LS Wheels

[Armen]

Trying to sort out the difference between the R65LS wheels and the other twin shock wheels.
Seems the LS uses tapered rollers in the back (like the others), but ball bearings in the front.
Right?
Can't tell for sure if the LS wheels are tubeless. Other twin shock wheels are tube-type.
Anyone have an LS and care to look on the wheel casting for 'tube type' or 'tubeless'?
thanks,
-Armen

[Barry]

Trying to sort out the difference between the R65LS wheels and the other twin shock wheels.
Seems the LS uses tapered rollers in the back (like the others), but ball bearings in the front.
Right?

Correct

Can't tell for sure if the LS wheels are tubeless. Other twin shock wheels are tube-type.
Anyone have an LS and care to look on the wheel casting for 'tube type' or 'tubeless'?
thanks,

LS wheel are not officially tubeless but many use them tubeless as the rim profile is more suitable for tubeless use than the snowflakes.

[Armen]

Thanks Barry.
Are they WM profile or MT profile?
-Armen

[Barry]

Snowflakes are without doubt WM series rims as the area between the centre drop well and the rim edge is flat.  MT series rims have a 5 Deg upward slope towards the rim edge.

I can't say categorically that LS wheels are MT type rims but there are some clues:

Anecdotal evidence from professional Tire fitter that they are suitable for tubeless tyres.

The attached service bulletin that describes a 4 deg upward slope towards the rim edge.

On balance I doubt they are officially Tubeless rims but they do seem to have some of the characteristics.

[Luca]

Another difference is that the LS rear wheel has a larger brake drum.  It is about 1" larger in diameter and has its own special set of shoes and shoe springs.

The shoes are nearly $150 from BMW.  bmw2valve.com has aftermarkets for nearly half that price.  I scored a set of genuine BMW parts for half price on eBay from a dealer that was quitting the marque.

Also, I don't know the measurement offhand, but the LS front wheel has a wider rim.  Not sure about the hub itself and what the deal is with the brake rotor carriers.

The soft alloy that makes up the spokes and hubs of the wheels requires heating to remove the (front only?) bearings.  You will probably see a ring of cracked paint around each side of the wheel where the soft alloy meets the harder alloy rim: don't worry, that's a normal side effect of the fancy composite cast construction.

[Barry]

The LS front rim is a 2.15 instead of 1.85 for the snowflake front wheel. Being smack in the middle of the acceptable range a 2.15 is a more correct size than a 1.85 which is at it's limit for a 3.25 or 90/90 tire.

I think the LS rear rim is the same as a snowflake at 2.5