Leaky wheels?

[Grim Rider]

Have recently had both tyres (TKC80s) replaced on my 2001 R1150GS - last week found front was flat, couldn't find anything in the tyre so pumped it up, next day flat again so replaced tyre valve and pumped up, went flat again and then found rear tyre also flat.

Suggestion from bike shop is that leaking from spokes and need rebuilding but is this relevant to the spokes on a GS? Thinking may be easiest just to put tubes in? Advice welcome, thanks.

 

[(RIP) trickytree]

Shops feeding you bullshit, probably a nail....have a good close look. If it's going down that fast try pouring water and washing up liquid on the tyre

 

[YellowRS]

Have recently had both tyres (TKC80s) replaced on my 2001 R1150GS - last week found front was flat, couldn't find anything in the tyre so pumped it up, next day flat again so replaced tyre valve and pumped up, went flat again and then found rear tyre also flat.

Suggestion from bike shop is that leaking from spokes and need rebuilding but is this relevant to the spokes on a GS? Thinking may be easiest just to put tubes in? Advice welcome, thanks.

Have you upset a neighbour ??

 

[Bryn]

Shops feeding you bullshit, probably a nail....have a good close look. If it's going down that fast try pouring water and washing up liquid on the tyre

As he says....the spokes on the 1150 are laced on the edge of the rim, and make no difference to the seal. Look at them and you'll see

Bullshit from the shop

 

[Pat J]

Have the tyres been seated correctly on the rim?

 

[JJH]

Are the tyers tubeless? JJH

 

[codcutter]

My 1150 does the same on the front, seems to be a poor seal / corrosion on the rim. Just carry a compressor with me now

 

[Grim Rider]

Thanks for replies but definitely no nails; valves were replaced; have poured water and washing up liquid around rims - no leaks apparent; have had rims cleaned up not long ago and no obvious corrosion; tyres are tubeless and look to be seated properly; bike is kept in garage at end of garden so nobody else has access to it... I thought that was case with spokes. Thinking putting tubes in will at least mean they stay up

 

[mikeyboy]

Thanks for replies but definitely no nails; valves were replaced; have poured water and washing up liquid around rims - no leaks apparent; have had rims cleaned up not long ago and no obvious corrosion; tyres are tubeless and look to be seated properly; bike is kept in garage at end of garden so nobody else has access to it... I thought that was case with spokes. Thinking putting tubes in will at least mean they stay up

Its prob corrosion around the valve core drilling.
You could try cleaning it up and fitting a bolt in type,it may have a larger seating area than the standard rubber ones.

 

[JJH]

Its prob corrosion around the valve core drilling.
You could try cleaning it up and fitting a bolt in type,it may have a larger seating area than the standard rubber ones.

I had that problem with a r100gs. JJH

 

[jmh]

Who fitted the tyres? Was it the same bike shop that's telling you it's leaking from the spokes? If so, take it back and watch them remove the tyres, good chance they don't know what they are doing and have gouged your rims fitting tyres. If they have, ask for a new set of wheels.

 

[Grim Rider]

Its prob corrosion around the valve core drilling.
You could try cleaning it up and fitting a bolt in type,it may have a larger seating area than the standard rubber ones.

Thanks - will look at again but seemed fine when refitted the valves.

 

[Grim Rider]

No, not same shop - went to different shop for that reason and have seen tyres removed; wheel rims seem okay, certainly not gouged. Can wheels just become porous over time? Shop was saying that used to have trouble with Aprilia spokes leaking so think they are making comparison them.

 

[Slipperyeel]

I was thinking exactly the same as Mikeyboy. Did you try soapy water around the valve?

 

[JJH]

If bike shop is saying its spokes its impossable. JJH

 

[JonF]

Could be leaking at the rim. You need to take your time checking. Just putting water and washing up liquid round wont show a leak. Put the wheel on its side, resting on some bricks or blocks of wood, so it's completely level. Pour a think bead of washing up liquid all the way around the seal of the tyre. Leave for half an hour. If it's leaking there will be bubbles. Flip over and do the other side. You can polish any leaks back out. This happened on one of our car wheels. However, it would be unlikely to go completely flat overnight. No cracks or anything?

Otherwise, as you say, tubes

 

[warmshed]

If your loosing air that quick, you WILL see air leaking if you immerse the wheel in water. Most small tyre places have a large drum of water for just this reason, get them to put the tyre and rim under water, in sections until you find the place where the air is leaking.
Air is coming out so it must show up.

 

[squibb34]

Like others, I would have thought this was most likely corrosion on the inside of the rims, where the tyre seats, or possibly around the valve stem which will have been disturbed. I've had this with a car alloy where the rim had picked up salt damage - we had it cleaned up & the fitter used a sealant, rather than soap, when refitting the tyre.

We all hear talk of rims leaking, but it is pretty rare & mainly on cast wheels anyway. Surely the waterbath/liqid soap ideas will show up the problem. The tyres seem to be the main suspects now, if all was OK previously. Have to say I am no fan of fitting tubes, more trouble than they are worth IMHO, although this may provide a temporary fix.

 

[Steptoe]

It could be leaking where the rim is welded together across the rim.. I've seen it on a 1200GS and two other 1150's. .

You'll have to remove the tyre and look for the join. It'll be cleaned up but still noticeable. Check for pinprick holes appearing in the weld, due to wear/flex and corrosion.
Cover the inside area with rubber solution and see if it cures the problem.

 

[Grim Rider]

It could be leaking where the rim is welded together across the rim.. I've seen it on a 1200GS and two other 1150's. .

You'll have to remove the tyre and look for the join. It'll be cleaned up but still noticeable. Check for pinprick holes appearing in the weld, due to wear/flex and corrosion.
Cover the inside area with rubber solution and see if it cures the problem.

Thanks Neil - that is what the shop have come back with after they had pressure tested tyres on the wheels - going to get inside of rim painted with rubber and then fit tubes anyway.