Dave
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SuzukiSavage.com Rocks!
Posts: 18099
Camp Springs, Kentucky
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I was installing cast wheels so that I can run tubeless tires - so if I get a tire puncture I can insert a plug rather than have to dismount the tire and try to patch a tube while on the road.
I was careful to buy wheels that stated "TUBELESS TIRE APPLICABLE" on the rim. My rear rim came from an 85 GS550, the front rim from an 84 GS450.
The front wheel came with a 90/90-19 tire with a tube in it, the rear came without a tire and had a rubber valve stem.
Now that I have the rims cleaned up and ready for tires - I see there is an issue. The rear tire has a valve stem and a normal .453 valve stem hole, and the rim has the raised lips on the inside edge of the rim where the tire bead seats. The front wheel has a small diameter valve stem hole for a tube - and the wheel does not have any raised rib where the tire bead seats.
While I could make the front wheel valve stem hole larger and install a rubber valve stem - there is still the issue of not having the raised ribs on the rim. I believe these raised ribs are what makes tubeless tires so hard to get off the rims.....and what helps keep the tire on the rim if the tire pressure gets low.
Tubes are not good as they can blow out nearly instantly if punctured - tubeless are not so fast to deflate and give more warning......and with or without a tube a flat front tire can come off the rim when deflated and put a quick end to your riding.
I looked on many front wheels on eBay - and I cannot see a single 19" wheel that is set up to actually be tubeless....even though they say they are tubeless tire compatible. You have to go to a 16" front rim if you want to have a true tubeless tire rim.
I guess if I have to run the front with a tube and the rear tubeless - it is still better than having tubes on both ends.
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