Anyone here gone tubeless. How did it go?
Tubeless
- Thread starter Captain jack
- Start date
Well answering my own question it appears the rear rim is suitable for conversion but not the front. Just interested if anyone has tried to convert the front 21 inch to tubeless without buying a new rim?
Hi had my rear wheel done by company in midland. Central wheel I think.
They could not do front. My feelings is rear more prone to puncture. Prefer to use plug than patch a tube. Tyre done over a year ago. No problems
They could not do front. My feelings is rear more prone to puncture. Prefer to use plug than patch a tube. Tyre done over a year ago. No problems
What exactly is the problem with the 21 inch wheel?
Apparently the rim is the wrong shape
There is a very effective DIY conversion to tubeless called split tube or Ghetto. Takes about 30mins for about £15 and if you can’t get on with it it’s just another 30mins to refit your original tube. I went down this route on my little Honda three years ago
I’ve seen that method. Still dosent give you the correct rim profile. JJH
The rim profile does not matter as the split tube/liner is now a flexible airtight barrier clamped between the bead of the tyre and the wheel rim upstand
It is also worth remembering that a previously tubed tyre punctured by a sharp object instantly becomes a tubeless tyre with very quick deflation through the spoke nipples and valve hole
I have seen a variety of threads about going tubeless on the 800GS and my question remains the same: why?
I have had my 800 for 14 years and almost 137,000 miles, have done 23,000 riding from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, and just got back from 8,400 miles coast to coast in Canada; and I have Never had a puncture. Going tubeless is a complete faff, can cost a bucket load of money, and quite frequently causes more problems than it solves. If you’re using the bike for what it’s designed for; i.e. not trying to do anything you should be on a 125 for; tubed tyres are absolutely fine.
I have had my 800 for 14 years and almost 137,000 miles, have done 23,000 riding from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, and just got back from 8,400 miles coast to coast in Canada; and I have Never had a puncture. Going tubeless is a complete faff, can cost a bucket load of money, and quite frequently causes more problems than it solves. If you’re using the bike for what it’s designed for; i.e. not trying to do anything you should be on a 125 for; tubed tyres are absolutely fine.
In over fifty years of riding I reckon I've had about a dozen or so punctures, most of them to the rear tyre, all of them caused by rogue nails or screws. Back in the day it was a pain having to do roadside repairs especially in the rain, but in those days wheel rims weren't designed for tubeless tyres and it was reasonably easy to break the bead and get the tyre off. In more recent times many wheels are designed for tubeless fitment although tubed tyres are often fitted, which in turn makes it more difficult to remove the tyre.
In more recent times most of my bikes have been fitted with tubeless tyres and have been easy to effect a roadside repair. I remember a trip to Scotland one November when a mate got a rear puncture on his Triumph Thunderbird Sport. The bike had no centre stand so it made the job more difficult from the start. We had a repair kit and tools but between three of us we could not break the bead, trying every trick in the book. In the end I ended up taking my mate on my bike along with the wheel to a small garage about ten miles from Loch Carron to get it repaired. they one puncture put three hours on the day we could not afford. This same pal had at least three rides spoilt in my company because of rear wheel punctures.... perhaps I'm the cause of his bad luck.
If I had another bike with inner tubes I would get the wheels converted to tubeless by Central wheels, even if it could only be the rear wheel I'd have it done as then I've mitigated for probably 80% of punctures. I've seen some of these DIY tubeless tyre conversions, I would not attempt one purely on the grounds of potential hassle with insurance if things go tits up.
In more recent times most of my bikes have been fitted with tubeless tyres and have been easy to effect a roadside repair. I remember a trip to Scotland one November when a mate got a rear puncture on his Triumph Thunderbird Sport. The bike had no centre stand so it made the job more difficult from the start. We had a repair kit and tools but between three of us we could not break the bead, trying every trick in the book. In the end I ended up taking my mate on my bike along with the wheel to a small garage about ten miles from Loch Carron to get it repaired. they one puncture put three hours on the day we could not afford. This same pal had at least three rides spoilt in my company because of rear wheel punctures.... perhaps I'm the cause of his bad luck.
If I had another bike with inner tubes I would get the wheels converted to tubeless by Central wheels, even if it could only be the rear wheel I'd have it done as then I've mitigated for probably 80% of punctures. I've seen some of these DIY tubeless tyre conversions, I would not attempt one purely on the grounds of potential hassle with insurance if things go tits up.
They are fine. You have been very lucky. Now imagine you have had a few punctures. The difference between riding with a slow puncture to get it fixed or fixing yourself in a minute or 2 or fix a tube. I’ve been there done that on a frosty morning. Tubeless for me please. JJH
150,000 miles on my F800GS in ten years, broke it out the crate and PDI'd it myself courtesy of Rainbow Motorcycles. Rotherham.
Can't see what all the fuss is about myself ....
This is what a sudden blowout does to you (friend of mine). Rear wheel. Front could be worse. Tubeless far far less likely to have a blowout. Tubeless for me.
I had a rear one go on me at 60+mph in the middle of Wales on a Sunday. I don't know how I managed to stay on. The day was written off as it was a Sunday and the RAC couldn't find anywhere open to get it repaired. That was a long recovery home. Tubeless just makes so much sense.
Okay I have read all the stories of punctures causing an ‘off’ but….
Any failure of the back wheel, whatever it is, can throw you off the bike. 90% of tyres purchased for normal road riding, even if the road is unmade, are tubeless. This means that the sidewall is stiffer and won’t deform in the same way. I have been reminded that a few years ago I did have a rear wheel puncture going up to see friends in Sudbury. The handling was very bad and it felt soft on the rear, but it didn’t throw me off and I got to my destination some 5 miles away, safely. It is the wheels that are tubeless not the tyres. But if you want to spend the money going tubeless, that’s up to you.
Any failure of the back wheel, whatever it is, can throw you off the bike. 90% of tyres purchased for normal road riding, even if the road is unmade, are tubeless. This means that the sidewall is stiffer and won’t deform in the same way. I have been reminded that a few years ago I did have a rear wheel puncture going up to see friends in Sudbury. The handling was very bad and it felt soft on the rear, but it didn’t throw me off and I got to my destination some 5 miles away, safely. It is the wheels that are tubeless not the tyres. But if you want to spend the money going tubeless, that’s up to you.
I will be going tubeless on the rear for all the reasons mentioned above. Central wheels for me. Interestingly both my tyres are “tubeless”
Tube type Tyers can leak when used without tubes. Don’t ask me how I know. JJH
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