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1978 XS1100 Tubless

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  • 1978 XS1100 Tubless

    Today Braden made my 1978 XS1100E tubless. He did one cool job. First on the middle hole it was enlarged to accept a new stainless valve stem. Next he took flt washers with washers and lockbolts and sealed the other 2 rim lock holes. Then installed a new Metzler. It only took 1 weight to balance it. I tested it and it was great at 110mph. Going do the front next.
    It's great living only 30 miles form

    Merriam Cycle as they have everything and knows everthing about XS1100's as this is their business XS1100's.

    I urge you all to trash the tubes and go tubless with their method. Bob Jones has used this method with great success since 1978.
    "We are often so caught up in our destination that we forget to appreciate the journey." "

  • #2
    I just want to know how many people have done this and experienced safe slow-downs with tires going flat. They either stay on the rims, or they don't. I have considered this also, but the mechanic at the bike shop, who does my tires, always talks me out of it.
    Skids (Sid Hansen)

    Down to one 1978 E. Stock air box with K&N filter, 81H pipes and carbs, 8500 feet elevation.

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    • #3
      The bead shape is different on tubless rims. There's no way I'd do this on my bike. Maybe on a bike for my ex... ;o)

      Geezer
      Hi my name is Tony and I'm a bikeoholic.

      The old gray biker ain't what he used to be.

      Comment


      • #4
        You'd think in 24 years of riding a 1978 XS1100 that there would of been problems if it was going to happen.

        Bob Jones says it's safe so it is. He knows Yamahas and XS1100's better than anybody in the world.
        "We are often so caught up in our destination that we forget to appreciate the journey." "

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        • #5
          Hey Hawk, so Merriams claim themselves to be the greatest all-mighty world authorities on xs1100 bikes do they. Ha! There's only a certain amount to know about one particular make of bike. Big deal! A motorbike is a motorbike, thats all, there's no great mysteries as merriams would brainwash everyone into thinking. Hawk, I'm not having a go at you mate - I'm just rubbishing one particular bike dealer.

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          • #6
            Originally posted by Winterhawk
            You'd think in 24 years of riding a 1978 XS1100 that there would of been problems if it was going to happen.

            Bob Jones says it's safe so it is. He knows Yamahas and XS1100's better than anybody in the world.
            This isn't the first time I thought that Mirriams Cycle was peddling BS. It's sounds like Gene Berg and VW bugs. Everybody was so busy praising him that most people didn't bother to run his info past the BS meter.

            Geezer
            Hi my name is Tony and I'm a bikeoholic.

            The old gray biker ain't what he used to be.

            Comment


            • #7
              Geezer, I did go out to the garage and check all the bikes rear wheels from the outside. My Seca Turbo's rear wheel was close to the XS1100's but the Maxim and Venture's rear wheels looked to be a little bit different. The lip on the rim was a little bit wider at the top. The question here is is it safe or not now that you have managed to scare the crap out of me...LOL

              Has anybody else in here attempted to turn them tubeless?
              And all your feedback is appreciated on this subject as I care what all of you think. Thanks
              "We are often so caught up in our destination that we forget to appreciate the journey." "

              Comment


              • #8
                Thanks for the reply PGG. I'm sorry, I meant to say that they in my opinion are the worlds greatest on this bike. Sorry for the confusion as they never actually said to me that they were the best.
                I never read a book by another dealer about XS1100's. This book XSELEVEN HEAVEN and one test ride on the Lime Accent bike of Bob Jones made me want an XS1100 so bad that my son and I drove 24hrs to Wisconsin stopping only for 7 hrs to sleep to pickup my 1978 XS1100.

                I don't think that all motorbikes were created equal. We have the bottom of the garbage list as being Harley. The top of the list is the XS1100 of course
                "We are often so caught up in our destination that we forget to appreciate the journey." "

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by Winterhawk
                  Geezer, I did go out to the garage and check all the bikes rear wheels from the outside. My Seca Turbo's rear wheel was close to the XS1100's but the Maxim and Venture's rear wheels looked to be a little bit different. The lip on the rim was a little bit wider at the top. The question here is is it safe or not now that you have managed to scare the crap out of me...LOL

                  Has anybody else in here attempted to turn them tubeless?
                  And all your feedback is appreciated on this subject as I care what all of you think. Thanks

                  The shape of the rim at the bottom of the bead as a deeper and wider groove as well. If that were my bike, I'd put a tube in it.

                  I'm on a casual search for a tubeless 17" rear (tubeless 19" fronts are common) but I'm not in a hurry. I don't think the tubeless advantages out weigh the risk of running tubeless on a tube type rim.

                  On the other hand, I think the rim locks are a testament to paranoia. These were fitted as a result of a lawsuit against Kawasaki where some idiot crashed and was severely injured because he was running low pressure in the rear tire on a Z1. The wheel slipped ripping the valve stem out of the tube. If you use proper pressure, rim locks are not even remotely needed.

                  Geezer
                  Hi my name is Tony and I'm a bikeoholic.

                  The old gray biker ain't what he used to be.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    This could be a dumb question but I thought my 79 special had tubless rims on it. Was this changed from 78-79?
                    '79 XS1100 Special

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                    • #11
                      Yes, it was changed. In 1978, the first XS1100E had tube type tires. When the 1979's were released, they had tubeless tires.

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                      • #12
                        Don't mind me hawk, Like most, I'm only a lowly 'backyard tinkerer' and the walls are glaringly devoid of certificates and diplomas! I just can't stand bull*** from bike dealers - I've had contact with them via email couple times - and in my opinion merriams are full of it! I don't think many people on this site agree with my comments, but I know crap when I hear it. I'm sure the folks at merriams are nice people, but the underlying hard business fact is they're out to get your money anyway they can. Good luck to them I suppose!

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                        • #13
                          I agree with you pgg. I emailed them and asked them a simple question about my XS since they are supposed to be "so good". I got a lightly detailed response to my question followed by a request to by his book for 40 dollars. If I don't buy the book he will not be able to answer anymore questions. What a joke.
                          '79 XS1100 Special

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                          • #14
                            Originally posted by spdy0001
                            I agree with you pgg. I emailed them and asked them a simple question about my XS since they are supposed to be "so good". I got a lightly detailed response to my question followed by a request to by his book for 40 dollars. If I don't buy the book he will not be able to answer anymore questions. What a joke.
                            Even worse, the parts of the book I've seen quoted here are all BS.

                            Geezer
                            Hi my name is Tony and I'm a bikeoholic.

                            The old gray biker ain't what he used to be.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              But unlike 99.9% of dealers in the USA Bob Jones does ride an XS1100 so in my book he's cool. But, and a big but, I think that he should help all XS1100 riders just because they own one. buy the book XSELEVEN HEAVEN or not. Heck we all should be treated like gold as our bikes are priceless also
                              Lots of times I like people for their unique personalities good or bad. Just very entertaining to me. But all kidding aside I did like the book because it does mention the XS1100 5 billion times...LOL
                              "We are often so caught up in our destination that we forget to appreciate the journey." "

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