Tubed Tires

[Olliepup]

I took my 1986 R65 monolever (new to me in 2010) in for tires recently and there were tubes installed. My owners manual states that the bike uses tubeless tires.
Any idea as to why my bikes has tubes? What if I were to not use tubes (but use tubeless tires, of course)?
Thanks for any insight,
Dave

1986 BMW R65
1964 Lambretta LI 125 (one owner)
1947 Salsbury 85 Superscooter

[Bob_Roller]

Could be that the previous owner didn't feel comfortable without tubes installed .

You can go without tubes, less cost to you when the tires are replaced .

[nhmaf]

+1 the wheels on the monolevers are designed for tubeless, so you are safe to go without tubes if you like.  But, seeing that there WERE tubes installed, I would check carefully around boths sides of each wheel to make sure there are no dents/dings which might cause it to leak without a tube installed - the PO might have struck a curb/pothole and not told you about it..

[Matt Chapter]

I've been thinking about using a tube on my '86 for a couple years now.  The last 3 or 4 rear tires have had a slow leak (like two plus weeks from 38 psi to 10 psi).

Now that my daughter broke my bicycle pump, this might be more of a concern.

[Bob_Roller]

Check the valve core in the valve stem for leakage .

[nhmaf]

That is odd - on my 88 R100RT I ran tubeless, andmight lose 3-4 pounds of air in 2 months' time.   But any of my airheads running tubes ( use the metzler rubber tubes as they seem pretty durable/thick) I will lose about 10 pounds per month.   Usually the tubeless tires hold pressure better.   My Kawasaki Concours runs tubeless, and it might lose 5 PSI over the course of the whole winter - which, considering the temperature extremes it experiences, I consider exemplary.

[Bob_Roller]

Tires loose less air during cold temperatures .

On an average week of 115 F. temperatures, my R65's loose 3-4 psi per week .

During the cooler Dec-Jan months air loss is around 3psi per month .

[Barry]

My Metzler  tubes lose approx. 1.5 PSI per week. Rear tube perhaps a touch less than the front.