A fear of tubes...

[Running Antelope]

Hello, I've had an 1150 and 1200 GS but age is encouraging me to a lighter machine. I'm thinking of an 800 GS. My dilemma is that I'm concerned about tubed tyres. I'm not interested in the 650 GS. A friend recently went from a bike with tubeless tyres to a bike with tubes and has had 2 punctures in 6 months. Each occasion involved a 3 hour wait for the AA and hours spent trying to find somewhere that could repair the puncture and this was in London! Contrast this with a) less likely to have a puncture on tubeless (it appears); b) a slower release of air on tubeless (less chance of an 'off') and c) easier repair with the usual kit.

That's just one bloke's experience and I'm interested in knowing what the collective experience is of those that have gone from the tubeless big GSs to the tubed 800s. Noticed an increase in punctures? Had any traumatic experiences of blow-outs? Or, please tell me I'm just being a neurotic old fool!

 

[Shurv]

Buy some levers,a puncture repair kit and learn to mend a puncture.You can do it pretty quickly at the side of the road.You can also buy some gloop to put into your tube which will assist in bunging up any punctures.Only ever had one on the A1 after a load of green laning in Lincs on my way back to the van,ran over a bit of wood and a big old splinter got my frnt tyre ( TT600R).Tipped the bike on it's side,took the wheel off and repaired the tube in less than hour andwas underway again.Don't fret about it, just be prepared.If you have tubeless and have a big object penetrating your tyre,you are f*cked,with a tube type you simply mend the tube and carry on.

 

[Ceri JC]

+1 on get some tyre irons and learn how to DIY the tyres. Even if you decide it's too much hassle to do for regular tyre changes, it's a useful skill to have. You can carry a spare 21" tube and as a "get you home" measure, it'll fit in the 17" rear too.

 

[Bobster]

Inner Tubes

Had a puncture at 50MPH with tubed tyres, bike went out of control. I dropped it and broke my arm in five places.

Had several punctures with tubeless tyres last year in France, had been doing 100MPH when I called in at the services for a comfort break. As my wife walked away from the bike I could smell burning rubber. Rear tyre totally flat and knackered. At no point did I loose control or even notice the deflation.

Recent puncture on GSA didn't know til warning light flashed on bike.
Moral of the story buy a bike with tubeless tyres. Then invest in a tyre plugger!

 

[Timolgra]

Moral of the story buy a bike with tubeless tyres.

Really?

 

[Farmboy]

Never ever had a puncture and most of my bikes have been tubed tyre ones.

Moral of the story is learn and practice how to change the tyre using only the tools you carry.

Then always carry spare tubes and tyre irons that way your unlikely to need them

 

[LoggyDriver]

I was in charge of my Squadrons bike bay for a while back in the late 90's looking after the MT350. Used to change tyres all the time. Can't remember if they were tubed or not but it's not a hard job. Just make sure you get the rubber even all round the rim. Don't forget to carry a foot pump to blow the tyre up!!

 

[Vern]

You need a tricycle with solid tyres, safe as houses

I've had five puntures in a tubless tyre in four days, and I've had a tube that was more repairs than tube by the time I binned it.I also managed to pick up a 4" adjustable spanner in the front wheel of my Ducati at about 130mph in the outside lane of the M1(spanner still in my toolbox) made it to the hard shoulder alright by skill or luck ( I say luck because I didn't know what the feck had happened to the front end at the time!)

Another time, I opened the garage door, and my GS was on it's side.Slow punture picked up during the day,bike on side stand,tyre went down, bike fell over.

It's luck of the draw with puntures, there are no hard and fast rules, there never have been and there never will be.

 

[Micky]

Or, please tell me I'm just being a neurotic old fool!

Swings and roundabouts, for's and against's, mi ol' fruit ...

I was disappointed when the F800GS came out, that it wasn't on the tubeless cross spoked rims, but went ahead and bought one. After all, the girlfriend and misen had done thousands of miles on our F650GS's (tubed tyres) through deserts and mountains, without a problem.

Now done 51,500 miles on the F800GS with just one slow puncture, which was repaired using an aerosol repair can, and went on to see the life of the tyre out

Don't put the cart before the horse ... there's nowt out there that can't be fixed



.... and welcome to the site, the land of Tossers, mi ol' fruit

 

[wilbjr21]

FFS ....... they're Tyre LEVERS.

An iron is used to take the creases out of clothes in conjunction with an ironing board !!!!!

 

[Sleepy]

FFS ....... they're Tyre LEVERS.

An iron is used to take the creases out of clothes in conjunction with an ironing board !!!!!

Was thinking the same, to many pseudo yanks about..


....and as for the OP... MAN UP! and learn to pick up a proper bike!

 

[Micky]

....and as for the OP... MAN UP! and learn to pick up a proper bike!

So what's a 'proper bike'?

Please define ....

 

[Sleepy]

So what's a 'proper bike'?

Please define ....

Work it out for yourself... read the original post

 

[Rushy]

Recent puncture on GSA didn't know til warning light flashed on bike.
Moral of the story buy a bike with tubeless tyres. Then invest in a tyre plugger!

Thank god/BMW for warning lights.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Fear of punctures........................FFS get a grip

Fear of tubes..................whatever next - I bet you'll only ride a bike with ABS too

Feck me - I own a bike with a Tubeless Rear tyre and a Tubed Front tyre - WTF should I do then........................not ride the bloody thing.........get real

 

[Vern]

I've reconsidered this, and you're a neurotic old fool

 

[Micky]

Work it out for yourself... read the original post

I did ... you're wrong

Horses for courses old bean

I did 83,000 miles on my 1150GS and then 60,000 on the 1150GS-A

Horses for courses old bean

 

[Running Antelope]

Thank you to all for your helpful replies. I guess I will just have to learn how to repair a tube on a motorbike. Done hundreds on my mountain bike and I guess it's pretty similar but, I hardly dare say this here, I've never taken a wheel off a motorbike! I realise now, from the derision of some of the posts, that you're a tough, no nonsense and capable crew. I apologise for asking such a banal question! When I had my 1150 I relied on Neil (Steptoe) and always found him very helpful - perhaps I should pay him for a lesson in how to take a wheel off -or alternatively buy a Wee Strom!

 

[Micky]

Thank you to all for your helpful replies. I guess I will just have to learn how to repair a tube on a motorbike. Done hundreds on my mountain bike and I guess it's pretty similar but, I hardly dare say this here, I've never taken a wheel off a motorbike! I realise now, from the derision of some of the posts, that you're a tough, no nonsense and capable crew. I apologise for asking such a banal question! When I had my 1150 I relied on Neil (Steptoe) and always found him very helpful - perhaps I should pay him for a lesson in how to take a wheel off -or alternatively buy a Wee Strom!

All the best with it ... nothing like getting stuck in

Just keep Neil's 'phone number handy eh

 

[v8legend]

For what it's worth, I've only ever had one puncture on a motorbike, and that was on my Ducati with tubeless tyres. It went down slow enough though. Didn't get really wobbly until I dropped below 40, so I just picked up some speed until I could get to a garage and some repair foam.

When I bought my F800GS, I too was dissapointed that BMW hadn't fitted similar rims to the R1200GS (still can't really understand why they did it). However, 2 years and 2 tyres later, I hadn't given it any more thought (until today that is!).