I'll have to take a closer look before I order parts. I don't normally break down the tires until I have the new set in hand. I have limited room in the garage and have to occasionally move bikes around. I have 6 bikes now...need to sell some.. I'll probably be ordering tires/tubes for the 80 GS850L Model T first. I have that one ready for the road. It's tires date code indicate they are 16 years old and, in my opinion, not safe. I've been buying Shinko 712's lately and am impressed with their performance and I like that tread pattern and they are inexpensive! Doesn't get any better than that.
 
My 1000ST came with tube tires and the "flagship" GS1100EX in 1981 came with tube tires. A lot of guys run them tubeless after modifying the valve stem hole but I chose not to.
 
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