tires/tubes for my R65

[montmil]

Those handlebars are LS, right?  

[tc80211]

Honestly no idea what this bike started life as. It certainly was rough to say the least... Tank has "patches" welded into one side where he removed 1 petcock... Vetter fairing that was def not fit correctly... Original seat though... So R65 for sure. Trying to bring it back to its stock R65 glory with some needed enhancements...

[georgesgiralt]

Hello !
NO, you CAN'T run tubeless tires on them.
Snowflakes rinms are NOT designed to run tubeless tires.
Some use them and had no accident still. But this is pure luck.
Tubeless rims have a different profile than the one on the snowflakes rims.

[montmil]

Tank has "patches" welded into one side where he removed 1 petcock...

Welded patches, you say? If that tank is an OEM R65 fuel tank, it was never a two-petcock-er. R65s have a single petcock on the left side. We are unique in having close to a quart+ of fuel stored on the right side of the tank. All you need do is tilt the bike a bit and slosh enough Reserved reserve fuel to get you several miles further down the road. Could mean less or no pushing.

The lower seam area on your tank -and for the rest of us, too- is also an excellent water trap. Eventually, rust eats through the seam area and you have a nasty leak. Thinking that's the real reason for the patches on the right side of your tank.

An annual ritual of removing the tank and draining the fuel along with any accumulated water is a good preventative measure in preventing rust, leaks and wallet burn.

[Barry]

I'll give my usual take on snowflakes and tubeless tires. No it was not designed for tubeless use but it was designed as  safety rim to :-

"improve stability should a tire blow out. The shape of the rim itself provides some support for the deflated tire as well as holding it firmly on the rim. BMW consider this to be a more important development than tubeless tires  which they feel presents private owners with numerous pitfalls regarding safe fitting and adequate sealing"  

Taken from a 79 road test and presumably the sort of press release information BMW gave out at the time our models were introduced.  

[tc80211]

I will be "diving" into the tank this weekend to get a closer look at to what is up... Thinking the KBS sealing system to cleana nd seal its interior...
As for tires, I think Spitfire after reading Snowbums page, he makes a convincing argument and I want the best ride quality I can get....
Only a couple hundred other parts left to go!

[Luca]

Only a couple hundred other parts left to go!

if brake shoes are on the list, don't get them that fit the LS (the LS wheels have a bigger drum and mucho-more-expensive shoes).

You'll be happy with the spitfires, they're a great all around tire.

[Matt Chapter]

R65s have a single petcock on the left side.

'84 and older, Monte.. don't forgot about those monoshockers!

I treat mine like a single petcock though.

[Tony Smith]

An annual ritual of removing the tank and draining the fuel along with any accumulated water is a good preventative measure in preventing rust, leaks and wallet burn.

Either deliberately give your bike a dose of Ethanol blended fuel or every 6 month sor so give it a tank of high octane and add a bottle of methylated spirits.

This is making use of chemistry. Water does not dissolve in petrol, but alcohol does. Water dissolves (and this is the wrong term cause right at this moment I can't remember the right one) in alcohol.

Petrol/alcohol/water comprise an intermiscible solution which gets rid of any water that has accumulated in the bottom of your tank without all that tedious removal, sloshing about and use of hair dryers etc.

[Mainerider]

Alcohol fuel is all we can get around here.



Steven

[montmil]

R65s have a single petcock on the left side.

'84 and older, Monte.. don't forgot about those monoshockers!

I treat mine like a single petcock though.

Monoshockers are just too modern for me.    Oldskool don'cha know.

[livingdeadhead]

these! cheap as chips and great! michelin m45 s less than £100 quid fitted .

[NC Steve]

To perpetuate a tire thread,  I'm ordering a new set of Bridgestone Spitfire S11s, along with new Bridgestone tubes. A question asked online is whether I want a TR-4 / TR-6 Straight metal stem (8mm dia.), or PV78 Tall 90 degree metal stem. I like the idea of using the 90 degree valve stems, and wanted to ask if anyone here has tried them, yea or nay. Getting to the straight stems with the snowflake wheels can be a wee bit difficult at times, or at least more so than a 90 stem, and using some pressure gauges would be much easier too. Thoughts?

[Luca]

You shouldn't have any trouble with a 90 degree stem.  You might slightly change the weight of the valve assembly... and you might also slightly change the center of gravity of the valve assembly.

As long as the wheels are balanced with the 90 degree stems--if you bother-- you won't notice a difference; and having your valves easier to access with an air chuck/pressure gauge will probably promote better and more frequent tire pressure checks and adjustments.

[Barry]

these! cheap as chips and great! michelin m45 s less than £100 quid fitted  

Lou uses them and I've bought a set to be fitted later this year. I reckon the low price is down to them being marketed as commuter tires. Michelin actually recommend them for fitment for my bike.