the most common thing people do here is swap out our rims for rims from an early 80's GS motorcycle (gs450, gs550, gs650).

Search for "whale" or "mag wheels" and you'll find some more information on the topic.

for "finding" rims you'd have to find out our axle diameter, rim diameter, brake rotor bolt pattern, and spacers to get the wheel/rotor aligned for the front tire. the rear tire you'd have to find something that has the same drum brake setup and the same hub for the belt. the 80's GS550L bike is the only one I'm aware of that does this.

of course, if you want to modify your bike a little further, you can swap front ends and put whatever bike's front end you like up there as long as it fits the steering stem bearings and doesn't radically change the steering geometry. for the rear, if you switch to a chain drive you have more options as well, but I've never looked into that (because I secretly hate chains for no good reason).

so does that mean 1981 GS550 front and rear rim would fit to the bike with no modification?

verslagen1 wrote on 03/22/12 at 13:34:30:


Well there is a difference between slowly loosing air and suddenly having a flat.

Of course you can put tubeless tires on a rim with spokes you just have to put a tube in it.

justin_o_guy2 wrote on 03/22/12 at 22:34:38:


I actually run with tubes in my tubeless tires on the mag wheels my XS750 has. After I got the bike I went to change the tires and they already had tubes in them. Not knowing *why* the PO had put tubes in them, i figured it best not to risk a leak due to a 34 year old rim not having a clean seat for the bead and i put the tubes back in.

People look at you kinda funny when you tell them you run tubes in your tubeless tires, but it isn't hurting anything.

yah you can make 'em tubeless but get someone who knows what they are doing...
Quote from Woody's Wheel Works in Denver

"Q: Can you make my rims tubeless?
Woody sez: We will only make wheels tubeless if they have the safety bead in them, and that can be done with a broad range of custom wheels that can currently be built. We can enhance the chances of you not having to dicker with tightening your spokes and thus ruining your sealed rim by having it SUPERLACED; we are evaluating if it is feasible to re-invent the 950 wheels using the GS BMW series technology

What has worked before in most riding situations is being challenged by two new demands placed on the existing rim sealing technology.

First, the use of tire warmers by supermotard/road racers raises the rim temperatures far above 'normal' use, causing the sealant to soften and then separate from the rim due to centrifugal forces

Second, the lower tire pressures being run by the off-road enthusiasts. I think that's why KTM designed that lip as added insurance to keep the tire from slipping off at lower pressures, we have machined/changed the profile of the safety bead for those riders that demanded easier tire changing capabilities.

I can write several pages on the many factors that are involved in making rims tubeless. There are so many - the obvious like correct rim selection and IMMACULATELY prepping/cleaning the rim and nipples are easy, it's the little stuff, ie. spoke and nipple selection. ss spokes and ss nipples? Wow great!!...not so fast...if you don't use the special anti-seize lubricant provided, you can't tighten them adequately and they gall and seize on you, use it and try to go tubeless and the lubricant slowly works its way between rim and sealant compromising the seal...and on and on

In creating solutions we have to constantly balance our objectives within the parameters we can live with, and they can be as varied as how much am I willing to pay for this, will this set me up for a lawsuit in litiguous america, am I sacrificing safety for that added edge in competition... etc"

A 110/80 tire can fit on a 2.15 wide rim. There is a tire fitment chart in both the Cafe’ and New Tire threads- I am on my phone and can’t seem to attach a link.