God, tubeless tyres can be a sweat sometimes

 

Even on a little GN250....

Front, no problem, but the back is quite a fat 16" thing and much sweat
was expended this afternoon[1]. I really ought to get myself a tyre
changer.

Anyway, two new decent quality Metzelers are now on the rims.

The question, though, is this: not many of the decent brands sold in the
UK seem to make tube fitment tyres for anything other than very small
bikes (commuter 125s and smaller) these days. Just about everything is
tubeless, take it or leave it, and if you want to shove a tube in it, go
ahead. And as the GN250 doesn't have tubeless fitment wheels, that's
what I've done, of course.

Is it the same in the USA?

Secondly, I'm assuming there's damn all difference in feel and
performance, but I was just wondering if anybody has ever done a
back-to-back comparison. I've nevr seen one in the press. I suppose
ther's no real point, but like I say, I was just idly wondering.

[1] And one tyre lever bent.

--
BMW K1100LT  Ducati 750SS  Honda CB400F  Triumph Street Triple
Suzuki TS250ER GN250  Damn, back to six bikes!
Try Googling before asking a damn silly question.
chateau dot murray at idnet dot com

 

 

I've wondered about this. 20 years ago I fitted a tubeless tyre to the
BSA with a tube in it. After 6 months or so, I had a failry rapid
puncture.
When taking out the tube, it was marked all the way round, from the ribs
on the inside of the tyre. These were clearly rubbing against the tube
and had caused the puncture. A mate who worked in the car tyre fitters
next door said it was quite common with older cars that still had tubes,
and they would never fit a tube into a tubleless tyre, as they knew it
would blow-out at some time in the future.
I bit the bullet and bought a 'new' Avon Roadmaster tubed tyre so didnt
encounter it again.
Have things moved on since, with tubes being compatible with tubeless
tyres?
Alan.

--
To reply by e-mail, change the ' + ' to 'plus'.

 


<snip>


Well, that's what I assume. My own dealer said: "They're all made
tubeless these days..."


--
BMW K1100LT  Ducati 750SS  Honda CB400F  Triumph Street Triple
Suzuki TS250ER GN250  Damn, back to six bikes!
Try Googling before asking a damn silly question.
chateau dot murray at idnet dot com

 

The Older Gentleman wrote:

I prefer the form factor of the GN250 to the GZ250.  I'm afraid you are
right.

I installed a Pirelli 130/90S15 on the back of the LS650 Savage.  It is
tube rated and close enough to the 140/80H15 size required.  At the
time, it was the only tube rated amongst the M66 Route tyres.

However, it seems that small motorcycle tyres are getting harder to find
in the US.  I just noticed that http://www.tiresunlimited.com  selection
has changed.  Next time for both Savage and CB100, I'll have to search a
little harder.  They still have the Michelin Gazelle for the CB100's
rear, but Cheng Shin no longer has the correct size for the front.  The
Pirelli's no longer carry the Savage's sizes.

I'll have to opt for a Shinko standard rear for the front (but should
work anyway.)

--
HPT

 



I suppose that's to be expected. Here, small bikes are still big sellers
because of our learner laws and also because people use them as cheap
commuter vehicles.

Unless I lived in a big US city, I think the only reason I'd buy (say) a
sub-250cc roadster would be for nostalgia and cussedness reasons.


--
BMW K1100LT  Ducati 750SS  Honda CB400F  Triumph Street Triple
Suzuki TS250ER GN250  Damn, back to six bikes!
Try Googling before asking a damn silly question.
chateau dot murray at idnet dot com