Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Tubeless tyres

Collapse
X
Collapse
 
  • Page of 1
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
Previous template Next
  • #1

    Tubeless tyres

    Can anyone advise me re tyres on an XS1100E? My maintenance manual specific to this bike says the tyres are tubed and that's what I've always done with my XS1100's... put inner tubes in them.

    Looking at tips on this website though, complete with photos, it looks as if people put tubeless tyres onto their wheels. The wheels in the photos look identical to mine... the hefty spoked alloy wheels look the same.......
    XS1100F 1980 European model. Standard. Dyna coils. Iridium plugs. XS750 final drive (sometimes). Micron fork brace. Progressive front springs. Geezer regulator/rectifier. Stainless 4 into 2 exhaust. Auto CCT (Venturer 1300) SOLD. New project now on the go. 1980 European model.
    Tags: None
  • #2
    some of the later rims have "tubeless" cast into the rim itself. Needless to say though there are some (myself included) that do use the tires without tubes. I only have a tube in the back tire. It does not hurt to put a tube in a tubeless type tire.
    Nathan
    KD9ARL

    μολὼν λαβέ

    1978 XS1100E
    K&N Filter
    #45 pilot Jet, #137.5 Main Jet
    OEM Exhaust
    ATK Fork Brace
    LED Dash lights
    Ammeter, Oil Pressure, Oil Temp, and Volt Meters
    Green Monster Coils
    SS Brake Lines
    Vision 550 Auto Tensioner

    In any moment of decision the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.

    Theodore Roosevelt

    Comment

    • #3
      It is based on the rims, and the stock 78E is tubed. I have gone to tubeless by swapping the rims with ones from a special. So my rear tire is a 16 rather than stock 17, which had an additional advantage if using a tire that was not offered as a 17"

      Bob Jones who knew these bikes in detail had this to say in his book XS ELEVEN HEAVEN: "On bikes that I have custom restored in recent years I have replaced the rim locks with bolts using an o-ring between the bolt head and the inside of the rim; then the rim will hold air. Make sure to use a metal valve stem. The front rim will hold tubeless as long as the bead seat is cleaned with SOS pads until very smooth.


      Regards,
      Scott
      I have a bike and I am not afraid to use it

      Comment

      • #4
        You don't have any choice but a tube in the rear as there's extra holes for the bead locks, unless you somehow seal those up. As Nate said, the later wheels are marked 'suitable for tubeless' and look identical (but the rear lacks the bead lock holes).

        If you're concerned about installing tubes in tubeless tires, don't be; that's common practice and I doubt if you could even find a 'tube only' street tire to fit these anymore...
        Fast, Cheap, Reliable... Pick any two

        '78E original owner - resto project
        '78E ???? owner - Modder project FJ forks, 4-piston calipers F/R, 160/80-16 rear tire
        '82 XJ rebuild project
        '80SG restified, red SOLD
        '79F parts...
        '81H more parts...

        Other current bikes:
        '93 XL1200 Anniversary Sportster 85RWHP
        '86 XL883/1200 Chopper
        '82 XL1000 w/1450cc Buell, Baker 6-speed, in-progress project
        Cage: '13 Mustang GT/CS with a few 'custom' touches
        Yep, can't leave nuthin' alone...

        Comment

        • #5
          Ah ha I have no tube on my 79. The guy at the shop argued with me that they were tubeless rims... heehee the rear has two other holes in it for the locks... well he actually threw in 2 more valve stems. Look at my photos on some of my recent threads. You can either do the bobjones method or use 3 valvestems. I ride very fast and very hard. The bike has fox airshocks on the rear and racetech emulators so I scream around the curves!!! The rear tire seems to hold fine with no tube.
          It was worth it sseeing the guy shrug in disbelief as the air pumped right out the other holes!!!haha
          " She'll make point five past lightspeed. She may not look like much, but she's got it where it counts, kid. I've made a lot of special modifications myself. "

          79 xs11 standard
          xs pods, Kerker 4-1, zrx1200r carbs mikesxs coils 35k voltz of power!!!
          8mm msd wires
          tkat fork brace...
          Fox shocks...
          mikes650 front fender
          led's gallore...
          renthal bars
          gold valve emulators
          vmax tensioner
          Rifle fairing

          Comment

          • #6
            Tubes

            Even though I have alloy rims I run tubes as my friend that mounts them for me puts them in, nice to have friends like this, and have had no problems. I don't know if it is better but I figure it can hurt. I guess it stems from a story of a blow out and the tire held long enough to get stopped safely from a high speed. And yes he balances them for me as well.
            Just ME and my 82 XJ 1100. Mac 4>1-2 1/2" open baffle shotgun, no octy, K&N pod filters, LED tail/brake light & directionals, 750 FD mod, Ear Cannon air horn, modified bars and dash. "Motorcyclists are all bound together by a brotherhood tie through their love of the sport, and what difference does it make what machine he rides as long as he belongs to the clan." Walter Davidson, Dec. 1920 edition of Harley-Davidson Enthusiast Magazine http://s851.photobucket.com/albums/ab78/justme1100/

            Comment

            Previous template Next
            Working...
            X