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Tube or Tubeless? '78 KZ1000 Ltd. mags
- RonKZ650
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You get a flat on a tubeless wheel/tire the tire stays on the wheel.
You get a flat on a tube type tire with a tube the tire comes off the wheel somewhat but the tube in there is enough to kind of give some support and give some control. Run a tubeless tire on a tube type wheel, without the tube and get a flat the tire comes off the wheel and it's free to go wherever it wants, no tube for support.
321,000 miles on KZ's that I can remember. Not going to see any more.
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- 79MKII
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After my wheels were widened I was told to run them tubeless - now I'm wondering if mine are safe. I'll have to look for some photos of my rims before the wheels were put on and see if there's that extra lip on there.
The Kaw List:
Current: 79 KZ1000 A3 MKII, 78 KZ1000 A2, 78 KZ1000 Z1-R, 78 KZ650 SR, 80 KE175
Former: 03 KLX400SR, 99 ZRX1000, 82 KZ750 LTD, 80 KZ1000 A4 MKII, 80 KZ1000 LTD, 78 KZ1000 A2, 74 H-2 750 Triple, 78 KL250
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- sabell
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'78 KZ1000A2
'79 650SR
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- flht1997
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i was stupid for trying.
Matt Milwaukee, WI
75' KZ400, (5) 78' KZ400, 76' KZ 750, 78' KZ650
78'CB750F, 78' CB550K
89' BMW R100RT
05' H-D Electra Glide
06' KLR650
Do it right or don't bother doing it at all.
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- timebomb33
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1973 z1 2-1974z1-a,2-1975z1-b dragbikes1015cc+1393cc, 1977kz1000,1978kz1000,1981kz1000j, 1997 zx-11, 2000 z12r,1428turbo nitrous pro-mod and a shit load of parts thats all for now leader sask.,CANADA
I THINK MY POWERBAND BROKE
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- saxjonz
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- KawboyZ
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I know of people who like putting tubes in new bikes for added safety even though they were designed for tubless. I was told the tires wear out from the added heat the tube causes.
The question still remains... If you get a flat tire with that type rim what is going to keep that tire on the rim??? The tube is gone there is nothing to keep the pressure on the beads. I think the newer rims have to be safer with the inner lip.
I also had asked these guys about it the rim was designed to go tubeless why didn't they put that on the rim? The response was that the older mags were made of a more porous aluminum and because of that fact the tires wouldn't hold the air in as long.
79 LTD B3
80 LTD B4 1075 kit JE Pistons .410 cam grind, Bassani, 31 keihin CR Specials...
1980 Z1R, 2002 ZRX1200, 2003 ZRX1200
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- Patton
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For example, hitting a pothole could result in an instant flat front tire as the untubed tire edge jumps the unridged wheel rim (which isn't apt to happen on a ridged tubeless tire wheel rim); whereas with a tube on an unridged rim, the tire is far less apt to lose air pressure or jump the rim.
Tubed tires may remain intact, and perhaps undamaged, even after hitting a pothole hard enough to dent the wheel rim. Am guessing an untubed tire on a tube style (unridged) rim would jump the rim in this situation.
Riders running tubeless on tube style (unridged) rims are at higher risk, but might be lucky enough to never hit a pothole or significant road bump. Here's hoping they have a working "bell."
Good Fortune!
1973 Z1
KZ900 LTD
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- The Fish
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A friend of mine has a 78 1000 Shafty and kept having flats on the front. The front wheel is clearly marked as "tubeless" but when the tire was removed, it did not have the bead safety lip on the inside.
I put a tube in it and he has had no more flats.
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- saxjonz
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- KawboyZ
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Well, let me apolegize for giving any such information as I did as I won't mention it again. It is a safety issue. I feel it is a safety issue no matter how you look at it with tube tire rims. Wherever possible I have upgraded my bike from original so that it works better ie., headlight system, electrical, engine, etc.
79 LTD B3
80 LTD B4 1075 kit JE Pistons .410 cam grind, Bassani, 31 keihin CR Specials...
1980 Z1R, 2002 ZRX1200, 2003 ZRX1200
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- Patton
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... what about the whole tube failure scenario at speed? If you are cruising at highway speeds if you get a flat the inner tube is only going to be good for so long before it goes flat and when it does it stands to reason that you no longer have that safety on a tube rim....
Seems logical to me. Given the choice in a higher speed blowout, would opt for having the ridged style tubeless rim to help hold the tire onto the rim even when flat.
Just needing that extra few seconds of slightly better control to get slowed down.
Good Fortune!
1973 Z1
KZ900 LTD
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- 79MKII
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I can see where a hard impact could break the bead loose on a tubeless tire and cause in a sudden loss of all pressure, but how does that inner ridge keep that from happening? I always imagined it was something locking the tire bead securely against the outer sealing surface of the rim.
I'm not questioning you guys, but I'd really like to understand this. What am I not seeing?
The Kaw List:
Current: 79 KZ1000 A3 MKII, 78 KZ1000 A2, 78 KZ1000 Z1-R, 78 KZ650 SR, 80 KE175
Former: 03 KLX400SR, 99 ZRX1000, 82 KZ750 LTD, 80 KZ1000 A4 MKII, 80 KZ1000 LTD, 78 KZ1000 A2, 74 H-2 750 Triple, 78 KL250
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- The Fish
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The lip on the inside of the rim "supports" the bead from "sliding" towards the inside of the wheel. With out the lip, the tire would be more able to slide towards the center of the rim (especially under a low tire pressure situation- with out a tube)
Air pressure ,itself, may keep the tire on the rim alone. The lip is an added safety feature to help the tire stay in place on the rim. A clean bead area is vital to keeping air in the tubeless tire also.
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