Tubeless?

[Billmc]

The one thing I will add to the mix is that access for a tyre chuck is pretty lousy on LS rims and positively beastly on snowflakes - if you possibly can buy a 90 degree valve stem, you will be so glad you did.

I agree with Tony's suggestion on the longer, 90 degree valve stem. I did this when I mounted the new Michelin Pilot Actives and its made a world of difference being able to get to them. They are also BOLT ON metal and I have had no problems with them.

[Luke D.]

Good day all,  Thank you for all of your responses and help.  I brought my wheels to a shop and they said that they would not change them over to tubeless because it does not say tubeless on my rims.   So I have decided to just leave the tubes in and buy a spare.  Thank you again for all your help. Takk

[Luke D.]

Hello everyone,  Instead of starting a new post I will add on to my prior post with a slightly different question about the same thing (tubeless).  Since the couple places I took my wheels to said they would not mount them and to tubeless because it did not say tubeless on the rim is there a different wheel that will fit the r65ls that IS tubeless? Maybe a K bike or maybe a newer R (newer than 1982 that is)?  My uncle is talking about a trip up to Alaska and I really like my bike and don't want a new one. (well, I do but that's not in the cards right now ). He said he would strongly recommend getting tubeless tires.  Any help is appreciated, Takk.

[Matt Chapter]

He said he would strongly recommend getting tubeless tires.

How many flats have you had in how many miles?  How many flats has *he* had in how many miles?  What advantage does he imagine tubeless tires gives?  Clearly a tubed tire has two layers to keep air in...

Given that this is a cross country type trip, you may even find yourself on dirt or gravel roads where the puncture probability goes up.  If you had to change a tubeless tire, are you bringing a spare tire? Patch kit? Rim lube and tire levers? Air compressor or co2 cartridges?

Certainly flat tires were more prevalent in the past, I would argue that tire technology (aside from being tubeless) has improved quite a bit and reduced the chances of a flat.

[Luke D.]

Good day Matt,  You do have a point about flats as I have never had one (knock on wood) and he has had one (ktm 1190 tubeless spokes, the rim strip was not on correctly).  I do carry an extra tube and levers right now and he carries a tubeless patch kit.  I think his thinking is that it is much easier to plug a tubeless tire and keep going than having to put a new tube in.  I think that is his thinking. I believe we would be riding mostly on pavement but I have read that up in Alaska there is ALWAYS road construction where they take up the pavement and have gravel.  Thank you for your help and thought provoking questions.  I thought it strange to that he keeps wanting me to go tubeless as our last trip out west (4000 miles) had no issues (but no dirt roads).

[Justin B.]

I rode an R100/7 up the ALCAN highway in 1979 when it was really a mess and between Dawson Creek and Fairbanks I went through 3 rear tubes and had 2 or 3 patches on the last one!  For regular touring I don't think you can beat tubeless but when it gets gnarly I think a tube has something going for it when it come time to do a roadside repair.