Results 1 to 12 of 12

Thread: GB500TT tubes or tubeless?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    26th October 2013 - 23:56
    Bike
    1987 Honda GB500TT
    Location
    Auckland
    Posts
    45

    GB500TT tubes or tubeless?

    My 87 GB500TT has had the rims restored and is running inner tubes yet I've just read the manual (after 2 years haha) and it says to use tubeless tyres.

    I would be interested to hear what other GB owners on here are using?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    29th April 2007 - 08:01
    Bike
    A Red German one.
    Location
    Wherever my bike is.
    Posts
    873
    Generally if the wheels are spoked. You need a tube.

    But some spoked rims have a heavy duty rubber seal over the spoke ends to run tubeless tyres.

    If yours has the rubber seal over the spoke ends. Try a tubeless tyre and after it is fitted and inflated. Drown it and see if it blows bubbles....



    "No matter what bike you ride. It's all the same wind in your face"

  3. #3
    Join Date
    10th September 2008 - 21:23
    Bike
    Yamaha XV250
    Location
    te awamutu
    Posts
    2,214
    Blog Entries
    9
    Mine had tubes.
    " Rule books are for the Guidance of the Wise, and the Obedience of Fools"

  4. #4
    Join Date
    24th April 2014 - 09:16
    Bike
    1969 Honda S90
    Location
    Russell
    Posts
    414
    Mine has the rubber hoop for spoke protection but I still run with tubes-I last bought a pair of Pirelli HD tubes from Torpedo 7 at about $20 each which is good insurance methinks.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    26th October 2013 - 23:56
    Bike
    1987 Honda GB500TT
    Location
    Auckland
    Posts
    45
    Thanks guys, I will check out running tubeless next time I talk to my tyre person. The bike is mainly ridden long distance & being able to quickly fix a puncture on the side of the road is far preferable to calling roadside rescue & having to get trucked somewhere.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    4th November 2003 - 13:00
    Bike
    BSA A10
    Location
    Rangiora
    Posts
    12,841
    Quote Originally Posted by boman View Post
    If yours has the rubber seal over the spoke ends. Try a tubeless tyre and after it is fitted and inflated. Drown it and see if it blows bubbles....
    Air will piss out, the rubber rim strip is just to stop tubes chafing on the ends of the spokes

    A bike of that era on spoked wheels should have tubes in it
    "If you can make black marks on a straight from the time you turn out of a corner until the braking point of the next turn, then you have enough power."


    Quote Originally Posted by scracha View Post
    Even BP would shy away from cleaning up a sidecar oil spill.
    Quote Originally Posted by Warren Zevon
    Send Lawyers, guns and money, the shit has hit the fan

  7. #7
    Join Date
    28th May 2006 - 19:35
    Bike
    suzuki
    Location
    lower hutt
    Posts
    8,229
    Quote Originally Posted by Nausea View Post
    My 87 GB500TT has had the rims restored and is running inner tubes yet I've just read the manual (after 2 years haha) and it says to use tubeless tyres.

    I would be interested to hear what other GB owners on here are using?
    who restored your rims? are they an expert, what was their diagnosis?

  8. #8
    Join Date
    26th October 2013 - 23:56
    Bike
    1987 Honda GB500TT
    Location
    Auckland
    Posts
    45
    There is somebody in the US who has successfully sealed his rims and has been using tubeless tyres for the past 5,000 km with no problem.

    The GB500 owner's manual that came with the bike says:

    Tubeless Tires
    This motorcycle is equipped with tubeless tires, valves and wheel rims. Use only tires marked "TUBELESS" and tubeless valves on rims marked "TUBELESS TIRE APPLICABLE".


    Which of course could be a typo...

    The previous owner had the wheels restored by Hamco Industries in Palmerston North.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    29th April 2007 - 08:01
    Bike
    A Red German one.
    Location
    Wherever my bike is.
    Posts
    873
    Quote Originally Posted by Kickaha View Post
    Air will piss out, the rubber rim strip is just to stop tubes chafing on the ends of the spokes

    A bike of that era on spoked wheels should have tubes in it
    Not always.

    I have seen a spoked rim. With a heavy duty rubber strip over the spoke ends. Admittedly this was very thick and quite permanent.

    But still a spoked rim. With non leaking tubeless tyre fitted. I was just advising him. That it may be possible. But homework would be needed.

    Not all spoked rims are for tubes.

    Most are. But not all.



    "No matter what bike you ride. It's all the same wind in your face"

  10. #10
    Join Date
    28th May 2006 - 19:35
    Bike
    suzuki
    Location
    lower hutt
    Posts
    8,229
    Quote Originally Posted by boman View Post
    Not always.

    I have seen a spoked rim. With a heavy duty rubber strip over the spoke ends. Admittedly this was very thick and quite permanent.

    But still a spoked rim. With non leaking tubeless tyre fitted. I was just advising him. That it may be possible. But homework would be needed.

    Not all spoked rims are for tubes.

    Most are. But not all.
    where do you buy these non leaking tubeless tyres from?

    " I was just advising him. That it may be possible. But homework would be needed."
    Clearly you didn't do any english homework when you went to school, that there is worth about 2 out of ten!

  11. #11
    Join Date
    29th April 2007 - 08:01
    Bike
    A Red German one.
    Location
    Wherever my bike is.
    Posts
    873
    Quote Originally Posted by jellywrestler View Post
    where do you buy these non leaking tubeless tyres from?

    " I was just advising him. That it may be possible. But homework would be needed."
    Clearly you didn't do any english homework when you went to school, that there is worth about 2 out of ten!
    Ah ok. Mr Grammar Policeman.

    You are correct in saying my grammar is bad, and that is probably why I am uneducated and unemployable. And In the true spirit of this forum, I will blame my English teacher for not doing her job correctly.

    I also forgot this was Kiwibitcher where an option, or an opinion, far away from what is considered the norm is picked apart for being unacceptable.



    "No matter what bike you ride. It's all the same wind in your face"

  12. #12
    Join Date
    4th December 2006 - 19:19
    Bike
    Gilera 180 , ,GB400/650 ,SV650
    Location
    supercity thats the one
    Posts
    259
    i have oly just replace the orginal tube on mine they came out with tubes so I would think its best to keep them in

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •