Tire clamps on the rear wheel

[Mathh]

We have had discussions overhere about the difference in rear wheels on different versions.
Fact is that all European bikes have tube type wheels which need (obviously) tube type tires and inner tubes. The rear tire is than clamped to the rim with two tire clamp. That is to clamp the tire to the rim in case of a blown tire.
What we have seen is that US bikes have tubeless tires on tubeless type wheels. Now some people overhere have compared rims of both Euro and US wheels to each other and see NO difference in the inside of the rim. Which should mean that our tube type wheels could be used for mounting tubeless tyres.
The next question then arises: do US bikes have the rear tire clamps as well? That is because we have seen US undrilled wheels meant for use without tire clamps but this picture surely shows tire clamps on the rear wheel of a US bike:



Or are there differences between standards and specials as well?

[Pat Kelly]

My 78 (I am the 2nd owner) had the tire clamps and was marked as "TUBETYPE". I got a later year rear wheel that was tubeless and had no tire clamps. I think the 78 and some 79's had the rimlocks.
As far as using no tube on a rim marked tubeless, my only comment is I personally won't do it. I may run it without the PITA rimlocks (after sealing the holes).
Moot point for me as I did the swap.

[Bud Manley]

Mine has rim locks and a tube.
79 XS1100F

[Jerry]

The original US release of the XS 11 used tube-type wheels with rim locks (clamps). There are two extra holes in the rims for the lock's stems to poke through. Both early rear 16 and 17 inch rims were tube-type. Not sure about front, my understanding is that they were all tubeless. Both sizes were later issued in a tubless disign.

In any case, when this topic has come up before, some have claimed success in mounted tubeless tires on tube-type rims. I wouldn't do it. First, you have to plug the rim lock holes. Second, I found a couple articles that indicated there are differences in the bead area between the two style rims.

Dunlop has this to say:

"Mount tires as tubeless only when the wheel manufacturer recommends it. Some spokeless rims require tubes. With a tube inserted, a tubeless tire may be fitted to a tube-type wheel."

From a BMW group:

1. Except for airheads that came from the factory with tubeless tires, most all others came from the BMW factory with tubes and the rims have WM-2 shapes. That is a particular shape of primarily the inside of the rim. The WM2 shape does not have the 5 degree angle increase of the tubeless rims...on the bottom area and side area...that the tire bead rests against.

Metzer recommends using tubes when mounting a tubeless tire on a tube-type rim:
"METZELER tubeless tires may be used with METZELER tubes on tube type rims."

From a Brit site:

"I was surfin on-line for info on tube/tubeless rims
and found the above British website on Continental
tyres with some good detailed explanations of rims and
tyres.

One of our members (Steve C.?) in the last summary
mail list digest was able to line up tube vs tubeless
rims in his garage and saw no differences. Per the
illustration on Tyre Rims on the above website, is it
possible that you didn't notice the small lip or
greater diameter area on the deeper inside of the rim
shoulder intended to prevent the bead from slipping
into the rim deep center inside area in the event of
serious air loss as in blowout? The illustration also
displays the squared off deep center inside tubeless
rim vs the rounded tube type rim without the inside
rim lip."

From Continental Tire site:

"¡ Tyre rims
In the past the development of tyre and
rim technology has led to various rim constructions.
One for tubeless tyres and the other for
tubetype tyres.
For tyres which use an inner-tube, that is tubetype
tyres, the WM rim is used (fig 1).
First, the MT rim (without illustration) was developed
for tubeless tyres then the humped MT H2
rim (fig 2). The hump prevents the tyre from slipping
down to the well in case of an air loss."

The info, as well as the figures mentioned above showing the differences in tube/tubeless rims, is in the downloadable (.pdf format) Continental tyre manual at:
http://www.contionline.com/generator.../index_en.html

Riding is risky enough without taking a chance on your choice of rims / tire combination. If you want to go tubeless on your earlier XS11, check around or look on eBay for tubless rims. They are a straight bolt-on swap (provided you stay with the same size) for the tube-style rims.

[prometheus578]

That is to clamp the tire to the rim in case of a blown tire.

Actually, it's also to prevent the tire from spinning on the rim during hard accelleration. This is why there's no rimlocks on the front tire.

[mason79]

changed over mid 79 to tubeless, so half the run is with and the other without, there is in this site a serial number for the first, tubeless, just hafta look.